Helsinki Pipes and Drums

The band, which was previously known as the MacGregor Highlanders, was founded in 1991, and was at the time under the leadership of John MacGregor. The Band’s second P/M was Gustav Henriksson, who succeeded John after he moved to Tallinn in September 1997. After Gustav moved to Sweden in September 2000, Annukka Matilainen took over as P/M. Eevastiina Korri is the current Pipe Major, since 1.2.2006.

We’re probably the northernmost pipe band in the world!!!

At present the Band has 6 pipers and 3 drummers who perform in public. We welcome new students to join the band!

The uniform currently worn by the band is MacKintosh tartan kilts and ties, black Argyll jacket and ditto Glengarry. Black Watch is worn by the drummers.

Performances and competitions Performances so far range from neighbourhood parades and performances to several appearances at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, performances in Long Island Highland Games, New York U.S.A., Oulu Highland Games for Eurosport sports channel and Tallinn, Estonia. We have also performed repeatedly at the Hamina Tattoo, a Finnish military tattoo held every two years in Hamina, a small town a few hours drive east of Helsinki.

As far as the competition scene goes, some of us have participated in the Copenhagen Winter Championships (CWC), held in February, and the Scandinavian Piping Championships in May, also held in Copenhagen. In SCOC 1999 HelPD took part in March grade IV and came in 3rd! We also took all in all 8 solo top3-positions! In SCOC 2000 only one piper took part and won March 2/4 Intermediate piping. 2002 World Pipe Band Championships and the 2003 European championships have also had players from our band, as members of other Scandinavian bands. 2005 Scandinavian Pipe Band Champions, PD1RE had two members from Helsinki Pipes and Drums when winning, D/Sgt Manne Laukkanen in the drum core and former pipe major Gustav Henriksson in the pipe core.

Location