Sons of Scotland to Kate and William: “We shall”
Ottawa’s Sons of Scotland, Canada’s oldest civilian pipe band, will perform for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – William and Kate – when the newly married royal couple makes their first official overseas visit this summer.
The Grade 4 and Grade 5 Sons of Scotland bands will perform in support of the group’s Vice Regal Patron, the Right Honourable Governor-General Mr. David Johnston at a party at Government House in Ottawa in honour of youth and volunteers in Canada on June 30th. Canada’s Governor-General, the official representative of Queen Elizabeth II, became an official patron of the band in 2009.
According to Sons of Scotland Pipe-Major Bethany Bisaillion, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will also attend the event, along with the a The band will present the Duke and Duchess with “gifts very representative of Canada with a touch of Scottish influence featuring the newly named official tartan of Canada, the Maple Leaf Tartan.”
The band will perform again at a citizenship ceremony that Kate and William will attend at Rideau Hall on July 1st, Canada Day, at which Bissalion said she and her brother will unveil and present an original tune that they composed for the occasion.
The Sons of Scotland Pipe Band played for the Kate and William previously, as well as other members of the royal family, including a performance in 2005 at the Queen’s Balmoral estate near Banchory, Scotland.
A great honour for the band, and there may be a chance of a 3rd performance for the Royal Couple by my sister Bethany. The tune is done and ready to go. UK airplay is in the works for it too…. done on GHB and smallpipes w/bodhran…very interesting!