The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) is an association aiming to oversee pipe band competition, and to promote and encourage the development of pipe band culture worldwide

pipe band A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of Bagpipes, pipers and drummers. The term pipes and drums, used by military pipe bands is also common. The most common form of pipe band consists of a section of pipers playing the Great Highland b ...

competition, and to promote and encourage the development of pipe band culture throughout the world. It was founded in 1930. The RSPBA sets the rules and guidelines for pipe band contests in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, administers the events including coordinating adjudication, logistics, and evaluation, and holds Annual General Meetings to ensure that the rules and regulations are up to date. In addition, the RSPBA administers and coordinates the

World Pipe Band Championships The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition held in Glasgow, Scotland. The World Pipe Band Championships as we currently know them have been staged since 1947 although the Grade 1 Pipe Band Competition winners at the annual Cowal ...

, held every August in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. In addition to "The World's", there are four other Major Contests - Scottish, British, European, and United Kingdom Championships. At Branch level, there are numerous contests held at Highland Games and any venue which raises the fund to hold a contest. Bands are placed in a Grade system - from Grade 4 up to Grade 1. Competitive standards are set and maintained by the Music Board, and each branch of the RSPBA may appoint two National Council members to represent their Branch Members at the national level.

Associated organizations

The RSPBA has many sister organizations throughout the world. Some of these organizations include:

RSPBA

* London & South of England Branch
Lothian & Borders Branch
* North East England Branch * North West England Branch * Northern Ireland Branch * North of Scotland Branch * Ayrshire Dumfries and Galloway branch

Australia

* Australian Pipe Band Association * New South Wales Pipe Band Association

Canada

* Alberta Society of Pipers & Drummers * Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations * Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association * Piper's And Pipe Band Society of Ontario * Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba * Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association * British Columbia Piper's Association

Ireland

* Irish Pipe Band Association

Germany

* Bagpipe Association of Germany

Netherlands

* Netherlands Pipe Band Association

New Zealand

* Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands' Association

Scandinavia

The Pipe Band Association of Scandinavia

South Africa

* Pipe Band Association of South Africa

Switzerland

* Pipe Band Association of Switzerland

United States

Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

Eastern United States Pipe Band Association The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) is an association of pipe bands in the Eastern United States. Its function is to sanction band and solo piping, drumming, and drum major competitions in the East Coast. It is also respons ...

Midwest Pipe Band Association The Midwest Pipe Band Association is an association of pipe bands in the Midwestern United States. Within its area of jurisdiction, the association includes over forty pipe bands, offers band, solo piping and drumming, and drum major competition ...

Southern United States Pipe Band Association Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, ...

Western United States Pipe Band Association {{short description, Association in the United States The Western United States Pipe Band Association is an association of pipe bands from the Western United States. It sanctions band and solo piping competitions and has a membership of over fifty ...

External links

* {{Authority control Pipe band associations Musical groups established in 1930 Music organisations based in Scotland 1930 establishments in Scotland Organisations based in Scotland with royal patronage