Testimonials

Thanks to the GDMT for the funding of Archie’s place at the D2 Summer school.

The Summer school has been a great experience for Archie, he thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and camaraderie with the other young musicians and instructors.
Archie feels the Summer school was a great benefit to him and he continues to make good progress in his piping technique, his most recent achievements were at the City of Brechin Solo’s winning 1st place in the u/15 MSR, 1st place in the 6/8 march and 2nd place in the jig and taking the award for Junior Champion Piper.

The support from the Trust is very much appreciated, Thank you!

Kinlochard Gathering, Junior Solo Piping Competition, held on the fabulous Loch side setting on the 14th July 2019. The standard of piping was brilliant and there were some new faces in the competition. The overall winner was Christopher Happs, second was Bobby Allen, third place went to Josh Esson and fourth Kyle Gordon. The judge was Pipe Major Chris Armstrong.

A million thanks to the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust for supporting this Junior Competition. As you can see your banners were flying high!

On behalf of Uddingston Strathclyde Pipe Band (USPB), I would like to thank the Trust for their recent contribution to our progress this year.

With the help of the fund, we have seen the playing level of the band progress remarkably and we can be fairly confident that we will complete the competing season with a mid-table position. While it may not sound much, this is a vast improvement on where the band has been over the last 20 yrs or so.

This funding has allowed the continuation of our tuition for beginner pipers and drummers. Much pleasure has been generated in a wide range of ages and experiences. It has generated a degree of financial flexibility, allowing the drums to have a long overdue upgrade and that has permitted the organisation to attend contests at the likes of Northern Ireland and Inverness feasible.

Best wishes,
P/m Ian MacGregor

Dundee City Pipe Band & Youth Music Initiative (DCPB) SCIO

DCPB are a fully inclusive Pipe Band; our membership comprises mixed ages and abilities from the board of Trustees through to the playing members of the band. We are a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, established in 2017 by a young Piper with lived experience of facing barriers in accessing Pipe Bands due to his learning disability and Autism.

Our mission is to provide accessible music tuition that allows all participants to experience learning success and engagement with Scottish culture and heritage through the playing of Pipes and Drums. We nurture a community of shared interest which creates opportunities for community engagement, social connectedness, enhanced health and wellbeing and volunteering / work related activities… “Together we can achieve so much”.

Through funding from the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, we have been able to employ sessional tutors who have delivered over 2,500 individual music sessions to-date. Our membership comprises 40% who have a self declared disability and 20% who are under 16 years of age. We have undertake public performances ranging from local community festivals to international conferences and we have worked collaboratively with the RSPBA, to influence change in the administration of music examinations improving accessibility and opportunity for all learners.

The Kilmarnock Pipe Band would like to say a MASSIVE thanks to the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust for funding our 6 o’clock club for a whole year, where our younger members get extra training and work towards SCQF piping and drumming exams.

We are incredibly grateful to GDMT, this makes a huge difference to our young people and a huge difference to our band.

Thank you!!!