Vernon Morning Star – Piping bursary available:

“Piping bursary available”

The McIntosh Girls Pipe Band Society awards an annual bursary to a deserving piper or drummer who wants to attend Piping Hot Summer Drummer, a school that is held at every summer at Silver Star Mountain.

Preference is given to anyone who was ever a member of the McIntosh Girls Pipe Band, and their relatives and friends.

When there is no applicant from that priority group, the funds are awarded to other individuals so all interested pipers and drummers are encouraged to apply. The funds are usually awarded to children and the names of promising young pipers and drummers have sometimes been put forward by pipe majors.

The McIntosh Girls Pipe Band flourished from 1946 to 1966 under pipe major Hilma Martens (nee Foote), who started the band with her parents. Her dad had been in a military pipe band and took charge of marching and drills.

The uniforms were made by Mrs. Foote. Hilma was pipe major and took lessons from an eminent piper, Mr. Barry, who was stationed at the army camp in the post-war period. The young women travelled all over North America.

When membership dwindled in the mid-1960s, the band folded.

Members formed a society which awards the annual bursary of about $400, depending on available funding sources. Donations will be accepted toward the bursary.

“Pipers and drummers coming up now have to compete with much stiffer competition that we ever did,” said Jan Mattock, who was a drum major in the band.

“Piping Hot is taught by the Simon Fraser Pipe Band, world champions and great teachers. They have classes for piping, base drums and tenor drums, leading a band and more.”

The McIntosh Girls Pipe Band Society currently has about 40 members including active alumni Birdie Cooney, Joanne Georgeson, Gloria Trierweiler and Jean Wetherill. Hilma Martens is now in her 80s and lives in Kelowna.

She is active on the bursary committee with Maureen Soichuk, also a former pipe major, and Mattock.

The deadline for application is April 30 each year.

Interested pipers and drummers should phone Soichuk at 250-542-3088 for information on the application process.

The process includes a letter from the student detailing their piping or drumming background and why they want the bursary, and a reference check with the applicant’s pipe major.

(Via www.bclocalnews.com – Read Full Article.)

Bagpipes take the streets of Chile | Video | Reuters.com:

“Apr. 28 – In front of thousands of spectators, over 100 bagpipers paraded in the Chilean capital of Santiago.”

(Via www.reuters.com – View Video.)

Highland bands run out of puff – Local News – News – General – The Advertiser:

“A CRITICAL shortage of highland band pipers is affecting several visiting bands and may stop them taking part in the Maryborough Highland Gathering street march on Friday.

Officials are very concerned that a reduction in the number of younger people learning the bagpipes is having a detrimental effect on pipe band numbers.

With the retirement of older members, it has reached a critical stage in the viability of some pipe bands.

It is reliably reported that the Australian Defence Department has disbanded the Australian Army Highland Pipe Band, which is a disappointment for highland pipe band supporters.

An urgent appeal has been put out for volunteer pipers to support the City of Horsham Pipe Band and the St Arnaud (Norman Simpson Memorial) Pipe Band so that the two bands can take part in Friday’s street march.

Band officials are keen to take part in the street parade and in the on-oval presentation, but are short of several pipers.

While highland pipe bands in the local region are strong in Maryborough, Castlemaine and Daylesford, there is continuing pressure on the number of available pipers in St Arnaud and Horsham.”

(Via www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au – Read Full Article.)

From the January 2010 « Emerald Society of the Boston Police:

Battle of the Bagpipe Bands

“February 27th will be the date of the first annual ‘Battle of the Bagpipe Bands’ from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the St Nectarius Church hall across the street from 10 Birch Street. The bands will be dressing and lining up at our hall and marching across the street to compete. After the competition we will be hosting an after party from about 7:00 pm to midnight. Mark this date in your calendar. We are looking to have between ten to fifteen bands competing. This will be an early start to St. Patrick’s Day. It will be a great way for the entire family to celebrate their Celtic roots. More details will be in the next newsletter and in some of the local publications as well.”

(Via www.bpdemeraldsociety.com – Read Full Article.)

