Bagpipe News

From the Comunn na Piobaireachd NZ

Greg Wilson, the secretary of the CNP Music Committee, today announced half of the 2009 tunes

College of Piping - “We are pleased to be working with MusicaliTee as our suppliers of commemorative clothing for the College at Carbisdale, 2008. We will receive a commission from Musicalitee for every top you buy so, as well as having a Collectors Item of the first College at Carbisdale Course, you will be helping towards the cost of the course.”

Full Details Here

The popular lecture previously run by the John MacFadyen Memorial Trust is to be promoted by the College of Piping for 2008. The lecture will be given by Robert Wallace. His subject will be the ‘Celebrating 60 years of the Piping Times’.

Music on the night will be supplied by Stuart Liddell and Iain Speirs.

The venue is the Fisher’s Hotel, Pitlochry, Perthshire on Friday the 14th of March at 7:30pm.

Tickets are £10 and this includes refreshments. Click Here for Tickets

Dear friends,
I will teach a free tin whistle workshop for absolute beginners from 12:30 to 1:30 on Sunday, March 16 at the Irish Arts Center, 553 W. 51st St. in Manhattan. Bring your own whistle in the key of D or purchase one for $10 at the workshop. Reservations are recommended as space is limited.

To reserve a spot in the workshop, please email me at billochs@pennywhistle.com or call me at 212-247-3231.The workshop is part of the Irish Art Center’s annual pre-St. Patrick’s Day Open House. A full schedule of events will be posted at www.irishartscenter.org by early next week.My group tin whistle classes at the Irish Arts Center start on Tuesday, April 1. I will offer Absolute Beginner, Advanced Beginner and Intermediate classes this spring. For a description of my IAC classes, please see:http://pennywhistle.com/iacclassinfo.html

To register for these spring classes, contact Rachael at the IAC: 212-757-3318, ext. 209 (10 AM to 6 PM, M - F).I also offer individual private lessons on the tin whistle, uilleann pipes, Irish flute and low whistle at my studio in mid-Manhattan. I teach all levels, from absolute beginners through advanced. My teaching hours are Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 10:00 PM. My fee is $45 for a 45-minute private session.If you can’t travel into Manhattan at those times, I also give online private lessons using Skype, the free phone and video chat software (www.skype.com). For video lessons you need a webcam, a fast broadband connection and a fairly recent computer.

Students with older computers can usually take audio-only lessons with Skype. I can also give lessons via speakerphone if your current hardware is not Skype-compatible. Please contact me if you have questions about this.Sincerely,Bill Ochs

Bagpipe Instruments and Concerts Sell Out As Global Interest Rises Article featuring news on the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and their 2 Million Dollar Recording Concert,  Red Hot Chilli Pipers Concerts, and demand for increased bagpipes from makers Kilberry Bagpipes See Full Story and Video on ABC NEWS. 

Piping Live! 2008 will take place at George Square, The National Piping Centre and many other venues around the city between 11th-17th August 2008. But if you cant wait til then for all the fun and piping excitement, go to www.pipingfestival.co.uk to look at the new Gallery section for all the photos from the last two year’s events. If you go to the home page, click on “The Festival” tab and then go to the gallery link you will be able to choose from 2006 or 2007 and remember all the fun of the festival. Also we have a few events listed, but keep checking for announcements about artists and a great NEW VENUE for the After Worlds  Shindig on Saturday 15th August!
There will be a fun new look to the website, more great events than ever before and the same amazing quality of artists all throughout the week!  

