Qwenton McKenzie is playing grade one for the first time this year. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittlock
Bagpipes and drums are ringing out in Christchurch's streets for the 2023 New Zealand and South Pacific Pipe Band Championships.
Hundreds of musicians, young and old, were busy donning kilts ahead of the first session in North Hagley Park Friday morning.
There were 50 bands competing in three events across four different grades, which were all open to public spectators.
Despite the name, Piper Marshall, 11, from ILT City of Invercargill Pipe Band, is her family's first drummer.
She got into it after her brother picked up the bag pipes.
"He started playing pipes and I got really jealous he was in a band. So I was like just staring at Davey, the lead drummer playing, and I went 'oh my god, I want to do that'," Marshall explained.
"I just asked Dad if I could do it and he was like 'OK'."
The Marshall family with their instruments ahead of the New Zealand and South Pacific Pipe Band Championships. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittlock
Younger brother Mason was proud to play with his sister.
At ten years old, he had already been playing and competing for two years.
"I've had a lot of other competitions, I've had some in Dunedin, I've had some in Alexandra they were pretty cool...It's an honour to play the pipes," he said.
Their father, Ross Marshall, was also playing at the championships.
He became attracted to piping after watching Braveheart as a child and picked it back up when Mason went for his first lesson.
"[Mason] was over the moon, he couldn't stop smiling [during the lesson]. It was brilliant," Marshall recalled.
"We do practice together, the three of us, marching up and down the driveway. Piper will lead the way to start off with then Mason will follow as pipe major."
Piping was also a family affair for fellow ILT player Qwenton McKenzie, following in the footsteps of his great-uncle.
It was a particularly big day for him.
"I'm pretty nervous...It's my first time playing grade one this year, so I'm nervous but it should go well," McKenzie said.
"I'm very happy to be here, I'm part of the New Zealand Youth Pipe Band, and that's definitely helped my development for this band."
It was an impressive feat to be playing grade one at just 17 - there was not a single grade one band in Australia.
Hawthorn Pipe Band Melbourne were the Australian grade two champions, here to test their skills against the local competition.
Matt Fraser is the Pipe Major and says the social side of playing is part of why people get into it. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittlock
Pipe major, or band leader, Matt Fraser, was originally from Aotearoa and wanted to get Australian pipe bands up to a higher standard.
"The pipe band scene in New Zealand is fantastic, both musically and socially. I was really keen to bring the band here so that everyone can see what it's all about and meet people," he said.
"It's a big part of why people are into pipe bands in the first place, because of the social side. So it's good to be a part of that.
"Over time we want to keep coming over here more regularly...and eventually try get to Scotland too," Fraser said.
Hawthorn were the first overseas band to compete in New Zealand back in 1979, but had not been over for 20 years.
Freddie Cameron picked up piping at his Melbourne high school and went into Hawthorn after he graduated.
"We want to keep tradition strong, come back over and maybe take home something - you never know. But I'm just really excited," he said.
"It's my first time in New Zealand, it's going to be awesome, a great couple of days."
The forecast conditions were ideal for piping, with good humidity levels and fine weather.
The bands had put in a lot of time preparing for the event, which was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
In the couple of months leading up to the competition, many would have had two or three group practices a week on top of their personal practice regimes.
Iain Blakely says having four judges caters to different elements of the music Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittlock
Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association president Iain Blakely described the various categories bands will be marked on.
"There are four judges - two for piping, one for drumming and one for ensemble. It's music, so it's a bit subjective but there are technical elements to it as well," he said.
"That's why we have four judges. They don't always see things the same way, but the overall result is what matters.
"We have a dress judge too [who judges] how good their uniforms look, and how uniform they are. A lot of bands take a lot of pride in that as well," Blakely said.
He was also pleased to return to the Garden City as it had not hosted the championship since before the earthquakes.
The event runs until Saturday evening, with mace flourishing, medley and street marching among the titles up for grabs.
