About Us
The pipe band was formed at Glencorse, near Penicuik, Midlothian in February 1973, by Tom Hyde and Bill Kenyon.
The band uniform tartan is ‘Cameron of Erracht’. The tartan was originally that of Ewan Cameron, 1st Laird of Erracht, son of the 13th Chief of Lochiel, Clan Cameron Chief, and dates back to the late 1600’s. The Cameron Highlanders, 79th Regiment of Foot of the British Army, were raised at the financial expense of the Chief of the Clan Cameron on the 17th August 1793 and as a result, were dressed in the ‘Cameron of Erracht’ tartan. The Cameron Highlanders, in whose Barracks the Glencorse Pipe Band first practiced, donated some of their spare kilts to the band.
Over the years the band has been involved in overseas visits and performances in locations such as:-
Germany Huckelhoven
Spain Barcelona
Portugal Lisbon
France - Festival Interceltique de Lorient
Sweden Eksjo
France L’lsle-sur-la-Sorgue
In addition the band has had the honour of performing for H.M. Queen Elizabeth II on several occasions at the Braemar Highland Games. The Band also performs at weddings, and have ‘Beat the Retreat’ in corporate entertainment events at Dalmeny House, Lennoxlove House, Hopetoun House, Edinburgh Castle, Dundas Castle, Barnbougle Castle, Carlowrie Castle and Turnberry Hotel, as well as numerous other functions and locations throughout Scotland.
The band has also been involved in live performances in the Kings Theatre, Edinburgh with the late Bill McCue, the 45 strong Welsh Cor Yr Hen Blwyf Male Voice Choir from Maesteg and the finale of ‘Live in Scotland’ with the comedian Lee Evans, for the video. The band has provided live workshops during the Edinburgh International Festival.
More recently, the band has been involved in the filming of an episode of Men in Kilts with Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, an episode of Real Housewives of Cheshire and an episode for German TV that has still to be aired.
The band has not taken part in any Pipe Band Competitions since 2012, but prior to that they won more than 40 prizes in Grade 4, including 2nd in the Scottish Championship and 5th in the World Championships. They also won more than 25 prizes in Grade 3.
The band celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1998 and for the band’s 30th anniversary PM William Kenyon composed the 6/8 pipe tune ‘Glencorse 30th Year’.
The band will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023 and to mark the occasion, PM Tam Crawford composed a 6/8 pipe tune that has been named Glencorse 50th.