ATTN: Florida Pipers; EUSPBA Event, Sarasota!

[Derek Conley]

Hey all!

February 14, 2008, the Academy of Scottish Arts will be hosting a sanctioned EUSPBA solo piping competition in Sarasota, Florida! (the Academy's website is still under construction and so is not anywhere near complete).

I've provided a link above. 3rd entry down, click "details", and it'll take you to a page along with another link to a .pdf file (link here) for registration. I'll cut and paste a few of the details below straight from the flyer, however.

Also, I checked with Mr. Roddy MacDonald (mentioned below) who is my piping instructor; he gave permission to post this info (links and all) and wanted to pass on his invite and welcome to anyone who would like to come and compete or even observe.

Hope to see some of the Florida pipers here on the forum able to make it!

__________________________________________________ ______________

Judges:

P/M Roddy MacDonald - an EUSPBA judge, currently teaching at the Sarasota Military Academy, as well as giving private lessons. Roddy was taught by Neil Henderson of Dunoon as well as Donald McLeod. He played with the 8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band, was P/M of the City of Willmington Pipe Band, and has judged numerous highland games.

P/M Calum MacDonald - an EUSPBA judge, is currently teaching at the MacDonald School of Scottish Arts, in Eloria, Ontario Canada, as well as giving private lessons. Calum was taught by his father Roddy MacDonald and played with the City of Wilmington Pipe Band, The 78th Frasiers Pipe Band and is P/M of the Grand Celtic Pipe Band of Fergus Ontario Canada.

Other Judges TBA

EVENTS:

Grade I
P101 Piobaireachd
P102 2/4 March
P103 Strathspey/Reel
P104 6/8 March
P105 Hornpipe/Jig

Grade II
P201 Piobaireachd
P202 2/4 March
P203 Strathspey/Reel
P204 6/8 March
P205 Hornpipe/Jig

Grade III
P301 Piobaireachd
P302 2/4 March
P303 Strathspey/Reel
P304 6/8 March
P305 Jig

Grade IV Senior
PS401 Piobaireachd (full tune)
PS402 2/4 March
PS403 6/8 March
PS404 Slow March
PS405 Strathspey and Reel (2 parts each) ***

Grade IV Junior
PJ401 Piobaireachd (full tune)
PJ402 2/4 March
PJ403 6/8 March
PJ404 Slow March
PJ405 Strathspey and Reel (2 parts each) ***

Grade V ***
501 Piobaireachd (ground only)***
502 2/4 March (2 parts) ***
503 6/8 March (2 parts) ***
504 4/4 March (2 parts) ***
505 Slow March (2 parts) ***

Chanter ***
One four parted march or 2 two parted marches in 2/4,4/4 or 6/8 time***
*** Non-Sanctioned Events

(An expanded bio of Mr. MacDonald can be found on Andrew Lenz's "Who's Who" tip page; I'll cut and paste below, as it's a bit more of a complete bio)

"MacDonald, Roderick William "Roddy". (19?? - ) Scottish. Resides in Sarasota, Florida. Piper. Took up piping at age nine. First taught by Neil Henderson of Dunoon. Later taught piobaireachd by Donald MacLeod. Played with the 8th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and the Invergordon Distillery pipe bands. Won the “Prince Charles Trophy” for musical composition. In the USA, he was PM of the City of Wilmington Pipe Band which won repeatedly in Grade 1 competitions in the US and Canada. Founded the Delmar and District Pipe Band. Won the North American Championship both times he competed in Maxville, Ontario for solo piping besides numerous awards in Scotland, Canada, and the USA. Past-President of the EUSPBA. The co-founder and Director of Music Education at the Academy of Scottish Arts. Also teaches at the Sarasota Military Academy. Judge, composer, instructor. Taught Burt Mitchell and James "Jimmy" Stack. Father of Calum MacDonald."

[Derek Conley]

Went to this event and was a steward; I think there were about 30 competitors! Was a decent turnout, really. I don't think any pipers from XMarks managed to come out, but these types of events, as I understand it, will be coming up again (as well as workshops) so if there's an interest, I'll continue to post about them.