14th of October 2011, Hilversum, Netherlands: We are pleased to announce that former Pipe Major Richard van der Horn is returning to The City of Amsterdam Pipe Band. Richard will become the piping instructor, while Shawn Scarlett will remain as Pipe Major, calling on Richard's experience.

In the eighties the band made remarkable progress under Richard's leadership as one of the first Continental bands to win prizes at Scottish contests, including winning the 2004 Grade 3A Scottish Championships in Dumbarton. The following year, the band was promoted to Grade 2.

The “City” at that time was noted for its distinctive pipe sound and strong ensemble playing. Richard’s experience will be a valuable addition in bringing the band back to this high performance standard.

The future of the band looks promising. As part of the Coalition, the City of Amsterdam has been working closely together with The Beatrix Pipe Band. This relationship, begun several years ago, has established a strong base for developing new players and has energized the whole organization. 

The band is currently recruiting players who want to participate in this unique development. Anyone interested can contact the band through: secretary@cityofamsterdampipeband.nl or come to one of our practices.