17/08/2026
Hawthorn Pipe Band at the Worlds: a remarkable first Grade 1 campaign
Hawthorn's first appearance in Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships is complete, after four performances over two days against the very best bands in the world, many of them seasoned competitors with years, and in some cases decades, of experience at this level. None travelled as far this year.
There is a great deal to celebrate.
Friday produced a 10th place in the MSR and 9th in the Medley, with both piping judges placing Hawthorn 9th in the MSR. In the Medley, the band recorded a 9th in drumming, 10th in ensemble and another 9th from one of the piping judges.
Consider that for a moment: on their first attempt in Grade 1 at the Worlds, Hawthorn broke into the top ten. Against this calibre of opposition, that is a magnificent achievement in itself.
Saturday, performing their alternate MSR and Medley selections, proved tougher, with 12th and 13th places respectively. But when all four performances are viewed together, the quality and competitiveness of Hawthorn’s debut becomes much clearer.
Hawthorn finished 11th overall on 172 aggregate points, exactly level with 78th Fraser Highlanders in 10th, with the Canadian band taking the higher placing on ensemble preference.
The component results are revealing too. Across the four performances, the adjudicator placings were notably balanced across the band. Taken together, they place Hawthorn’s drumming 10th in the field, with piping and ensemble both 11th.
That is significant. This was not a result built around one particularly strong section. Hawthorn demonstrated that its piping, drumming and ensemble are all capable of competing credibly at the highest level.
And, of course, an overall placing never tells the entire musical story.
Independent coverage from Glasgow noted one of the loudest ovations of the day for Hawthorn and described their Medley as among the day’s most inventive and exciting. On the BBC coverage, seasoned adjudicator Bob Worrall also highlighted the creativity of Hawthorn’s orchestration and the quality of the rhythmic support from the drum corps, while at the same time recognising some of the things the adjudicators in the circle were hearing.
That perhaps says most about where Hawthorn sits after this first Worlds campaign at this level. They have already shown that they can make a distinctive musical impact in Grade 1, engage an international audience and earn recognition from highly experienced observers. At the same time, four performances at this level have provided a very clear benchmark for where further refinement and consistency can take the band.
And that is an exciting position to be in.
Hawthorn went to Glasgow Green as newcomers to Grade 1 at the Worlds and came away having recorded 9th and 10th places among the best bands on the planet, finishing level on aggregate points with 10th overall and demonstrating competition consistency across piping, drumming and ensemble.
The next step is building the consistency that turns more of those individual top-ten results into top-ten performances across the full championship.
For a first attempt at this level, though, 11th in the world is a magnificent achievement and an outstanding foundation on which to build.
Congratulations to Pipe Major Matt Fraser, Leading Drummer Steven Shedden, every member of Hawthorn Pipe Band and all those behind the scenes who made the campaign possible.
Victoria can be enormously proud of what Hawthorn has achieved.
A shout out too, to The Pipe Band Club (NSW) on their 3rd place in Grade 2). Effectively two Aussie bands in the top 20 in the world on the Saturday is fantastic! An honourable mention to William Sincock, also from NSW (who did trial piping adjudication runs with PBV last season) marching in the front rank of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia right next to the P/Sgt.
Finally, Jack Watson of Melbourne landed straight 8s in all Grade 1 elements with Scottish Power, and young piper Charli Millar with Sebastian Mignot (City Of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band) placed 9th in the Grade 3B Final with NSW's Governor Macquarie Memorial (GMM). And not forgetting Scotch Melbourne No. 2's 4th place in Novice B, already acknowledged.
