Piping Press

Glasgow Branch Workshop & Contest/ Inverness Piping Soc./ N Mtg 2004/ Pipe Bands Australia

The Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch of the RSPBA are holding their annual October Workshop from Monday October 16 to Friday October 20th. Only £20 for a week of expert tuition.
Correspondent Maureen Gilmour writes: ‘For many years the Branch has been committed to the enhancement of piping and drumming practical skills and theoretical knowledge of Branch juvenile pipers and drummers through the provision of a workshop held each year during the October school holiday. This year the workshop will run from Monday 16th to Friday 20th October, 9.30am to 3.30pm.

‘The workshop is open to pipers and drummer aged 18 years and under will be held in the Gaelic School, Berkeley St, Glasgow. There is a nominal charge of £20 for the week-long tuition for members of Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch bands. 

All enquiries regarding times, enrolment and venue should be made to Keith Bowes (Training Officer)  at 
info@bowesbags.com 

Still with the branch, they will be holding their annual Graeme Johnston Memorial Juvenile Solo Piping Competition on November 25 at the College of Piping. Sponsors include McCallum Bagpipes, Wallace Bagpipes, and Donald MacPhee, Reed Maker. 

There are two events. Event 1 is for pipers age 14 years and under, and Event 2 is for pipers 15 to 18 years of age. Further details and entry forms can be obtained from the Contest Secretary Nigel Greeves on 01355 242302/07849354170 or at nigel@becsystems.co.uk


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Tomorrow night sees up and coming professional piper Charles MacDonald as the featured piper at the monthly meeting of the Inverness Piping Society. Alastair Campbell, Secretary, writes: ‘Be sure to come along to the Society’s monthly meeting on 4th of October. Charles MacDonald will be the featured local player and, as always, free sandwiches will be on hand. Come along bring pipes, play, or just listen. All are welcome. The Society’s Annual Junior Competition is on November 11.


Mention of P/M Ross McCrindle in yesterday’s report had us searching the archives for pictures of the Army’s Senior Pipe Major. The one up top was taken by the editor at the Northern Meeting in 2004 and Ross is far right, front row seated. Others in the picture are (standing l -r) James Beaumont, Alastair Dunn, Ian K MacDonald, Richard Hawke, Simon McKerral, P/M Michael Gray, and Donald MacPhee. Seated from the left we see Faye Henderson, ?, James MacKenzie, ?,? and Ross. Perhaps someone can fill in the gaps and tell us who won what.


News from Pipe Bands Australia: Pipe Bands Australia will create a new division of ensemble within its Australian Pipe Band College, recognising the role and importance of the discipline within modern pipe band competitions. Nationals councillors adopted the proposal to create an ensemble division and appoint a principal of ensemble at its biennial conference in Melbourne last weekend.

The proposal from Victoria said: ‘Since the inception of ensemble adjudication responsibility for the development and accreditation of ensemble adjudicators has been split between the Principals of Piping & Drumming at the National level and the Vice Principals of Piping & Drumming at the branch level who have been responsible for the development of ensemble skills and setting and maintaining appropriate standards.’

Several branches reported at conference that their cohort of accredited ensemble adjudicators had increased in recent years to the level that provided a foundation to establish an ensemble division.

It was also advocated that appointment of an ensemble principal would assist in further advancing training of adjudicators in the discipline and aid bands in their understanding of the ensemble in musical performance.

Conference supported the appointment of an interim principal and expressions will shortly be called from suitably qualified adjudicators for consideration by the Principal Piping, Principal Drumming and currently accredited ensemble adjudicators to make a recommendation to national management committee for appointment.


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