In early August, Heriot's Pipe Band enjoyed an 11-day trip to the Lorient Festival, the world’s largest Celtic gathering. The band delighted audiences throughout the festival, which attracts nearly 1m visitors to Lorient every year and is viewed/streamed by 20m. Performances included parades, and the nightly stadium shows ‘Horizons Celtique’.

The festival’s Grande Parade took place in front of an audience of over 90,000 lining the streets of the town. There were also two stage concerts where the musical skills of Heriot's talented band were highlighted for all watching, earning the band an encore in their final performance of the trip on the main stage at the Place des Pays Celtes.

🏆Trip Accomplishments🏆 11 performances in 7 days - They performed three times in one day, in 26° heat! (Playing the pipes for one hour is equivalent to a 5k run) - 26-hour travel both ways! - Late-night daily shows were performed in a 16,000-seat stadium, Stade du Moustoir, home of FC Lorient - Featured in French press and festival media multiple times - 3 pupils entered a fun 'Kitchen piping competition' – Rory (S5) came 5th and all pupils won prizes - Asked to play at a rugby event – an unplanned and spontaneous request! - Cara (S5) interviewed on national TV and other interviews with Breton and French newspapers; all conducted in French!

A local artist was inspired to paint the band. The general public and festival organisers continually commented on how amazing the pupils were; their talent, professionalism and behaviour were all exemplary. Chapeau Pipe Band, Chapeau! 🥁

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