2026 Winter Piping and Drumming Retreat
Description
The Pipe Bands Australia Winter Piping & Drumming Retreat returns in 2026, bringing together pipers and drummers from across Australia for an immersive, multi-day experience dedicated to learning, growth, and connection within the pipe band community.
Designed for players aged 10 years and over, the Retreat offers expert instruction across Piping, Snare, Tenor, and Bass, catering to participants performing from Novice through to A Grade. Whether you are refining fundamentals, preparing for competition, exploring new musical ideas, or simply looking to build confidence in your playing, the Retreat provides a supportive and high-quality learning environment tailored to your development.
More than a series of workshops, the Winter Retreat is an opportunity to step away from the usual routine, immerse yourself in music, meet new people from across the country, and learn from some of Australia’s leading pipe band musicians and educators.
Across four days, participants will enjoy focused tuition, ensemble experiences, musical development sessions, and the opportunity to strengthen skills while building lasting friendships and connections within the wider piping and drumming community.
Key Points:
9 - 12 July 2026
Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga, New South Wales
Suitable for players performing at Novice level through to A Grade (10 years and up)
Indicative Schedule:
Thursday: Participant arrivals and Retreat commencement
Friday: Full day tuition and workshops
Saturday: Full day tuition and workshops
Sunday: Half day program and Retreat conclusion
Interested parties can review the information contained here-in noting it will continue to evolve as tutors are announced and finer details are refined.
More information can be found here: Pipe Bands Australia - Winter Piping & Drumming Retreat.
Enquiries
Questions can be directed to Pipe Bands Australia via events@pipebandsaustralia.com.au
Additional Information
- Accommodation Location
Accommodation for the 2026 Winter Piping and Drumming Retreat will be provided at Abbotsleigh Girls’ School, located in Wahroonga, NSW.
Situated just a short distance from Knox Grammar School, Abbotsleigh offers a comfortable and well-equipped residential environment for retreat participants, allowing attendees to remain connected to the immersive and collaborative nature of the program.
Participants staying on-site will walk between Abbotsleigh and Knox Grammar School each day, with the journey taking only a few minutes.
- Room Setup
Accommodation includesa a single room with access to adjoining “Jack and Jill” style bathrooms, shared between two rooms.
For attendees seeking additional privacy, an Additional Room Add-On is available, guranteeing exclusive bathroom access.
- Meal Arrangements
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and catered breaks will be served at Knox Grammar School, allowing participants to remain immersed in Retreat activities and the broader community experience throughout the day.
Indicative Meal Schedule
Thursday: Dinner
Friday: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner
Saturday: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Dinner
Sunday: Breakfast, Morning Tea
Piping Tutors
Alisdair McLaren
Alisdair, from Perth, Western Australia, began piping at 13 while attending Trinity College, Perth, where he was taught by June Corcoran, John MacMurchie, and Malcolm Brown. In 1996, his final year of high school, he was appointed Pipe Major of the Trinity College Pipes & Drums, leading the band to multiple juvenile championships. That same year, he was also a member of the Grade 3 Armadale City Pipe Band when they won the Australian & South Pacific Pipe Band Championships. In 1997, Alisdair joined the Western Australia Police Pipe Band (WAPOL), playing a key role in its success, including winning the 1998 Grade 2 World Championships, the 2001 Grade 1 American Championships, and achieving 10th place at the 2004 Grade 1 World Championships as Pipe Sergeant. In 2005, while still based in Perth, Alisdair became the first fly-in guest player for the renowned Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, 12-time winners of the World Pipe Band Championships. In 2006, he was appointed Pipe Major of WAPOL before relocating to Glasgow in 2007. In 2008, he joined Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band (FMM), where over nine years, he won 38 major championships, including five World Titles. He was part of the band’s historic Grand Slam victories in 2011 and 2013, winning all five major championships in a single season—an achievement only accomplished four times in pipe band history. In 2018, Alisdair was appointed Pipe Sergeant of the Glasgow Police Pipe Band (formerly Strathclyde Police) and was promoted to Pipe Major at the end of the 2019 season. He held this position until returning to Perth in 2020. Beyond competition, Alisdair was Director of The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland for over a decade, shaping the next generation of pipers and drummers. Under his leadership, the band performed 18 major concerts across Scotland, toured internationally in China, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain, and