World Pipe Band Championships Win Makes Tattoo History

Jamie Cupples made Tattoo history as the first World Pipe Band Championships winner to carry the 73-year-old World Championship Mace at the Tattoo. He led the Massed Pipes and Drums onto the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for the Tattoo and down the Royal Mile. Jamie shares his Pipe Band story, his World Pipe Band Championships 2025 victory, and making Tattoo history. 

How did you first get involved with Pipe Bands? 

Pipe bands were a part of my life from a very young age. My first parade was when I was just two years old. My mum, dad, and brother were all members of Crilly Pipe Band, so it really was a full family band. Mum competed as a piper and Dad as a drummer, so I grew up surrounded by that world. 

As I got older, I was inspired by my cousin Jason Morrison, who was an incredibly successful Drum Major here in Northern Ireland. Watching him compete and win everything there was to win made me want to follow in his footsteps. I started learning at the age of seven and began competing at eight. My first year I didn’t go far — I managed one 5th place near the end of the season — but by my second year, I won my first competition in Newcastle. 

Since then, it’s been a journey that’s taken me from the junior grades right up to senior level - winning four World titles (Junior 2015 & 2016, Juvenile 2018, and Senior 2025), along with four Northern Ireland Champion of Champions titles, three Scottish Champion of Champions, and multiple British, Ulster, All-Ireland, and UK titles. 

I’ve been lucky to have the support of my parents and guidance from Jason Morrison and Jason Price. Plus, a brilliant circle of friends who’ve pushed me to keep improving. 

I’ve always said I wanted to travel the world and make Drum Majoring more than just a hobby. 15 years later, that’s finally starting to happen. 

What was it like to win the Drum Major World Pipe Band Championship? 

Winning the World Championship is hard to put into words. It’s everything you dream of, and to achieve it while being part of the Tattoo made it even more special. 

This year was more stressful because members of the Tattoo team were watching, and I didn’t want to make a mistake. Coming off the field, seeing friends from the Tattoo, and receiving messages afterwards showed just how close the Tattoo community is. 

This was my fourth world title, across all the grades, and to complete the set with the Senior title was just incredible. 

What was it like to perform at the Tattoo and make history as the first Drum Major to carry the World Championship Mace down the Royal Mile? 

I mean, wow. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. The entire Tattoo cast of over 1,000 performers from all around the world are just incredible - the talent, professionalism, and sense of family are unmatched. 

Marching down that drawbridge out of the smoke and into the lights, seeing a sea of people in the stands, it’s honestly one of the most breathtaking feelings you can imagine. To have just won the Worlds on top of that and then spend the next week performing with the Charles Hepburn Memorial Mace, which is now 73 years old, was such an honour. 

To then share the final show with Drum Major Rab McCutcheon, Senior Drum Major British Army, The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming on his last performance - that was an incredibly emotional and special moment. It’s something I’ll never forget.