StAC Attack 2025

A large audience in the magnificent James Hay Theatre in the Christchurch Town Hall enjoyed impressive performances of around 140 pipers, drummers, and Highland dancers at the StAC Attack concert on Sunday 27 July. This annual celebration of Scottish culture at St Andrew’s is a key event on the Pipe Band calendar, where the double-gold medal winners from this year’s New Zealand Championships, once again showed their class during the hugely entertaining extravaganza.

Director of Pipe Band, Richard Hawke, says he was "immensely proud" of all the talented performers, with many featuring in around three-quarters of the items, requiring them to learn and memorise a huge repertoire of music.

“It’s a pretty big ask, but every year, both our senior band members and new members step up to the mark, which is great to see.”

Richard says one of the highlights was a three-tune tribute to legendary Scottish piping composer, Donald Macleod, which included a moving Piobaireachd called Lament for the Iolaire, written by Macleod following the shipwreck of the HMY Iolaire on New Year’s Day 1919. The Highland dancers joined in for a spirited performance of Macleod’s The Man from Skye, which was also well-received.

“The Highland dancers, from the little ones to the senior dancers, always add so much to the event,” he says.

Another highlight was an entertaining Address to a Haggis delivered by Noah Fanene (Year 13), who also performed a powerful, unaccompanied rendition of the traditional Scottish folk song The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond.

Rector, Mark Wilson, was surprised by Pipe Major, Sam Foote (Year 12), who presented him with framed music of a special 2/4 March tune called, Mr Mark Wilson’s Welcome to St Andrew’s College, which was written and performed by Sam at the concert during his solo performance.

During the concert, the audience enjoyed an insight into the journey of learning the pipes and drums, from the youngest learners on the chanter or drum pad, to the talented students playing at the highest levels of competition.

There was lots of positive feedback from audience members following the concert, including many Old Collegians, who were wowed by the pipers’, drummers’ and dancers’ performances.