played by royal invitation at Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family. He also initiated outreach workshops across Scotland to support grassroots piping and drumming development. As an instructor at The National Piping Centre, Alisdair taught at seasonal schools and international programs in the USA, Germany, and Switzerland. He also contributed to the HNC teaching team, developing the Live Performance curriculum. As an adjudicator, he has judged competitions such as the Glasgow Highland Club, Boys’ Brigade Contests, Inveraray Highland Games, CLASP and Army School of Piping events. Alisdair is currently the Pipe Major of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes & Drums, leading the band in performances at the Tattoo from 2017–present. In 2017, he was honoured to be one of the lone pipers for the event. Additionally, for the past three years, he has been a soloist in the featured "Electro Pipes" performance. Internationally, he has led the REMT Pipes & Drums at major festivals in Germany, Norway, China, and Australia. He has just recently returned from leading the band at the 75th Anniversary Shows in both Brisbane and Auckland where he was also one of the lone pipers. After returning to Perth in 2020, Alisdair resumed his role as Pipe Major of the Grade 1 Western Australia Police Pipe Band, where he helped establish the WA Police Youth Development Pipe Band to foster emerging talent. In 2022, the band made a successful return to the concert stage with its Superfly concert, recorded live and released as its latest album. In 2023, he was invited as the international guest piping instructor at the Royal New Zealand Piping and Drumming School in Christchurch. Later that year he taught at the South Australia Piping and Drumming School in Adelaide and will again this year be an instructor at the Pipe Bands Australia Winter School. Currently, Alisdair is Head of Pipe Band and Piping Instruction at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Perth, which is one of only a handful of all female pipe bands left in the world. The PLC Pipe Band, Perth finished 3rd at the recent 2026 Australian Pipe Band Championships in both the Juvenile Novice B and Grade 4B categories. In August he will once again return to Edinburgh to perform as Pipe Major of the Tattoo Pipes & Drums at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Joshua Chandler
Josh Chandler began learning the bagpipes in 2009 at Haileybury College under the tuition of John Young. He currently studies with Murray Henderson and competes regularly across Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia, with career highlights including winning the 2017 New Zealand Silver Chanter and placing 2nd in the Former Winners Double MSR Clasp. A dedicated competitor and passionate educator, Josh has built a reputation for high-level performance and a genuine commitment to helping pipers improve. His teaching combines elite-level knowledge with practical, supportive guidance, making his lessons valuable for players of all levels. Josh is the founder of Elevate Your Piping, a thriving school community designed to help pipers around the world accelerate their progress. Through weekly workshops, live coaching sessions, goal-setting accountability, and an ever-growing library of educational resources, Josh helps members develop stronger technique, better musicality, and the confidence to reach their full potential. Whether through private tuition, live performances, workshops, or the Elevate Your Piping community, Josh’s mission is to raise the standard of piping while creating an environment where every piper has the tools and support to succeed.
Scott Nicolson
Scott is originally from New Zealand and was taught by Pipe Major John Downie of the City of Auckland Pipe Band. After completing a Bachelor of Marketing and Management, Scott relocated to Edinburgh and played with the Drambuie Kirkliston Pipe Band for a competition season. In 1998, Scott returned down under, to Perth, Western Australia, to take up a full-time position with the Western Australian Police Pipe Band. He was part of the team that won the 1998 World Pipe Band Championships Grade 2. In 2001 Scott relocated to Sydney and took on the role of Pipe Major with the St Mary’s District Band Club Pipes and Drums and, later, The Pipeband Club. For the next six years the band made a steady rise back to Grade 1, along the way winning the Australian Championships Grade 2 (2006), Grade 1 (2008 and 2010) and two third places in the 2006 and 2007 World Pipe Band Championships, Grade 2. Scott started as the Pipe Band Coordinator at The Scots School Albury in 2013 and led the group to its first Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo appearance in 2017, on overseas tours to Kuala Lumpur, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Ireland and Scotland; and is the driving force behind the band’s local and international success. Under Scott’s leadership the band won the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships, the Champion of Champions title as well as the Scottish Championships – all while performing in 26 shows over 20 days at the band’s second Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo appearance.
