The Invercargill Highland Pipe Band is dedicated to having fun whilst preserving the traditions of pipe banding in Southland by promoting and encouraging musical instructions for members and learners of pipe band music.
The band is the oldest civilian pipe band in the Southern Hemisphere! Formed in 1896, the band recently celebrated 125 years of pipe banding. You can read more about the History of the band here.
The band currently has five competing bands (Grade 1, 3 and 4B), including two juvenile bands (A and B).
While the Invercargill Highland Pipe Band as an organisation has multiple bands competing in different grades, the organisation runs as one band, no one band is more important than another, which builds a great culture. Check out our Photo gallery for photos of recent events.
The Invercargill Highland Pipe Band is part of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association (RNZPBA) - which has been supporting New Zealand bands since 1928.
Ali MacKenzie (left) and Adam McCollum (right).Ali MacKenzie is Pipe Major of the Grade 1 (G1) band but presides over all grades and has a big influence on each one’s structure, what they play and how they play. Ali has now won two World Championships and four Champion of Champion titles playing with Scottish Band G1 Inverary & Districts Pipe Band.
Adam McCollum fills a similar role to Ali in that he is Drum Sergeant of the Grade 1 band but presides over all the Invercargill grade drum corps. Adam is a world champion drummer having won two world titles with G1 Northern Ireland Band Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe band which most recently won the 2022 World Championships.
Ali and Adam are both tutors and provide lessons through the Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust to those wanting to learn to play pipes and drums.
