This year’s RNZPBA Summer School was, again, a huge success. 120 participants of all ages and abilities, and from all corners of the country descended on Scots College, Wellington from the 8th – 12th January to attend. This year we also had 10 participants from Australia and two from Canada that joined us which is a positive endorsement for the reputation of what we have on offer here in New Zealand.
Each year, our week always starts off with a bang with our tutor recital on the first night.
This recital often helps participants decide who they might want to see for private tuition throughout the week to work on their personal goals, based on the tutor’s expertise, style, or tunes they play.
We are always grateful for our amazing tutor teams for their passion, commitment, and expertise that they bring each year.
Our 2025 tutors were:
Piping:
• Matt Wilson
• Marion Horsburgh
• Callum Carn
• Piers Dover
• Torrey Gilchrist
• Liam Kernaghan
• Davey Welsh
• Adam Michie
Mid-Section:
• Liam Argyle
• Tiffany Gilchrist
Side Drumming:
• Gary Potter
• Glenn Miller
• Trina Berry
• Jamie McEwan
We would like to thank the Comunn Na Piobaireachd NZ for supporting Summer School by providing Stuart Easton as the Piobaireachd tutor for the week. Stu’s individual lesson slots ended up being completely booked out for the week, as well as his workshops being popular with participants which is a positive step for piobaireachd in New Zealand.
Across the week, we had several other evening activities, including a quiz night, a freestyle competition, and a Ceildh. All events were well attended, especially the Ceildh which had significant public interest and made for an electric atmosphere as everybody danced the night away.
We would like to thank McCallum Bagpipes Ltd for once again sponsoring the tune composition competition.
This year our winners were:
– 1st Place: Michael Peyroux
– 2nd Place: Cameron Sharpe
– 3rd Place: Alice Robinson
Scott Birrell Percussion sponsored the score writing competition for side drummers. Entrants were tasked with writing an original score to the tune “Ducking and Divin'”.
Winners:
• 1st: Kaitlyn Braithwaite
• 2nd: Annabel McArthur
• 3rd: Di Stewart
Steelo’s Sticks once again sponsored prizes for mid-section players to have the chance to win some new bass or tenor mallets for consistent effort and engagement across the week.
This year’s winners are:
• Bass Sticks: Murray Mackenzie
• Tenor Mallets: Lily Nielsen
• Tenor Mallets: Lochiel Nielsen
We would lastly like to congratulate scholarship winners who have received tuition scholarships to attend Summer School in 2026.
Thank you to the Bob Scott Foundation for generously supporting our scholarship programme by offering three scholarships this year, along with the three RNZPBA scholarships offered.
RNZPBA Summer School Scholarship Winners:
• Piping: Archie McClure
• Mid-Section: Lily Nielsen
• Side Drumming: Judah Tanner
Bob Scott Foundation Scholarship Winners:
• Piping: Liam Sutherland
• Mid-Section: Garry Nielsen
• Side Drumming: Abbey Rhodes
Keep an eye out in the coming months both on the RNZPBA Summer School Facebook page, and Geoff’s education happenings in the e-mag for details of Summer School 2026.