We have some very exciting news about a series of Recitals we  have planned for the Spring of 2008 here at The National Piping Centre. First up on Thursday 6th March are Fred Morrison and Finlay MacDonald. On Thursday 17th April a Field Marshall Montgomery Quartet will be playing, with solo performances and Quartet recitals included in the evening. Then on Thursday 1st May we have recitals by John Wilson and Allan MacDonald. Lastly on the 22nd May we have lined up Angus MacColl and the 2007 Glenfiddich Champion Gordon Walker to complete a great recital series. These events all start at 7.30 pm Tickets are £8 adults and £6 concessions and are available from The National Piping Centre reception in person, or by calling 0141 353 0220   or email info@thepipingcentre.co.uk

San Diego State University, San Diego, California

20th - 27th June 2008  

The California Summer School of Piping offers intensive instruction by seven Scottish and American expert piping teachers in the playing and maintenance of the Great Highland Bagpipe. The school is open to all ages and to pipers of all levels of skill from raw beginners to competition players. Each student is placed in a class of 8 to 10 students within their level of experience and skill. Emphasis is placed on marches, strathspeys, airs, reels, jigs and hornpipes. Optional classes are offered in the afternoon, such as piobaireachd, reedmaking, pipe band techniques, and bagpipe maintenance. Nightly lectures and recitals are offered by the instructors demonstrating prize-winning piping and presenting some interesting history about bagpipes and piping.To register for the school click here. 

The Flint Scottish Pipe Band will host it’s 92nd annual Ceilidh Feb. 16, 2008.   As in years past guests will be entertained by the music and dance so identified with our Highland Heritage Entertainment will be provided by the Lakes Area School of Highland Dance, Hienzman School of Irish Dance,the Celtic band Equinox, the Grand Rapids & District Pipe Band as well as The Flint Scottish Pipe Band.  The Ceilidh is held at the Knights Of Columbus Hall in Davison MI.  All of your favorite Scottish foods and drinks will be available for purchase.  
Join us in celebrating our wonderful traditions! Ticket information is available on our website  www.flintscottishpipeband.orgor by emailing  Lfisch3134@comcast.net 

The National Piping Centre, in association with the Monterey Celtic Arts Academy, to present the 4th annual Monterey bay School of Piping and Drumming in Pebble Beach prior to the 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival

A very special event-filled “2nd Annual Monterey County Celtic Week” will be held the week of June 28, 2008 through July 6, 2008, including the 4th Annual Monterey Bay Piping and Drumming School and the 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival.

This exciting week will begin with the 4th Annual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming will begin, to be held from Saturday, June 28th to Thursday, July 3rd, at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California. On Sunday, June 29th, there will be the annual popular Caber Parade featuring Scottish dancers, bagpipers and drummers on Sunday, at 1 p.m. in Devendorf Park in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea along Ocean Avenue.

The award-winning Monterey Bay Pipe Band will perform at the Caber Parade and also during the 4th of July Parade in downtown Monterey. Also during the school, on Tuesday, July 1st, there will be a Pub Night at the Mucky Duck Restaurant & Pub in Monterey, with informal performances by the piping and drumming instructors. On Wednesday, July 2nd, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., there will be a very special Celtic Concert at the Stevenson School Auditorium, featuring world class bagpipe instructors from Scotland and the United States, dancers from the Allison Barnes Academy of Irish Dance, and other Celtic performers.

The 2nd Annual Monterey County Celtic Week will culminate in the not-to-be-missed 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games and Celtic Festival at pastoral Monterey County Toro Park located between Monterey and Salinas on Highway 68, on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, 2008. This very popular Celtic celebration brings the music, dance and athletic events of the mystical lands of Scotland and Ireland to Monterey County. Featuring fun activities for the whole family, the 41st Annual Scottish Games & Celtic Festival will offer a variety of live Celtic entertainment with massed pipe bands on parade, including California pipe bands and the award-winning Delta Police Pipe Band from British Columbia, Canada, and Highland and Irish dancers. The Games will feature exciting Scottish heavy athletic competition events, including the famous Caber Toss. Great entertainment will be provided by professional Celtic Bands. Exciting colorful activities will include pipe band competitions, Drum Major competitions, Highland Dancing, Irish Step Dancing, Sheepdog herding, Clan and Celtic Association Tents. Stroll through the Avenue of Clans, visit one of the Clan tents and trace your ancestry. There will be lots of fun special events planned for the wee ones at the Children’s Games, too. Over 50 vendors offering tasty British food and drink and unique Scottish and Irish crafts, jewelry, clothing, and music will be enjoyed by all. Sunday’s Games will also include a special Concert on our main stage. Festival proceeds will benefit many local non-profit organizations. For more details, check out the website: http://www.montereyscotgames.com.

