About us

Summary

By the late 1990s, the number of pipe bands in South America had reached six (three in Buenos Aires, two in Montevideo, and one in Sao Paulo). In spite of the distance between pipe band home cities, contacts between pipe bands became frequent and led to setting up joint events, which in turn led to the idea of setting up a regional pipe band association.

The organisation of the First South American Pipe Band Gathering in Montevideo, Uruguay, on April 17th 2004, precipitated the formation of such an association, and the Scottish Pipe Band Association of South America (SPBASA) was officially inaugurated at this Gathering itself.

However, the facts indicated that – compared to other pipe band associations in the world – this one had to be especially designed to the region’s needs and particularities. Thus, SPBASA is run by an Executive Committee elected bi-annually by member pipe bands through their representatives in a Board that also includes independent pipers and drummers.