Rare live performance of Mull of Kintyre with a full set of highland pipers, a 18-piece Balmoral Highlanders Pipe Band. Part of the third encore at the London O2 Arena performance on 22 December 2009.

Officially the best – News – Haddington – Articles – East Lothian Courier:

“HADDINGTON Pipe Band was on Sunday named the best pipe band in Scotland, after receiving huge support from all over the world.

The county favourites won various heats and then an online public poll to claim the title of ‘Scottish Pipe Band of the Year’ at the coveted Scottish Traditional Music Awards 2009 in Dumfries.

The band, who took to the streets of Haddington last month to drum up support, beat fellow finalists Boghall & Bathgate, Strathclyde Police, and Inveraray Pipe Bands following the public vote.

re impressive as their final rivals are all ‘competition’ bands while Haddington exists solely to benefit the community.
Pipe Major David Leckie said of the win: ‘This is unbelievable.

‘Just to be nominated alongside such wonderful bands was an honour for us, and to come away with the award really is beyond anything we could have hoped for.”

(Via – Read Full Article.)

Chicago Celtic Pipe band looks for new members:

“About 12 bagpipers gathered inside the Estelle Sieb Community Center in Norridge Nov. 23 to practice with Pipe Major Chris Boyle.

The Chicago Celtic Pipe Band meets at the Sieb Center at 7:30 p.m. every Monday (except holidays).

The Chicago Celtic Pipe Band had an open house for Ridgewood High School band students at the Sieb Center Nov. 23. Neil Hansen (left) and Paul McHugh play the bagpipes.

The Chicago Celtic Pipe Band had an open house for Ridgewood High School band students at the Sieb Center Nov. 23. Instructor Charles Reece (mirror, right) helps students with a traditional drum rhythm.

The Chicago Celtic Pipe Band had an open house for Ridgewood High School band students at the Sieb Center Nov. 23. Instructor Charles Reece (middle) helps students with a traditional drum rhythm.

‘We just sit at the table, we start walking through all the new tunes, breaking them down, working on it, building them up,’ Boyle said. ‘As we get further and further in the year we spend more time on pipes. We’re working on the technique of playing, blowing, keeping a steady tone with the bagpipe, and then work on the finger execution so that we get it as tight as we possibly can. That’s the ultimate goal is basically to sound like one.

‘Then the drum corps will be working on their thing,’ he added. ‘They write specific scores to the tunes that we’re playing. So we get a nice integrated balance between the two different corps and that we have a nice solid sound.’

Pipe band manager Jim Enright said Ridgewood High School band members were invited to observe the practice in hopes of becoming new members.
“

(Via www.pioneerlocal.com – Read Full Article.)

Saturday 5th December 2009

South Island Major Events | New Zealand Travel Blog:

“A Scottish tradition in Christchurch, this pipe band contest is one on the circuit of regional contests, attracting bands from all over New Zealand. A full day of New Zealand’s finest pipe band performances starts at 8.30am with the solo piping and drumming competition with highland dancing exhibitions. From 12.30pm, the bands compete culminating with the splendid massed bands street march.”

(Via newzealand-touring.com – Read Full Article.)

SUNY Plattsburgh Hosts Winter Commencement Ceremony Dec. 12:

“An estimated 400 students will walk the dais as SUNY Plattsburgh celebrates Winter Commencement, Saturday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m. in the Field House on Rugar Street.

Free and open to the public, the event will feature Kristy Curry as the student speaker. Curry, who is graduating magna cum laude with a degree in marketing, will discuss agents of change in terms of the nation, the college and the individual. She will implore members of the Class of 2009 to become the agent of change that resides within everyone.

SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling will preside over the ceremony, with Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Higgins presenting the candidates for degrees. College Council Chair Arnold Amell and Vice Chair M. Catherine Hollinshead will present the diplomas.

The event will also feature music performed by the Adirondack Bass, Champlain District Bagpipe Band and Cardinal Singers.

Support from the Student Association helped to make this event possible.”

(Via readme.readmedia.com – Read Full Article.)

Capital First For National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland Bringing together some of Scotland’s most talented young musicians, the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland will perform a brand new show on 28th November at Edinburgh’s recently refurbished Usher Hall.