Due to its success and popularity the last few years, the internationally renowned National Piping Centre, based in Glasgow, Scotland, in association with Monterey Celtic Arts Academy (MCAA) is returning to the Monterey Peninsula to again present, The 4th Annual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming at beautiful Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. This Piping & Drumming School attracts novice and advanced bagpipers and Scottish drummers from around the United States. This outstanding school will be held from Saturday, June 28, 2008 to Thursday, July, 3, 2008, and will again feature some of the world’s finest piping and drumming instructors.

Internationally renowned bagpipers and teachers at the school will include the award-winning Roddy MacLeod, MBE (Executive Director of the National Piping Centre since 1996) and an outstanding team of piping and drumming instructors. For more information, check out http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk or email Roddy MacLeod at reception@thepipingcentre.co.uk, call Michel d’Avenas at (831) 372-2020 or email bagpipe11@comcast.net.

Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at Cliffbreaker’s - Grand Ballroom. 

The evening will include: a Silent Auction, Dinner and Dancing with a special performance by the City of Rockford Pipe Band and its Highland Dancers.  For more information please visit  www.cityofrockfordpipeband.com

The City of Chicago Pipe Band would like to invite the MWPBA to a Tartan Day concert April 5th, 2008.

The event will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 924 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois and begins at 7:30 p.m. The City of Chicago Pipe Band is committed to teaching Chicagoland youth for Free and will be showcasing its talented young members at the concert. This will also mark the debut performance of the new City of Chicago Grade IV band.

Tickets are available for $10 and may be guaranteed by e-mailing  cocpipeband@gmail.com and will also be available at the door.  The band is hosting a ceilidh immediately following the concert at Molly Malone’s,  7652 Madison Sreet, Forest Park, Illinois, 1 1/2 miles from Grace Episcopal Church. The $500 raffle winners will be announced at the ceilidh. Raffle tickets are available for $5 or 6 tickets for $25 and can be purchased by e-mailing  cocpipeband@gmail.com.

For any additional information, please phone (773) 875-6812 or visit  www.chicagopipeband.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

April 26th @ 7pm-11pm

St. Odilo Church, 2244 East Avenue, Berwyn, IL 60402.

A Wonderful Evening full of Celtic Music, Dancing, Food and Drinks!

For more information please contact Adrian Melvin at(630)841-4073  E-mail: Adrianmelvin@sbcglobal.net  Please visit the Band’s Website at  www.midlothianpipeband.com

The Flint Scottish Pipe Band will host it’s 92nd annual Ceilidh Feb. 16, 2008.  As in years past guests will be entertained by the music and dance so identified with our Highland Heritage.  Entertainment will be provided by the Lakes Area School of Highland Dance, Hienzman School of Irish Dance,the Celtic band Equinox, the Grand Rapids & District Pipe Band as well as The Flint Scottish Pipe Band.

The Ceilidh is held at the Knights Of Columbus Hall in Davison MI.  All of your favorite Scottish foods and drinks will be available for purchase.  Join us in celebrating our wonderful traditions!

Ticket information is available on our website  www.flintscottishpipeband.org or by emailing  Lfisch3134@comcast.net

Dear Friend of Scotland,

I would like to extend to you and members of your organisation a very warm invitation to join our year long Homecoming Scotland celebrations in Scotland in 2009.

Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of our national poet and international cultural icon Robert Burns, whose message of friendship and ‘Auld Lang Syne’ lives on. And Burns is the inspiration behind our year long celebration of some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world: Golf, Whisky, The Enlightenment and Innovation, Burns himself and our rich culture and heritage. Whether you have Scots ancestry or simply a passion for our great nation, 2009 will be an exceptional year to visit Scotland.

A programme of inspirational events will run throughout 2009, complementing the vast range of world-class attractions already offered in Scotland to our guests.

