The origins of the bagpipes date back two thousand years. Their ancient sound resonates deep within our souls—sometimes sorrowful, sometimes joyful. The pipes have been heard in times of battle, but most often in moments of peace and celebration.

Every August, over 200 bagpipe bands from around the world gather in Glasgow, Scotland, for the World Pipe Band Championships. They converge on Glasgow Green for a single day of intense competition.

In 2008, 40 of the world’s elite solo pipers and drummers unite as an all-star band—the Spirit of Scotland—to take on world-class bands that have played together for years, even decades. Something like this has never happened before and may never happen again. Can these outstanding individual players come together to create a winning ensemble in just two weeks?

As the competition nears, tension builds. These musicians share a passion for piping, but they are used to performing solo, center stage. Now, they must put the band first, working toward perfect harmony. We witness intense rehearsals leading up to the Worlds and the nail-biting qualifying rounds that determine the 14 finalists.

The film weaves together musical performances with personal stories. The pipers and drummers of the Spirit of Scotland are both extraordinary musicians and everyday people. Through cinéma vérité observation and candid one-on-one interviews, we reveal their distinctive personalities. We explore their backgrounds, hear their intimate and insightful stories—some heartening, some bittersweet—and learn what drives their passion. As they prepare for their ultimate performance, we watch new relationships form and bonds strengthen.

Whatever viewers think they know about bagpipers and piping music will be forever changed. Set against the backdrop of the World Championships, this film uncovers the lore of the pipes and the people behind these powerful instruments. It will entertain, enlighten, and open hearts to the beauty of this often misunderstood, deeply stirring form of music.

The Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band was formed in 2008 with the aim of competing at the World Pipe Band Championships as a Grade 1 band. The band consisted of pipers and drummers from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Denmark and the USA.

The idea to form the band was hatched at the Glenfiddich Piping Championships by a number of the participating competitors. It was recognized that there were many excellent pipers and drummers not currently playing with bands and unable to commit to a band on a year round basis that would enjoy the opportunity to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships.

The idea was met with great approval and so the band began to form with many of the worlds top soloists, including eleven Gold Medal winners, coming together for the challenge.

Keith Highlanders Pipe Band in Seattle, Washington

Meet the Members Video

While studying cinema at USC, John received critical acclaim with Cotton Eyed Joe, his first internationally-recognized documentary.  He produced, directed and co-wrote The Youngest Victim, a documentary that aired as an ABC Television Prime Time Special and won numerous awards, including an Emmy.  His feature length documentary, The Ghost Mountain Experiment  has just been completed and has begun screening at film festivals around the world.  He has traveled to China four times to shoot footage for Children of the Pear Garden, his documentary about the dying art of Chinese Opera. 

As an bagpiper, John has gone to the World Pipe Band Championships seven times. but he admits he's a better filmmaker than piper. He has played with the Misty Isle Pipe Band and the Pasadena Scots. He currently plays with the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band in Seattle, Washington.

John’s

John McDonald Productions website:  mcdonaldproductions.com

The Ghost Mountain Experiment:  GhostMountainMovie.com

John’s band website:  PasadenaScots.com