THE BRITISH PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
BANBRIDGE, NORTHERN IRELAND

27th June 2009

56 Scottish, Welsh and English bands travelled across the Irish sea for the British Pipe Band Championships in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. Along with bands from Belgium, Eire and of course Northern Ireland spectators were treated to 146 band performances and 40 Drum Majors.

In the Adult Drum Majors Brian Wilson from Lomond and Clyde took his second championship victory of the season, beating Kathy Megarry Calvin.  Enormous applause congratulated local Juvenile winner, Samantha Gordon from Banbridge and Emma Barr from Ravara won the Junior event. DM Brian Wilson is pictured below.

The RSPBA released a new trophy for the Grade 1 Champions. The George Summers Trophy in honour of a man most people remember as a Piping and Ensemble Adjudicator who dedicated so much time to the activities of the RSPBA. George judged frequently in Northern Ireland over a period of 30 years so it was a fitting tribute that it be first presented in Northern Ireland.

George’s wife Nancy was at the championships to present the trophy to the winning Grade 1 band, Field Marshal Montgomery who beat The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead by 4 points. FMM Pipe Major Richard Parkes is pictured below receiving the new trophy from Nancy Summors.

The Best Drum Corps in Grade 1 also went to Field Marshal Mongomery under the leadership of Keith Orr taking the title from the 2008 winners The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead.  Leading Drummer Keith Orr is pictured below receiving the trophy and sash.

Complete summaries of the event can be found by clicking here.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

THE 100 PIPERS
SCOTTISH PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

16th May 2009

Levengrove Park in Dunbarton was once again the venue for the first major championship of 2009 sponsored by 100 Pipers.  The early morning weather which looked like it was going to give us another wet weekend thankfully cleared into blue skies for the majority of the performances.

Chief Executive Ian Embelton said “I’m absolutely delighted with this great start to the season; we’ve had the crowds estimated at over 25,000, 122 bands giving 158 performances and 30 Drum Major performances on the day.  The RSPBA are once again very grateful to West Dunbartonshire Council and Chivas Brothers for all their support in making this one of the highlights of the season.”

Provost and Chieftain for the day Denis Agnew was pleased to announce the decision of the RSPBA National Council to accept a bid from West Dunbartonshire Council which keeps the 100 Pipers Scottish Championships in Levengrove Park until 2012.  The council have committed to continue to develop the championships to make it bigger and better in the years ahead.

In the Adult Drum Majors Brian Wilson from Lomond and Clyde took the first place from Paula Braiden in an incredibly tight Adult final that separated the top 5 adults by only 2 points.  The Juvenile Drum Major title was won by Linzi Hamilton of Killeen and the Junior Drum Major title was won by Lauren Abraham of Seven Towers. DM Brian Wilson is pictured below receiving his trophy and specially commissioned 100 Pipers Whisky.

The Grade 1 event was won by Field Marshal Montgomery from Northern Ireland who beat the 2008 winners, St. Laurence O’Toole from Eire.  The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead from Scotland finished in 3rd place.  FMM Pipe Major Richard Parkes is pictured below.

The Best Drum Corps in Grade 1 went to St. Laurence O’Toole under the Leadership of Stephen Creighton who is pictured below wearing the Andante Sash and collecting the trophy.  St. Laurence took the drumming from The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead.

Complete summaries of the event can be found by clicking here.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

RSPBA PROCEDURE UPDATE
Drum Major Standards & Instrument Failure

06th May 2009

INSTRUMENT FAILURE:
In the light of the experience of the 2008 outdoor competition season,  the RSPBA Adjudicators’ Panel Management Board has reviewed, in consultation with the Music Board, the guidance given to Adjudicators should there be instrument failure or circumstances which affect instruments during an RSPBA competition performance. The revised guidance, which has been issued to all Adjudicators, is as follows:

“In the event of instrument failure or malfunction during a performance (e.g. burst drum, burst pipe-bag, reed malfunction, broken drumstick etc) which results in a member or members of the band stopping playing, the circumstances should be noted on the Critique Sheet by the Adjudicator and reported to the National Council representative at the end of the competition.  In such situations Adjudicators should continue to evaluate the performance taking into account the loss of the player/s or the effect on the performance of the defective instrument. When players continue to play with defective instruments, Adjudicators should take this into account in assessing the performance in terms of tone, band balance, general integration or musical impact. The placing of the band/s by the Adjudicator in the order of rankings should take account of the effect on the performance, if any.  Reference to the specific circumstances should be made in the Critique Sheet. The performance should not automatically be placed last.”

DRUM MAJOR STANDARDS:
Competitors in RSPBA Drum Major competitions should note that Drum Major Adjudicators will be expected to base their adjudication at all competitions during 2009 on the standards set out for Dress, Marching & Deportment, and Flourish in the new RSPBA Drum Major Manual which was published last year. Now that the standards have been clearly specified the RSPBA expects them to applied in the assessment of competition performances, in the interests of uniformity and fairness to competitors.  At a recent development workshop conducted by the Adjudicators’ Training Group, Drum Major Adjudicators were also encouraged to fully justify their assessments and placings with more constructive comments on Critique Sheets.

