Fredericton becomes 12th North American Grade 1 band

The Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew Pipe Band has been upgraded officially to Grade 1 by the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association (ACPBA), increasing the number of North American bands in the world’s premier grade to 12, nine of which are from Canada.

The band, based Fredericton, New Brunswick, won the Grade 2 contest at the North American Pipe Band Championships in August, and joins the 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) in Grade 1 in Canada’s Atlantic Provinces.

2007 is also the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew Pipe Band’s 80th anniversary. The band has been in Grade 2 for 20 years and has won five North American titles in that time.

The ACPBA also officially upgrade the Gaelic College Pipe Band of Nova Scotia to Grade 2, and the College of Piping Pipe Band of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to Grade 3 from Grade 4.



The Gaelic College band was upgraded by the RSPBA on October 23.

North American Grade 1 bands:

• Alberta Caledonia (Canada)
• City of Washington (USA)
• Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew (Canada)
• Los Angeles Scots (USA)
• Peel Regional Police (Canada)
• Prince Charles (USA)
• Robert Malcolm Memorial II (Canada)
• Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders (Canada)
• 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) (Canada)
• Simon Fraser University (Canada)
• Toronto Police (Canada)
• Windsor Police (Canada)

With the upgrade of the Tayside Police, Scotland currently has 10 Grade 1 bands, although the status of the David Urquhart Travel Pipe Band, which merged with the Grade 2 Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band in June 2006, did not compete this season. Prince Charles of San Francisco also did not compete in 2006.

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