The Hundred Percent collective is comprised of women and gender minorities from the world's top-level pipe bands, working to create equity and community for women in pipe bands.
This initiative is inspired by the fact that currently women make up only 7% of pipers in grade 1. The number is low because the barriers are real. Bias, exclusion, discrimination, and the steady attrition of players who are more than capable but don’t want to deal with it. The discrimination women face has been evidenced and documented through research conducted by the National Piping Centre and the University of Glasgow, and in an article and informal survey from pipesdrums. This article also outlined a vision for the future - and one of these visions was a grade 1 level pipe band comprised exclusively of women.
Our goal is high-level performance, community-building, creating equity for women in pipe bands, and to inspire future generations.
In 2023, the women pipers from the centre bands gathered for a photo during the march past at the Worlds. It was a cool moment of shared knowing. In 2024, we expanded and took a photo with all of the women pipers in grade 1. A question took shape: what would it be like if we played together, not just stood together?
The Hundred Percent Collective is that band, with musicians drawn from top pipe bands across Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Canada, the USA and France.
As one of our goals is equity in pipe bands, we want to create an environment where everyone feels seen, respected, and celebrated for who they are. We will always welcome cisgender and transgender girls and women, as well as non-binary and LGBTQ+ people who feel comfortable in female-focused spaces.