![Knox Grammar School Pipes and Drums enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to Scotland, England and Ireland. Knox Grammar School Pipes and Drums enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to Scotland, England and Ireland.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/HP8JNNb9L5GxeLhGSmNhXK/a5357911-879a-4295-919b-fb68f748fae5.jpg/r0_0_4032_3024_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Fifty-three students from the Knox Grammar School Pipes and Drums returned from the trip of a lifetime to Scotland, England and Ireland.
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Performances at the Tower of London, Stirling Castle, Glasgow, Inverness and Belfast were among the highlights of the trip.
"Being able to play in front of the London Tower was an absolutely amazing experience and I doubt it is something I will ever do again," Knox Year 9 boarder, Daniel Corbett, Junee, said.
The Knox boys also competed in three competitions - the All Ireland Pipe Band Championships, the European Pipe Band Championships and the Corby Highland Games.
"The European Pipe Band Championships was the largest competition event any boy on the tour has attended," Year 11 Knox boarder, Morgan Singleton, Newcastle, said.
"This unique experience exposed us to the standard of quality from the European bands and made us reflect on how far we as an entire band have progressed, but also how far we can strive to achieve."
"The tour provided a unique opportunity for the boys to immerse themselves in the history and heritage of traditional Pipe Bands," Knox pipe band master, Ainsley Hart said.
"In Edinburgh, the boys had the chance to visit the burial site of John Knox, the 16th century leader of the Scottish reformation after whom Knox Grammar School is named."
The competition opportunities provided on the tour also improved the boys performance skills.
"On tour, I became better at hearing mistakes, not only in my own playing but of those in the band," Daniel said.
"Learning to hear these mistakes will help me improve as well as others in the band improve."
The trip was the Knox Pipes and Drums fifth tour of the United Kingdom.
Established in 1946, the Knox Pipes and Drums plays at a number of commemorative events.
These include the Anzac Day Parade and competitions such as the Australian Pipe Band Championships, an event which the band won in 2018.