THE HIGHLAND BAND OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND

One of only two remaining kilted military bands in the UK and stationed in Perth with the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland not only recruits members from the local area but also from far afield as Aberdeen, Inverness and central Scotland. The Band is fortunate in employing some of Scotland's finest young musicians, with a substantial proportion of Band members being students or graduates of the internationally renowned Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

The Band is a direct descendent of the former 4/5th Battalion Black Watch Band which was formed in 1962 under the late WO1 (Bandmaster) Max Pratt MBE (whose son Allyn is currently Band Sergeant Major). In 1967 with the reorganisation of the Highland Territorial Battalions, the Band became the Band of the 51st Highland Volunteers. It was retitled the Band of 51 Highland Brigade in 1995 and adopted its present name on the 28th of March 2006 upon the creation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

A wide variety of engagements is undertaken by the Band with an emphasis on public relations and enhancing the profile of the Army in the north of Scotland, although the Band has performed throughout the British Isles from Shetland in the north to Jersey in the south. In recent years, international appearances have become a regular feature of the Band schedule. During the past five years alone, the Band has travelled three times to Canada for the Nova Scotia International Tattoo, to Sweden for the Ystad International Tattoo, and to Belgium, Romania and France.

This July, the Band will undertake a 2 week tour of the Highlands and Islands, including the Outer Hebrides and it is likely that a further visit to Canada will occur next year.

The present Director of Music is Captain Graeme Abernethy QVRM, who assumed the appointment in 1991.