NORTHAMPTON, MA — Look Park in Northampton, Ma, was overflowing with the music of bagpipes and drums on Saturday. Catamount Pipe Band brought a first-place trophy to Vermont from the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival on July 16th. This was the pipe band’s first competition of the 2022 season.
The Montpelier-based Catamount Band competed in a field of fifteen Grade V bands. They were led by Pipe Major Iain MacHarg and Drum Sargeant Scott Appel. Their first-place win was announced at the late afternoon Massed Bands event, where all twenty-three pipe bands in attendance gathered to play. Catamount marched off the field, trophy in hand, playing their winning set that began with “Bonnie Hoose of Airlie.”
After the win was announced, MacHarg congratulated the band, saying, “This is a great start to our competition season with this new set of tunes. Now it’s time to challenge ourselves to step up our performance before the next competition.” Quechee Scottish Games on August 27th will be the next destination for the band.
Catamount Pipe Band competes regularly throughout the region at highland games and in Scotland at the World Pipe Band Championships. They also play in many of Vermont’s local events and parades.
2023 will be Catamount’s 25th anniversary year. Plans are in place to start the year with a Burns Night in Jericho, Vermont, on January 28th. This celebration will include the poetry of Robert Burns, a traditional Scottish meal, and musical performances.