The RSPBA Drum Major Manual if easily accessible.  It can be downloaded free of charge by clicking here.

Alistair Aitken
Adjudicator Panel Management Board

BBC SCOTLAND’S LIVE COVERAGE OF WORLD
PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS GOES GLOBAL

22nd June 2009

Live streaming of the World Pipe Band Championships will be available across the world in a move by BBC Scotland to mark the Year of Homecoming.

Scottish ex-patriates, piping enthusiasts in countries where there is a strong interest in traditional music such as the United States, Canada and Australia, and newcomers to the music, will be able to enjoy all the excitement of the event's Grade One arena on August 15.

The Championships will attract 8,000 performers in 200 bands from around the world and a crowd of 40,000 is expected to see them compete for the honours at Glasgow Green. One of the talented bands from overseas, Simon Fraser Unviersity from Canada, are the reigning Grade One champions.

BBC Scotland has been the host broadcaster of the prestigious event since 2006. This year’s programme on BBC One Scotland will be presented by Jackie Bird with commentary from respected piper, Bob Worrall who has also been an adjudicator at 'The Worlds.'

BBC Scotland's live web coverage can be accessed on www.bbc.co.uk/worlds which will also host video clips on demand, available worldwide, after the event. The on-demand service will feature excerpts of performance from all the bands vying for the medals in the Grade One competition.

Ewan Angus, Commissioning Editor, Television, BBC Scotland, said: "The World Pipe Band Championships have become an important fixture in BBC Scotland’s summer schedule".

"We are delighted that we will be enhancing our coverage this year with the live web streaming for viewers in and beyond the UK. We know there’s a big interest in piping in many countries abroad, particularly those where traditional music already has a strong following. It is fitting that our offering has gone global in this special year for Scottish culture and heritage."

Ian Embelton, Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, organisers of the Championships, said the decision to develop the coverage of the event with live web streaming was a major boost for traditional music.

He added the World Pipe Band Championships are a truly global event and this will allow fans everywhere to follow the drama at Glasgow Green as it unfolds.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive

New Navigation Introduced
Music Board Information

25th March 2009

Over the winter session, the Music Board has been actively working on the introduction of information on its responsibilities via the RSPBA Web Site. The intent is to create easy access for the RSPBA membership, affiliated organisations and interested parties on the work of the Music Board. The web pages cover the Board's responsibilities, details of its current membership, education, competition format and MAP etc.

The documentation will provide a greater awareness as to the Board's activities as well as introducing you to those managing the activities on your behalf.

Whilst some of these pages will remain a constant in their content, others, such as such as education, Grading, MAP etc will be updated as appropriate to reflect current activity status.

It is sincerely hoped that the web pages will provide an appropriate insight to the Music Board Activities. Should you wish to see additions to the pages, please make your Branch Representatives aware so that they can take your requests to the Board for consideration

You can find all our information inside the menu and sub menus of Music Board above.

Jim Campbell
Co-Opted Member of Music Board

RSPBA Education
Instructors Course

1st February 2009

The Music Board is looking at future development of its educational support. As part of this development the Board will be holding an Instructors Course. The course will cover 2 weekends. We are aiming for weekend 1 either last 2 weekends in March or the 1st weekend in April with weekend 2 in September 2009. This allows the possibility of the RSPBA offering classes re preparation for PDQB examinations during next winter recess.

The aim of the course is to build and enhance both the number and the skill range of its current “Approved Education Instructors Team” that will support the educational needs of the RSPBA.

Many Branches have held classes for the previous RSPBA Certification Exams and now current and future teams will need to focus on PDQB requirements. The Association would be pleased to receive application for this course from Members who are / have / or are willing to become an Education Instructor within the RSPBA environment at both Branch and National level.

The attached Job Description provides an understanding of the requirements of the position. Also attached is a view of the course intentions / expectations. Please share this information at your Branch and also pass a copy of this letter and attachments to any members that are, or the Branch feels, may be interested in participating in the course.

Members interested in making application for the course are requested to submit a Curriculum Vitae related to RSPBA activity which should consider/include:

• Qualifications with Dates achieved
• Details of experience in Playing and Teaching – Bands, Branch etc.
• Demonstrate activities relating to Job Description requirements
• Other items of interest

The CV must be sent for the attention of the Executive Officer and must be received by him on or before the Thursday 19th February 2009.

All applications will be reviewed by the Instructors Management Team and notification of acceptance to the course will be issued by end February. The Cost of the Course is £150 and any additional expenses such as travel etc. are the responsibility of each individual.

Should you wish further details, please contact the Education Coordinator Mr. Jim Campbell on 07890 521 375.

Click here to review the job description.

Click here to review details of the upcoming Instructors Course.

Ian Embelton
Chief Executive