TyFry Ltd.

08/22/2025

08/22/2025

08/21/2025

08/21/2025

08/21/2025

It is with sadness we acknowledge the passing of Neville Burney aged 90. Neville was a former committee member of this Society.

Neville will be remembered by many in the New Zealand Piping community as the former Pipe Major of the Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band (1967-1985). He led the band to success, winning the B Grade in 1967 and took the band to A Grade, where it has remained ever since (now known as Grade 1). He passed the Pipe Major's position onto his pupil Richard Hawke in 1985.

He will also be fondly remembered by many of his pupils that he taught at the Canterbury Caledonian Society, St Andrew's College and before that at the Christchurch Ladies and the Caledonian Ladies Pipe Band. Many of Neville's pupils excelled at solo piping. He was renowned for his teaching of the foundation fi*****ng technique required to be a quality piper.

After moving away from pipe band's in 1986 Neville moved to Waikawa Bay in the Marlborough Sounds, where he immersed himself with his other passion of offshore yachting. Later Neville moved to Geraldine and then to Timaru.

Our sympathy goes to Neville's partner Anne and family.

A service to celebrate Neville's life will be held at Betts Funeral Services in Timaru on Friday 22 August at 1pm.

08/21/2025

08/19/2025

O grande dia da banda no Castelo de Edimburgo!

08/19/2025

08/19/2025

Huge congratulations to West Lothian Schools Pipe Band on being crowned World Champions in their grade at the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow this weekend. 🏆🎶

The talented band members picked up the top trophy in the Novice A section for the first time, after being runners-up for the last four years.

It rounds off a fantastic year for the band, who also retained their Scottish Champions trophy in the Novice A category in Dumbarton last month.

The band were formed in 2007, and have previously won a number of trophies in the last 18 years, including UK and European Championships.

Please see the link in the comments for the whole story.

08/19/2025

The London Band Week LBW Masterclass Series hosted over 250 student musicians at London's ExCeL for music masterclasses, clinics and workshops.

The series was free for all to attend, with clinicians from the United Kingdom and the United States of America fielding 18 educational sessions during the day long programme.

Pictured is Mr. Allen Frank, delivering a session on "Overcoming performance nerves and anxiety".

Thank you, Allen!
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Allen Frank is the Director of Instrumental Music at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he oversees and conducts the band and orchestra programs. Originally from Ohio, Allen enlisted in the United State Marine Corps upon graduating from high school. He attended the Armed Forces School of Music, where he was his class honor graduate, before his permanent duty with the Marine Corps Band in Quantico, VA. In his time in Quantico, Allen served as a tuba player and vocalist with the marching and concert bands, jazz band, and the band’s brass quintet, The Ambassador Brass. Notable performances in his time with the Marines include the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo, joint performances with The President’s Own Marine Band and countless military ceremonies and events in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Upon his honourable discharge at the rank of Sergeant, Allen moved to Bethlehem, PA, where he attended Moravian College (now University), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Immediately following his collegiate studies, Allen became a member of the Broadway National Tour of the Tony and Emmy Award winning show BLAST!, touring between 2002-2003. After stepping off the stage, he obtained his teaching certification and has been in the classroom for the past 21 years. When not teaching, Allen is a freelance tuba player and a member of The Mainstreet Brass Quintet. He serves as a conductor with the Moravian Music Foundation, having conducted festivals in the United States and South Africa, and is right at home conducting pit orchestras for musical theatre productions. Allen resides in Bethlehem, PA with his girlfriend, Jayme, son Jonathan, and his pets, Meaux and Marble.