From the world’s biggest ever Clan Gathering in Edinburgh to Celtic Connections, in Glasgow and from the Open Championship, at Turnberry to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival , there’s something special for everyone.

The Homecoming Scotland team, in partnership with VisitScotland, will contact you by email over the next 18 months with updates on our exciting Homecoming programme and information on new and great value travel deals for travelling to and staying in Scotland during 2009.

My colleagues in the new Scottish Government and I look forward to welcoming you and your members to Scotland during 2009. Here’s to Burns, his enduring legacy, his pride in our great nation and his inspiration for our Homecoming celebrations - for auld lang syne.

Yours for Scotland

Alex Salmond

First Minister

MORE ABOUT SCOTLAND

HOMECOMINGSCOTLAND.COM
For all the latest information on our exciting year of celebration.

VISITSCOTLAND.COM
For accommodation bookings and information on visitor attractions.

SCOTS ANCESTRY
GOLF IN SCOTLAND
SCOTTISH WHISKY
ROBERT BURNS

January 21-February Piobaireachd Seminar CANCELLED

FROM THE BC PIPERS WEBSITE:

We apologize for the oversight, but we have had to cancel the February Piobaireachd Seminar due to a scheduling conflict with the Annual Adjudicators Conference. The January Piobaireachd Seminar was well attended, and our guest instructor, James W. Troy, provided attendees with an extremely interesting and informative look at both the Little Spree and the Big Spree.

Based on the success of the first Piobaireachd Seminar, we plan to offer a series of such seminars at several Mini Gatherings next season, starting with the November Mini. Stay tuned for the details.

For those who attended the January Seminar, either in person or via teleconference, we are very interested in your thoughts regarding what you liked about it and what improvements you would like to see made for future seminars. Please direct your comments to Leslie Techy at secretary@bcpipers.org

Thank you, and we look forward to your attendance at next season’s Piobaireachd Seminars.

The 15th Annual Paeroa Highland Games & Tattoo will be held at the Paeroa Domain on Saturday February 9th 2008. The event which started out as a pipebands competition has grown over the years and today it’s a fully-fledged Highland Games complete with an Evening Tattoo.

Between 3000-5000 people attend each year, many coming from throughout the North Island. Twelve Pipe Bands from the Auckland, Taranaki and Central North Island Centres have registered for the Pipe Bands Contest. Highland Dancing and Solo Piping have drawn a large number of entries this year, the Paeroa Solo Piping being the final round of the Hamilton, Tauranga T-Series
competition.

Click here for details.

THE famous Burns Night music train will bring a taste of Scotland to the Penistone Line this week.

The annual bagpipe bash will see a haggis paraded down the platform at Huddersfield station before it is piped on board the 7.18 Sheffield service by the bagpipe-playing Northern Rail area director Malcolm Brown, next Friday evening (January 25).

Traditional Burns Night haggis, neeps and tatties will be available en-route and entertainment will be provided by the Good Egg Band. Pints of real ale and a range of lagers, wines and soft drinks are also available from the on-train bar.

Timetable: The haggis express departs Huddersfield at 7.18pm calling at all stations to Sheffield. It returns from Sheffield at 8.41 arriving in Huddersfield at 9.56pm. The return fare (Huddersfield to Sheffield) is £6.70. This is payable to the conductor on the train.

The inaugural “Dubai Irish Festival” is set to bring the top names in the Irish music industry to the emirate.

The event, which is the brainchild of Irish company Empire Entertainments in association with Tourism Ireland, Dubai Duty Free and MCI Dubai, is scheduled to take place at various places across the city between January 21 and 27.

Top Irish acts such as Frankie Gavin & his band,  Hibernian Rhapsody, who have played with everyone from Stephane Grappelli to the Rolling Stones, distinguished Irish composer and performer and founder of the World Music Centre in Ireland Professor Mícheál O’ Súilleabháin, and following his sell out shows in America with the Irish Tenors, world famous Irish tenor Anthony Kearns…    Full Details Here