Founded in 1967 to train young people in piping and drumming, the Prince Charles Pipe Band is an extensive organization which includes Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 5 pipe bands. (Competitive Pipe bands are ranked from Grade 1 as the highest to Novice Juvenile as the lowest.) The Grade 2 band was re-formed in late 2008 with a combination of members from the now defunct Grade 1 band, and newer talent from the lower grade bands. Throughout its history in many different competitive classes, the band has won major prizes including the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championship in 2000, after which the band became of only three Grade 1 bands in the United States. Prior to their Grade 1 placement, the Prince Charles Pipe Band frequently achieved high placings internationally in Scotland's major competitions as a junior and Grade 3 band. Prince Charles Pipe Band currently operates Grade 2 and 5 bands. History In 1967 J.W. Merriman, Jack Sutherland and Jerry Golanty - all members of the City of San Francisco (Caledonian) Pipe Band - realized that there was no organization to train young pipers and drummers in the Bay Area. In 1968 the band was founded by them and became officially a non-profit educational corporation. It is also a registered member of an Explorer Post of the Boy Scouts of America. Bill Merriman served as piping instructor and Jack Sutherland and Jerry Golanty as drumming instructors. Jack also served as band manager. Several years later Trevor Atkinson, another "Callie" band member, became the drumming instructor. The band, which began with a small number of students, to date has trained approximately 500 pipers and drummers. Today there are very few bands anywhere in California that do not have a former PCPB member in their ranks. When the Prince Charles band was founded the principles of the band included quality instruction, dedication, and discipline and these have not changed. As pipers and drummers grow in experience and maturity they are expected to pass on their learning to others. The Prince Charles Pipe Band has actually been many bands over the years-from Grade 1 to Grade 4 and Juvenile, Junior and at one time a Ladies' Band. Besides entertaining for thousands of events, the bands have competed in the United States, Canada and in Scotland for 30 years. Beginning in 1968 with a handful of pipers and drummers, the band