News & Updates
ASPD Annual General Meeting
All ASPD members received notice of this year's AGM in our Fall newsletter last month. However, it is creeping up!
When: October 30, 2025 @ 7p.m.
Where: via Microsoft Teams
What: President's Report, Treasurer's Report, Music Committee Report, Election of Board of Directors, Aggregate and Promotions announcements and more! See you there.
*Individuals must be members in good standing with the ASPD in order to participate in voting procedures.
Piping, drumming and pipe band registrations are open for the Edmonton Scottish Society AND the Red Deer Highland Games:
- Edmonton Scottish Society: www.aspd.ca/edmonton-scottish-society-highland-gathering-june-22-2025
Registrations close on June 1, 2025 - Red Deer: www.aspd.ca/red-deer-highland-games-june-28-2025
Registrations close on June 7, 2025
Event Schedule and Order of Play for all competitors will be released after shortly after registrations are closed.
Ogden Is In!
The Alberta contest season kicks off on Saturday, May 3 2025 with the Ogden Indoor - thanks to the efforts of of the Foothills Caledonia Youth Pipe Band and Executive.
The contest information can be found here: www.aspd.ca/ogden-indoor-highland-games-may-3-2025.
To review what is expected for each Grade level for the upcoming season, review the Music Requirements document on the Resources & Forms page. The Rules for Solo Piping, Solo Drumming and Pipe Bands are also available for review.
A friendly reminder that 2024 ASPD memberships are now expired. A current 2025 ASPD (or affiliated Society) membership is required to compete at any Society sanctioned Highland Games. Visit the Membership page for more information.
ASPD Provincial Aggregates and 2025 Promotions
During the AGM on October 30, the 2023 Provincial Aggregate winners were announced and are now published on the Aggregate and Past Results page.
The recommended Promotions for the 2025 were also announced. That list can be found on the Promotions page within the Music and Grading section. Congratulations to all!
In accordance with Rule 4.2.4 in Rules for Solo Piping and Solo Drumming Competition, any grading or appeal submissions can be done using the Solo Competitor Appeal Form. The deadline for submissions - for both individuals and bands - is March 31, 2025. and can be sent to youraspd@gmail.com.
Updated Massed Bands Scores
We have uploaded bagpipe settings for Massed Bands! These are available for download to ensure consistency across all disciplines and enable every competitor, individual and band, to participate in Massed Band presentations at any ASPD sanctioned Highland Games.
Find these settings on Resources & Form page, under the Massed Bands Scores heading HERE.
New Massed Bands Scores for Drummers
By now, all ASPD drummers and pipe bands should be aware of the changes to the massed drums scores for snare, tenor and bass approved and rolled out by the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations ("ANAPBA") recently. They will now be referred to as “The Massed Band Cadences”.
The initiative has the end goal of improving massed bands while encouraging and supporting drummers at all stages of development, especially the earlier stages. The ASPD has adopted these and most bands within the Society have been working on these scores. It is expected that all pipe bands will be prepared to play these scores, starting at the Red Deer Highland Games in June.
Click here to download the final version of the new Massed Band Cadences for snare, tenor and bass.
ACE Percussion has put together videos featuring tenor and bass including piping and snare accompaniment. Follow the links below for each time signature:
2/4 March: https://youtu.be/XKweRryI7gU
3/4 March: https://youtu.be/8uBQy2TD3qw
4/4 March: https://youtu.be/NOmFn-NVujw
6/8 March: https://youtu.be/lrePEtpve5I
If you have any questions, please email youraspd@gmail.com.