Balmoral School
Mission Statement
“To raise the standard and promote the appreciation of bagpipe music in the USA by providing world-class instruction, cultivating excellence in youth, presenting innovative musical events, and fostering tradition."
America’s leader in bagpiping and drumming instruction, performance, and collaboration, Balmoral School was established in 1978 by co-founders George Balderose and James McIntosh, MBE, and is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational organization. The school celebrates and teaches traditional bagpipe music dating to the 15th century, as well as more recent compositions in the traditional style, including the competition repertoire.
Balmoral® is a registered service mark of Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming.
Balmoral School Objectives
Establish Pittsburgh as a national center for American bagpiping.
Establish the Balmoral School as the national leader in the training of young American pipers.
Promote a long-term commitment of young people to culture and heritage and associate our supporters with long-term and healthy youth and family values.
Widen the public’s appreciation of bagpipe music through innovative and collaborative concerts that showcase quality traditional and original bagpipe music.
Balmoral Brings Traditional Bagpipe Music to Wider Audiences
The Balmoral School develops the field of bagpiping in new and creative ways within the traditional idiom, and widens the public’s understanding and appreciation of quality bagpipe music. Public concerts at downtown Pittsburgh’s historic First Presbyterian Church feature traditional and original bagpipe music accompanied by organ, choir, and classical dance and supported in part by grants from the Howard Heinz Endowment of Pittsburgh.
Over the years, the school has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Pittsburgh National Bank Charitable Trust, The Heinz Endowments, the Laurel Foundation, The First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, the Sage Foundation, the Clan Donald Educational and Charitable Trust, and the US Piping Foundation as well as grants from other organizations and individuals. Over the course of the each summer session, the school awards between $4,000 to $8,000 worth of tuition discounts or scholarships to piping and drumming summer session students.
The Balmoral Schools are a privilege to produce and a wonderful opportunity to help motivated pipers and Scottish-style drummers. We are very fortunate to have been able to bring them together with top quality instructors to improve their playing.
We encourage a long term commitment among families and young people to the culture and heritage associated with the great traditions of bagpiping. The most successful students are the ones who take up and continue playing the instrument with the full support of their families. Learning the bagpipe through the Balmoral Schools builds character, promotes heritage, and fully supports family values.
“To raise the standard and promote the appreciation of bagpipe music in the USA by providing world-class instruction, cultivating excellence in youth, presenting innovative musical events, and fostering tradition."
America’s leader in bagpiping and drumming instruction, performance, and collaboration, Balmoral School was established in 1978 by co-founders George Balderose and James McIntosh, MBE, and is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational organization. The school celebrates and teaches traditional bagpipe music dating to the 15th century, as well as more recent compositions in the traditional style, including the competition repertoire.
Balmoral® is a registered service mark of Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming.
Balmoral School Objectives
Establish Pittsburgh as a national center for American bagpiping.
Establish the Balmoral School as the national leader in the training of young American pipers.
Promote a long-term commitment of young people to culture and heritage and associate our supporters with long-term and healthy youth and family values.
Widen the public’s appreciation of bagpipe music through innovative and collaborative concerts that showcase quality traditional and original bagpipe music.
Balmoral Brings Traditional Bagpipe Music to Wider Audiences
The Balmoral School develops the field of bagpiping in new and creative ways within the traditional idiom, and widens the public’s understanding and appreciation of quality bagpipe music. Public concerts at downtown Pittsburgh’s historic First Presbyterian Church feature traditional and original bagpipe music accompanied by organ, choir, and classical dance and supported in part by grants from the Howard Heinz Endowment of Pittsburgh.
Over the years, the school has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Pittsburgh National Bank Charitable Trust, The Heinz Endowments, the Laurel Foundation, The First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, the Sage Foundation, the Clan Donald Educational and Charitable Trust, and the US Piping Foundation as well as grants from other organizations and individuals. Over the course of the each summer session, the school awards between $4,000 to $8,000 worth of tuition discounts or scholarships to piping and drumming summer session students.
The Balmoral Schools are a privilege to produce and a wonderful opportunity to help motivated pipers and Scottish-style drummers. We are very fortunate to have been able to bring them together with top quality instructors to improve their playing.
We encourage a long term commitment among families and young people to the culture and heritage associated with the great traditions of bagpiping. The most successful students are the ones who take up and continue playing the instrument with the full support of their families. Learning the bagpipe through the Balmoral Schools builds character, promotes heritage, and fully supports family values.