The Caritas Banner competition for under 18 piobaireachd playing was held yesterday, November 30, in the premises of its founders, George Watson’s College, Edinburgh.
There were more than 60 young entrants from all over Scotland, and one even travelled from North Wales to take part.
By Robert Wallace
There were three events, Under 18 (two tunes required), 14&Under (own choice) and 14&Under Ground and Variation. Results were as follows:
Under 18
1 Harris Morford, Lockerbie Academy (pictured above)
2 Ross Aitchison, St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm
3 Craig Mitchell, Cults Academy, Aberdeen
4 Charlie Mack, Preston Lodge High School, East Lothian
5 Morla Bruce, Glenalmond College
6 Rory Cairns, George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh
14 & Under
1 Toby Chapman, Dollar Academy
2 Alasdair Bullock, Oban High School
3 Lorne McIntyre, George Heriot’s
4 Rory Forbes, George Watson’s College
5 Archie Leonard, George Heriot’s
6 James Silcock, Falkirk High School
14 & Under Urlar and Variation
1 Travis McKenna-Johnston, Annan Academy
2 Aaron Kane, West Lothian Schools
3 Charlotte Rawlins, High School of Dundee
4 Cash McLeay, Preston Lodge
5 Noah Cottam, George Heriot’s
6 Eilidh Squires, High School of Dundee
The competition is sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society, Kintail Bagpipes and ‘Old Watsonians’, former pupils of GWC.
Judges gathered at 8am on a cold Sunday morning to be met by Ross Harvey and Ben Duncan, piping leaders at the school and the efficient organisers of the competition.
I judged the Under 18 with Bill Wotherspoon. After an enjoyable six hours listening, we took only a few minutes to come to our decision. Harris Morford was the most musical tune of the 25 or so we heard. He snatched at the short notes in the siubhal of Tulloch Ard and needs to continue to work on his dare and his crunluath, but his tune was presented with considerable aplomb. A close second was Ross Aitchison with the Big Spree. This was a good attempt, but some rushing in variation 1 and in the crunluath (couple of misses here) took the edge off his performance.
Third prize was Craig Mitchell’s with Black Donald’s March. His later variations lacked focus on the theme, and there were crunluath misses, but another mature presentation on a good instrument. Charlie Mack was fourth with a well fingered, if sluggish Desperate Battle. Morla Bruce had a wee slip in Caber Feidh Gu Bragh but held things together well on a steady pipe. The final prize went to Rory Cairns with a bold attempt at the difficult Lament for Mary MacLeod. Unfortunately he clipped the short E between the Fs and cut the theme note in the crunluath doubling.
A few comments I gave at the prize giving centred on the need to develop the ability to concentrate for the duration of a piece of ceòl mòr. Several tunes were spoiled by wrong notes, changes of mind, and chokes as concentration wandered. Other players put themselves out of contention by failing to execute basic movements correctly. It was here that the pipe band background of many competitors became obvious.
You can hide a faulty taorluath in a band, but not when you are under the microscope at the Caritas Banner or any other solo competition. It is this that makes junior competition so vital for the future of our music. When I was learning in the 214 BB band, the minute you were able you were thrust into solo competition, no choice in the matter, and there at the end of the day was a crit sheet laying out why you hadn’t been successful and 90% of the time re-inforcing your tutor’s prompting.
Next year’s Caritas Banner is on November 29, and after only three years it is rapidly establishing itself as a must-attend competition for all aspiring junior pipers.
Judges: E Anderson, R Barnes, D Fraser, L Tannock, R Wallace, W Wotherspoon.
