New Sponsor for New England Pipe & Drum Academy

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nepa logoThe New England Pipe and Drum Academy (NEPADA) has received new sponsorship from one of North America’s leading reedmakers, Chris Apps Reeds.

The Academy runs from June 14 -19 at the beautiful Adelynrood Retreat in Byfield, MA, about an hour from Boston. Registrations are now open, and for 2016 the Academy will feature a full programme for side, bass and tenor drummers.

Thanks to the sponsorship from Mr Apps all pipers will receive a free reed and his company is also making a substantial donation to the camp.

Chris Apps joins the list of sponsors for NEPADA 2016
Chris Apps joins the list of sponsors for NEPADA 2016

‘I am delighted to be able to sponsor the New England Academy,’ said Chris Apps. ‘I have heard much about the good work being done there and the boost it has already given to piping tuition in the area.’

Details of how to register for the Academy are here. Read about the instructors here.

apps logoCheck out Chris Apps’ excellent products on his website. Chris has also written extensively about cane reeds and his articles for Piping Press can be read here.

Principal of the Academy Robert Wallace said: ‘We are very pleased to have this endorsement from a professional reedmaker such as Chris Apps. Our curriculum at the Academy is designed to effect a real improvement in playing standards. Central to that is teaching tuning and how to achieve quality bagpipe sound.

‘For that the piper needs a quality instrument and the reeds to go with it. With Chris’s support we will certainly now be able to supply the latter.’

Other sponsors of the Academy are RT Shepherd & Co., D Naill & Co, and MacCallum Bagpipes.

Such was the success of last year’s camp that the Academy has been extended from four days to five and this has meant a slight pro rata  increase in fees. The Academy caters for all levels of ability and offers a peaceful woodland atmosphere and quality dining for live-in students. There is a full range of piping examinations available including those for the PDQB/SQA programme. Successful candidates for the Academy examinations receive a handsome certificate:NEPADA-Grade-1-Piping

Robert Wallace will conduct a daily piobaireachd class and each afternoon all students and instructors come together for band practice. Each evening there will be a lecture and piping/drumming ceilidh.