Entitled the ‘Dragon’s Lair‘, the performance will feature the band’s signature sound, giving fans a chance to see one of the most dynamic and exciting pipe bands in Scotland and introducing them to world class musicians at the beginning of their careers.

Dragon’s Lair will mark the first time the band has performed in Edinburgh since its inception in 2002 and will round off a spectacular year for the NYPBoS, which has seen them play for HRH Prince Charles at the National Piping Centre as well as concerts across the globe from Skye to Germany.

The band also teamed up with world famous piper, Carlos Nunez at the Chihuahua Festival in Mexico in 2007 and will again feature with him at Celtic Connections 2010.

Made up of the best young pipers and drummers from across Scotland, including 13 year-old Connor Sinclair, personal piper to both Sir Sean Connery and First Minister Alex Salmond, NYPBoS provides unique development opportunities for its young members who are aged from 10 to 25 and an exceptional musical experience for its audiences.

With many of its members already competing at the highest level with some of the world’s most successful pipe bands, this will be an unmissable performance. Alisdair McLaren, Director of the NYPB’S commented, “This concert will showcase the phenomenal talent of some of Scotland’s most exciting young performers. The Dragon’s Lair is a brand new concert for the band incorporating a fantastic blend of traditional and contemporary music.

The fusion of pipes and drums with electric guitar, keyboard synthesizer, stand up bass, fiddle and drum kit pushes the boundaries of the stereotypical pipe band concert making the band possibly one of the most entertaining concert bands to see”.

Tickets, priced from £10 are on sale now and are available from www.usherhall.co.uk on 0131 228 1153, or in person from the Usher Hall box office on Lothian Road.

New York School 2010

15th – 19th February 2010

In 2010 we have made some changes to our school to allow you more flexibility in the schedule.

As normal we have an option for piping and drumming students to be taught throughout the entire week in groups of similar ability where instruction is given on all aspects of piping and a variety of new music is covered. The all inclusive cost of this option is $600.

This year we have also introduced the options of two half week piping packages (each priced at $300) which are entirely workshop based. From Monday to Wednesday we offer a series of workshops suitable for Novice – Intermediate standard pipers and from Wednesday to Friday we offer a second workshop series for Intermediate to Advanced level pipers. The workshops offered can be viewed on the New York School page on our website – scroll down to find a PDF brochure. I am sure you will agree there is excellent coverage of a number of major topics on offer.

In order to be as flexible as possible we are also making the piping workshops available as a pick ‘n mix option for $40 per workshop so that students can come to as few or as many as they wish. All of these options are available to book online here

We are offering an “early bird special” which will run from now until the 1st January 2010 where students will receive 10% off the quoted price. In addition to this we are offering a family discount of 10% (two or more people from the same family) and a band discount of 10% (five members or more of the same band). This early bird special is available online via the booking form page.

The school is held during President’s week so we hope that having it during this vacation will make it easier for you to attend. Also, we link in with the Metro Cup piping competition which is to be held on February 20th at the Holiday Inn, Newark. This event showcases some of the worlds top pipers in competition including some of our instructors so we hope this might appeal to you as a great way to end a fantastic week of piping.

I really hope that you might consider coming to our New York school. For more information on the school and booking please visit www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/schools/new-york/ and for information on the Metro Cup please visit www.themetrocup.com/

I would be pleased if you would pass this on to your band members and anyone else you believe would be interested in our school.

Sincerely,

Roddy MacLeod MBE,
Principal

The National Piping Centre Ltd.
Registered in Scotland no. 139271, Charity no. 020391
The Piping Centre Trading Ltd.
Registered in Scotland no. 162342
Glasgow International Piping Festival.
Registered in Scotland no. 256248, Charity no. 34875

November 11 marks Remembrance Day and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #46 will host the annual Remembrance Day Ceremony.

The day commemorates the sacrifices of armed forces members and civilians in times of war.

It is observed at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, which is the date of the end of the First World War.

BC Local

Last chance this year to start learning to play the pipes with Capital Region Celtic.

