United States Piping Foundation 2022

As the bagpipe competition world wakes from the Covid induced slumber of the past two years, both soloists and bands are attempting to find their mojo again. I was lucky enough this past week to shake off the cobwebs and get over a second place hump I’ve been experience the past few attempts. In 2018, 2019, and the online 2020 I was able to keep getting close, but not close enough. However, the Argyll jacket wearing requirements not longer phased me on this run and I snuck over the line to a win. Here are the full results at Pipes/Drums

So we are in the thick of the summer season and we are all trying to get ready for a Scotland trip that is fast approaching. However those results in August turn out, I’m just happy to get back to the motherland once again.

2018 NZ/Canadian Double Gold/BBC Scotland Pipeline

You know you're going to have a good piping year when all your reeds meld and stabilize just at the right time. The year started with a trip to NZ to play with my good friend Alasdair MacKenzie and the Invercargill Pipe Band at the NZ Nationals. What a great reason to travel! I got to see a lot of friends and got those hands going early for later on in the summer. Also, who doesn’t love having two summers?

2018 was my first year traveling to Maxville to play in the Canadian Gold Medal. This takes place in the morning on the first Friday in August or there about, and if you win the event you are then allowed the opportunity to play in the afternoon with the other former winners. This is called the Bar to the Gold Medal. When the pipe comes together and consistently locks in, you get so much more confidence to play a good tune. As it happens I was fortunate to be last on in the morning so I was fully awake and the pipe came together for a winning performance. Then, I was asked to play first on in the afternoon in the senior contest. The pipes must have locked because they never moved and I was lucky enough to win that event as well. The third person in history to win both in the same day and a hugely deserved beer that afternoon!

I was off to Scotland from there to record for BBC Radio Scotland’s Pipeline program. You can’t listen to it anymore but here’s the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000m4t

After that was the two meetings, Oban and Inverness. I got close this time in that Gold Medal, getting placed a second at Oban! Still working on those ones. Inching closer every year.

2018 Canadian Gold Medal and Bar to the Gold Medal

End of Summer 2017

This past summer had its ups and downs. Some highlights included winning the Overall Piper of the Day at both the Dornoch and Mallaig/Morar Highland Games. Later that week, I played for the first time at the Silver Chanter which takes place in the drawing room in Dunvegan Castle. That was a truly fantastic place to play and an amazing competition to be a part of. 

I was there for the World Pipe Band Championships and thought Scottish Power's Medley was a return to form. I haven't played with the band the past two years, but their precision was sparkling and I really enjoyed the bands comparative clarity. It was a breath of fresh air. 

The biggest prize of the summer was perhaps winning the senior Piobareachd at the Lochaber Gathering in Fort William. Although very cool, the Golden Axe will stay in it's case and not be used as a kilt pin as it is intended. I certainly don't want to damage it. 

Oban and Inverness went well enough, but I didn't get into the prizes. Oban's performance in the Gold Medal was definitely better. I played the Park Piobaireachd No. 2 and I think got pulled up on some light crunluath work on D's. I'm continuing to work to be more articulate so the hands don't tighten up.

All in all, I'd say another successful trip, now it's time to regroup, recharge, and look towards a productive autumn and winter learning the new tunes for next year's list.  

Another Summer in Scotland

Finally back from a great Scotland summer, driving around and competing all over the place. Very happy how it turned out. You can check out the photos and results in the respective sections, but in summary it was one of my best years thus far. I won the Piobaireachd at Lochearnhead with MacLeod of Colbeck, then I won the Dunvegan Medal at Skye with The Battle of Waternish, and got in the final of the S/R. I won the overall at Dornoch with a 2nd in the Piob, 1st in the March, S/R, and 2nd in the Jigs. I got 5th in the A Piobaireachd at Perth and 4th in the Open March, followed by a 4th in the A Piobaireachd at the Lochaber Gathering. I was very excited to place 4th in the Gold Medal at Oban (Argyllshire Gathering) and 5th in the A Grade Strathspey/Reel, which ups my grading to A+/A+ for 2017. Finally I snuck into the prize list at Braemar with a 6th in  the Piobaireachd there. Overall it was a pretty productive year. Now back in New Jersey and taking a small break before the London competition in November.

Summer Judging

After passing the official EUSPBA judging test, I have been apprenticing judging these last few months before I become an official judge. I have learned many things over this span, including how essential the proper hat is to the entire operation. 

Snowy Belmar

My one token parade of the year and it's a near blizzard. The coldest, snowiest Belmar St. Patrick's Parade was amusing, in between trying to feel one's fingers. Also a great example of why I don't ever do parades any more. It's nice to support the team though.

Metro Cup 2015

I enjoyed another great competition at the Metro Cup this past weekend in Newark, NJ. While I didn't get in the prize list, I was very happy to win the "People's Choice" award which was quite nice. The pipes sounded pretty good and some friends were kind enough to record my performances so I can share them here.

The new world

I have joined the world of making your own website. It's also pretty freezing, which continues to be a pain for the fingers and pipes. It's pretty obvious why the pipes were invented where they were and not here in Jersey. When the knuckles are cracking, it's way too dry for good tone.