According to his recollection he was “the only resident piper in Dartmouth at that time”.
This soon changed as Mr. Sutherland taught his children to play the Great Highland bagpipes. They, in turn, taught their children and other relatives. His son, Gordon Sutherland, had three sons, as well as nephews becoming proficient on the pipes so he proceeded to form a small pipe band. Gordon’s younger son later became a drummer in the band.
In 1965, Gordon Sutherland (assisted by his father, Alex W. Sutherland), formed the first Dartmouth Boy’s Pipe Band. From this time forward the Dartmouth & District Pipe Band have always worn the Sutherland tartan in honour of their first instructors.
From a band comprised of a small group of boys in 1965 hundreds of pipers and drummers have since trained in the Dartmouth & District pipe band school. These pipers and drummers are now spread around the world where many band alumni have become famous in the world of piping.
At the present time there are more than a hundred pipers and drummers, ranging in age from 8 to adult in the Dartmouth & District Pipe Band.
This is the largest youth-oriented pipe band in Atlantic Canada fielding competitive bands in grades 5, 4 and 2.
