Pre-registration for the 2016 South Florida Piping and Drum Academy is now open. The Academy will run from Feb 24 -28 inclusive at Boca Raton, Florida.
Boca Raton Fire Department, 6500 Congress Ave #200, Boca Raton, FL 33487, is the precise address. Likely schedule will be auditions on the Weds, then an evening out for a meet and greet. Classes proper will start Thursday the 25th and the school will end with a Sunday evening parade through nearby Mizner Park:
and end with the concert at the amphitheatre (above).
Local organiser Noah Morrissette said: ‘The facility has several hotels within a mile of it, and we hope to get a few corporate sponsors to add the companies that already generously sponsor us: RT Shepherd, McCallum Bagpipes, David Naill and Pipe Dreams. The Academy is now registered as a not-for-profit corporation. Students can also write off their fees as a tax deduction.
‘As before we will be offering a full range of instruction in piping and drumming as well as examinations. Class will be kept as closely as possible to six students to each teacher. This is a wonderful opportunity for those in the north to get some winter sun and at the same time expert tuition.
‘Our Principal is Mr Robert Wallace of Glasgow, Scotland, a world-renowned bagpipe educator and he is assisted by Senior Instructor P/M Barry Donaldson a World Champion winner with the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band [pictured top with his 2015 class]. Other instructors are Donald MacBride from Kansas but originally from Scotland who is a highly respected teacher in the US, and Mr Tommy Johnston a Grade 1 champion drummer who has played will many the great names of the past including Mr Alex Duthart.
‘We will add to the teaching faculty as the need arises. I would encourage all student to pre-register now for what will be an outstanding week of instruction and friendship. The 2015 class was an outstanding success and we will be building on that in 2016.’
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