On Saturday, July 6th, Albury, a NSW border town, hosted an exciting solo piping contest organized by the Victorian Pipers Association, writes Scott Nicolson.
Participants travelled from both Victoria and New South Wales to compete. Adding an international flair to the occasion, Mike Cusack from Houston, Texas, served as the guest adjudicator.
He not only presided over the competition but also conducted a piobaireachd workshop alongside Malcolm McRae the following day. Each instructor covered three tunes from the Piobaireachd Society Silver Medal tunes. These tunes also form part of the new set tune list just recently introduced by Pipe Bands Australia.
The competition could not of been possible without the support of The Scots School Albury Pipe Band parents, the Victorian Pipers Association, St Kilda Retail and The Scots School Albury.
A Piobaireachd
1 Jono Quay – MacNeil of Barra’s March
2 Stephan Ross – Hector Roy Maclean’s Warning
3 Jack Watson – Desperate Battle of the Birds
4 Liam Nicolson – Lament for Donald of Laggan
Judges: M Cusack, M McRae
A Double MSR
1 Liam Nicolson – Knightsood Ceilidh, Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque, Inveraray Castle, Caber Feidh, Alick Cameron, Champion Piper, Alec C MacGregor; Also competing: Jono Quay – Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque, Duke of Roxburgh’s Farewell to the Blackmount Forest, Maggie Cameron, Lady Louden, Thomson’s Dirk, Fiona MacLeod; Jack Watson – Mrs Donald Maclean, Glenfinnan Highland Gathering, Maggie Cameron, Top of Craigvennow. Sandy Cameron, Rejected Suitor; Judges: M Cusack, M McRae, S Young, A Sneddon, B Gray
A March: 1 Jono Quay 2 Liam Nicolson 3Jack Watson; Judge: M Cusack
A S&R: 1 Jono Quay 2 Liam Nicolson 3 Jack Watson; Judge: A Sneddon
A H&J: 1 Jono Quay 2 Liam Nicolson 3 Jack Watson; Judge: B Gray
Overall: 1 Jono Quay 2 Liam Nicolson 3 Jack Watson
B Piobaireachd: 1 Henry Carls – Massacre of Glencoe; Judges: M McRae, S Young
B March: 1 Henry Carls 2 Graham Durant-Law; Judge: B Gray
B S&R: 1 Henry Carls 2 Graham Durant-Law; Judge: S Young
B H&J: 1 Graham Durant-Law 2 Henry Carls; Judge: A Sneddon
Overall: 1 Henry Carls 2 Graham Durant-Law
C Piobaireachd: 1 Stephanie Scott 2 Lyn Vanos 3 Roger Sinclair; Judge: M McRae
C March: 1 Jonnie Coe 2 Jess Jeffery 3 Stephanie Scott; Judge: SYoung
C S&R: 1 Jonnie Coe 2 Finlay Parsos 3 Stephanie Scott; Judge: A Sneddon
C H&J: 1 Jonnie Coe 2 Finlay Parsos 3 Jess Jeffrey; Judge: B Gray
Overall: 1 Jonnie Coe 2 Stephanie Scott 3 Finlay Parsos
D Piobaireachd: 1 Mike Taylor 2 James Brisolin 3 Ebony Ciccocioppo; Judge: M McRae
D March: 1 Mike Taylor 2 James Brisolin 3 Ebony Ciccocioppo; Judge: A Sneddon
D S&R: 1 Ebony Ciccocioppo 2 Mike Taylor 3 James Brisolin; Judge: B Gray
Overall: 1 Mike Taylor 2 Ebony Ciccocioppo 3 James Brisolin
Novice Piobaireachd: 1 Jeanae Bao 2Janae Quach 3 Sachindri Rathnayake; Judge: M McRae
Novice March: 1 Jeanae Bao 2 Charlie Millar 3 Sachindri Rathnayake; Judge: M Cusack
Novice Slow Air: 1 Jeanae Bao 2 Charlie Millar 3 Isabella Lau; Judge: S Young
Overall: 1 Jeanae Bao 2 Charlie Millar 3 Sachindri Rathnayake