Every journey starts somewhere and learning to play the pipes starts here with a 10 week course.

You will learn on the practice chanter to correctly play the scale, embellishments and a tune or two.

The weekly 6:30 to 7:30 pm class starts on Tuesday November 10th and runs for 10 weeks with Christmas and New Years off.

No experience is necessary. You don’t have to know how to read music. You don’t have to have huge lungs.

Read More and Contact Band

Two years ago, UC Riverside became the only college in the country to offer music majors the chance to concentrate on bagpiping or Scottish drumming.

It made sense. The university’s nickname is the Highlanders. Residence halls have Scottish names: Aberdeen-Inverness, Lothian and Bannockburn. And the school has its own tartan plaid registered in Scotland.

It appeared to be working. The bagpipe band started winning competitions. The world-class bagpiper hired to lead the program started to be recognized on campus. Alumni were excited. Students enrolled to continue studying the bagpipes.

That all changed last month. The university’s $51 million budget gap this school year led officials to lay off the bagpipe and Scottish drumming instructors.

The under-threat Strathclyde Police Pipe Band is causing “considerable strain” on overtime and frontline policing despite severe cutbacks in the time officers devote to playing and practising, an official report claims.

Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson’s initial report, published yesterday, highlights the problems of covering officers taking part in events and competitions.

However, he says efficiencies introduced since 2007 have already seen total funding for the pipe band – which is paid for through the police budget – reduced by 78%.

The cost, which was £42,477 in the 2007/8 financial year, now stands at £9235. But, as income generated by the band through performances is £5000, the total cost to the force has been cut to £4235.

However, the report for the Scottish Police Authority says that “no matter how much income is generated [by performing at commercial events], it is never sufficient to cover the cost of abstractions to frontline policing.”

Read Full Article

Over 60 Pakistanis from the Lahore pipe band and a trade group have been refused entry to the UK by the UK Border Agency.

The pipe band members were due to attend the World Pipe Band Championships on Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland. This would have been the fifth year running the Pakistan Pipe Band would have attended the competition.

The trade group were due for business talks in the same city but were also rejected. They included members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Lahore District Government, all had been due to arrive in city for trade meetings.

The deputy mayor of Lahore was granted a visa.

The Scottish Government would like more powers from Westminister and one of them would be to aprove and reject Scotlad’s own visa applications.

Westminster’s decisions are sometimes thought not to be the best by some for Scotland especially when it comes to what kinds of foreign workers the UK needs as Scotland doesn’t always need what England needs.

via Over 60 Pakistani officials & pipeband players refused entry into UK.

The 45-member SFU Pipe Band came out on top today (August 15) in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.

Its the band’s sixth title and second consecutive victory. Its performance was judged superior to the runnerup, the Field Marshal Montgomery Band of Northern Ireland, as well as third-place finisher, the St. Laurence O’Toole band from Ireland.

The SFU band also came first in the March, Strathspey and Reel competition. Its drum corps was judged the best overall drum corps, and won the MSR section of drumming competition.

via SFU Pipe Band wins second straight world title | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com.

As the annual festival of Piping Live! kicks in, Claire Sawers finds there are plenty of fans on hand to debunk the aging myths about bagpipes

In Germany they’ve got the doodlesack; in Sweden, the säckpipa; and in Italy, the zampogna. Nearly every country in Europe has some version of the bagpipe, giving the instrument a range and diversity that stretches way beyond that lone piper standing in his kilt on Princes Street, squeaking out ‘Scotland the Brave’ for tourists in ponchos.

Roddy MacLeod, director of Piping Live!, the international festival that attracted 25,000 visitors last year to Glasgow, thinks people will be surprised at how vast the modern day piper’s repertoire is. ‘Everyone has heard a piper playing ‘Highland Cathedral’ or ‘Scotland the Brave’, he says. ‘But new music is written for pipes all the time – from all around the world. Modern technology also means pipes can now be recorded and balanced with other instruments without drowning them out, so we’re seeing more experimental styles cropping up. The festival was set up six years ago to bring those styles together.’

via Bag of tricks: Piping Live! | The List.