Benoni High Pipe Band at the top of its game

“Benoni High School’s (BHS) juvenile novice pipe band is as near to perfection as one can be.”

This is according to bandmaster Malcolm Engles as the countdown starts ahead of the South African Pipe Band Championship and Champions of Champions, to once again be held at Benoni Northerns Sports Club.

The piping season kicked off on a good note, with the band already drumming out the competition.

The band, which largely consists of new members, has thus far claimed top honours at all four major competitions on the Pipe Bands’ Association of South Africa’s (PBASA) calendar.

“The current band is unique in so many aspects,” said Engles.

“Only four members of the 2023 band are still playing, while we welcomed three new pipers and four new members to the drumming core. This year we also do not have any matric learners.

Speaking of the members’ talents and personalities, Engles says that the band’s members are incredibly diverse yet have seamlessly synchronised.

“It is not just their cultural differences that are striking, their interests cannot be further apart,” he said with a smile.

“It feels like their differences are what truly united the band as not only a group who perform together but as friends. They have become a harmonised family, who share inside jokes and support one another.”

Grade 11 learner and piper Chris Myburgh has been part of the band for the past six years.

The keen rugby player, swimmer and athlete said that the band’s accolades and accomplishments are well celebrated, however, attributes their 2024 success to the kinship they share as a band.

“We have toured, performed at numerous exclusive events and got up to our fair share of mischief but it was all wholesome fun,” said Myburgh.

“We challenge and support each other but most importantly we give it our all when ‘kilt-up’ to play.”

Of the looming finals, which will take place on July 27, Myburgh says that the band is excited to defend the title.

“We have put in the work and the time to not only hone our skills but also to put on another goosebump-inducing show,” he said.

“We invite the community to come and enjoy a day filled with festivities with us and to watch the sunset as nearly 300 members from 20 bands perform in the mass band gathering, which will precede the highly anticipated prize-giving.”

With competition season steadily coming to a close, Engles invites interested players from all schools from Grade Five to contact him on 084 322 1399.

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