Ceol Na Pioba Solo Bagpipe Competition

October 24th was the 2nd annual Ceol Na Pioba Solo Bagpipe Competition. Even though the planning kept me busy, I got to compete and enjoy the camaraderie.

Lezlie Webster judged this year, which was her first time in Louisiana! Fortunately the weather held off a week before getting nasty!

It was really great meeting Lezlie and having the opportunity to play for her.

Events began a bit after 9:30am with Lyle's rendition of "Field of Gold" which is just the best Piobaireachd out there! (admitted bias)

I began with the 2/4 March, which I was very pleased with. Then the strathspey/reel, which I think has been my best playing of to date. My 6/8 crashed in the 2nd part, but the 1st, 3rd, and 4th parts really sang. I am still beating myself up about that. The Jig was nice too.



More videos are up at www.youtube.com/user/CeolNaPioba.


The results:

2/4 March - Dunoon Castle – 1st
Strath/Reel - Ewe with the Crooked Horn/Bessie McIntyre – 1st
6/8 March - Salute to Mr. Winston Churchill - 2nd
Jig - The Curlew – 1st



The setup:
Dunbar Poly P-2 drones, Kron ABW chanter, drone reeds are Apps/Naill, bag is the older Ross ex-small zipper without the guts, moose valve.

Dallas Summer Sizzle '09

The Dallas Solos this year offered piping and drumming workshops, solo piping and drumming competition, and quartet competitions. Not bad from a handful of pipers in a couple grades. Well done Nancy, Eddie, Stew and everyone who had a hand in organizing the event.

I had a blast. Wish I could have stayed longer, but the clock ran up on us. We got back home a touch after 1 am. However, we began the weekend with Seth's drum lesson with Jon Quigg. He got Seth straightened out and set on track. Then Jon, Jimmy Bell, and Chris Apps gave a concert

Saturday afternoon, after the workshops, is when the solos began. Jimmy adjudicated grade 2, 4jr., and pc. Chris had grade 1, 3, and 4 sr.

The competition was held indoors and outdoors - my events were indoors - but space was limited. I began warming up outdoors and tried to find a place inside. A bit before hitting the boards I was able to slip into the exercise room. The chanter sounded good , but by the time I was in front of Chris a few notes were out again. So I played a wee tune to try and bring it back and hoped for the best.

Chris likes to start with the 6/8 which is a nice change up. The 6/8 came out well, though the chanter wasn't really settled. The other tunes went well. I changed my jig and played "The Curlew" for the first time in competition - I was really happy with how I played it too. Oh, and the chanter finally settled for the jig!

The results:
6/8 March - Salute to Mr. Winston Churchill - 2nd
2/4 March - Siege of Delhi – 2nd
Strath/Reel - Ewe with the Crooked Horn/Bessie McIntyre – 2nd
Jig - The Curlew – 2nd

The setup:
Dunbar Poly P-2 drones, Kron ABW chanter, drone reeds are Apps/Naill, bag is the older Ross ex-small zipper without the guts, moose valve.

Austin Solo Bagpipe Competition

Wow, finally back from Texas. Austin, Texas. Seth and I hit some major traffic on the way and the car died about 2 hours away from home on the way back. Just out of the city limits of Palestine.

But we’re back now and had a good time at the Austin Solo Bagpipe Competition.

I am still leery of my “Dunoon Castle” so went planning on playing “The Siege of Delhi” for 2/4 and planned on playing my “Ewe with the Crooked Horn/Bessie McIntyre” S/R set instead of the “Capt. Colin Campbell/Jock Wilson’s Ball” set I played in Batesville. The jig and 6/8 stayed the same.

I was happy with both marches, aside from a couple sticky Ds, but was disappointed with my strathspey/reel. The reel has improved from Tulsa. The strathspey; well, let’s just say I bobbled the football. I lost my focus and went blank on a bar. The drones sounded great though.

Great comments from both Ed Neigh and Mike Cusack with a pair of AGLs to boot!

The results:
2/4 March - Siege of Delhi – 1st AGL
Strath/Reel - Ewe with the Crooked Horn/Bessie McIntyre – 3rd
6/8 March - Salute to Mr. Winston Churchill - 1st AGL
Jig - Maillag Ferry – 2nd

The setup:
Dunbar Poly P-2 drones, Kron ABW chanter with Apps reed (I think), drone reeds are Apps/Naill, bag is the older Ross ex-small zipper without the guts, moose valve.

What a Suprise!

A few days after the Arkansas Scottish Festival I received a package from Jimmy Bell of Lyon College. It was a very nice looking piper of the day award! I wasn't expecting this at all and was proud to have the honor. This is my first piper of the day award.

Arkansas Scottish Festival

Wow, has it been nearly 3 months since my last post?

Unfortunately, the food industry and weekend bagpipe competitions don't go together.

The break from competitive piping didn't do me any good, but I did put on a decent show in Arkansas. I was judged by Chris Apps for the first time and really enjoyed meeting him.

The forecast was for thunderstorms and heavy rain all day. Thankfully, it only sprinkled here and there and held off during the solos. On the way back home was another story!

On the "warm up" deck I began double thinking my tunes. I changed my 2/4 march from Dunoon Castle to Siege of Delhi. I contemplated the same for the strathspey/reel, but did not change it even though I really should have. Apparently I did not learn my lesson from Patrick back in September! My 6/8 is new, but I enjoy the tune so much I was confident in my ability to present it well.

The set-up:
Dunbar Poly P-2 drones, Dunbar Poly Elite ('01/'02 model) with Apps reed, drone reeds are Apps/Naill

Results:
2/4 March - Siege of Delhi - 1st
Strath/Reel - Capt. Colin Campbell/Jock Wilson's Ball - 2nd
6/8 March - Salute to Mr. Winston Churchill - 1st
Jig - Maillag Ferry - 1st

I know what I need to work on and look forward to competing this summer.

Robert Burns Celebration