Ainsley Hart
Ainsley Hart’s involvement with Pipe Bands dates back to 1978 when he started practice chanter instruction at school. An active pipe band career spanning more than forty years has seen him play with a number of New Zealand, Scottish and Australian bands and culminated in appointments as Pipe Major of two Grade 1 bands. Ainsley was involved for many years with the New South Wales Pipe Band Association. In this role he championed grass roots piping and drumming initiatives at the national level across a variety of issues and activities. Following a number of years as a small business operator Ainsley took up an appointment to the Knox Grammar School Pipes and Drums in 2010. It’s a position that he still holds and one in which he has met with remarkable success, taking the band to a 2016 Grade 4 Australian Pipe Band Championship win. Still an active competitor at the top levels of solo piping, Ainsley remains a regular competitor at most Australian benchmark competitions. Ainsley’s thirty five years of business experience and tertiary qualifications in business have allowed him to bring invaluable leadership and management experience to the role of PBA President. Ainsley’s relaxed and affable manner belies his keen intellect and a burning desire to see the Pipe Band movement grow and flourish.
William (Will) Sincock
Originally from Melbourne and now based in Sydney, Will Sincock is one of Australia’s leading competitive pipers and educators. Since relocating to New South Wales in 2022, Will has taught full-time within the Knox Grammar School Pipe and Drums Program, where he works closely with developing pipers across a range of ages and abilities. Will has performed and competed extensively throughout Australia and internationally, consistently achieving success at the highest levels of solo and pipe band competition. A highly accomplished solo piper, he is the current A-Grade Australian Solo Light Music Champion and NSW State A-Grade Solo Light Music Champion. In band competition, Will currently serves as Pipe Sergeant of the LCC Southern Cross Pipes and Drums and is also a member of the legendary 16-time World Champion Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band. His extensive competitive experience includes multiple Australian Pipe Band Championship victories and a Grade 1 New Zealand Pipe Band Championship title, alongside a long-standing membership with the Hawthorn Pipe Band. Passionate about musical development and performance, Will brings a wealth of elite-level experience to his teaching, offering students valuable insight into technique, expression, ensemble performance, and competitive preparation.
Drumming Tutors
Nicola Cairns
Nicola, originally from Auckland, New Zealand, began tenor drumming in 2002 under the mentorship of her father, Tony, with the Auckland and District Pipe Band. She has since played with numerous Grade 1 bands, contributing to four New Zealand Champion Bands, eight NZ Champion Drum Corps, and nine NZ Champion Bass Sections. In 2007, Nicola relocated to Scotland and performed with the Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band and the Fife Constabulary. In 2011, she was invited by Reid Maxwell to join the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, where she played for four years and participated in the "Live from New York City" concert at the Lincoln Center. In 2016, Nicola returned to Scotland to join the reformed Spirit of Scotland band under Jim Kilpatrick MBE, achieving the Drum Corps Championship at the UK Championship. She later joined the Scottish Power Pipe Band in 2019, where she contributed to multiple top-six finishes and the Best Drum Corps prize at the British Championship. The band also performed at the pre-Worlds concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Most recently, Nicola performed with the Hawthorne Pipe Band, securing a third-place finish at the 2024 New Zealand Championships. With 20 years of teaching experience, Nicola has instructed tenor drumming globally at various schools and workshops. She currently resides on the NSW Central Coast with her husband and two children and teaches in the Knox Grammar Pipes and Drums program.
Gallery
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
