Great day planned for pipers and drummers
A CHARITY Piping and Drumming night has been planned in the Royal Hotel Cookstown on Saturday 23rd February from 6pm to 10pm.
Organised by Gary Smyth, this evening will see many of the best pipers and drummers gathered in one place in aid of the Fort Riding Centre for Disabled children in Maghera.
Before the charity event though, and in the same venue, there will be an introduction into solo tenor drumming and bass section seminar from 12 noon to 4 pm.
Drummers will learn how to optimise their solo tenor drumming performance. This session will be instructed by Stephen McQuillan from Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band, winners of the world bass section six times.
Stephen will outline the key features for a competent solo performance and present an overview of the function of the bass section within the modern day pipe band ensemble.
This will be followed up with a full day seminar on Saturday 5th April. More details later.
John Dunne from the St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band, twice world bass section champions, will present the function, roll and styles of a competent Bass Drummer.
23rd February promises to be a great day's instruction and entertainment for all pipers and drummers and anyone wanting more details can contact Gary Smyth on 07814446179
The Officials and Programme of events for 2008 booklet is now available and can be obtained at the first meeting of the Northern Ireland branch of the RSPBA to be held on Saturday 26th January.
This is a must have for all pipe band followers giving not only the dates and venues of all the competitions for the incoming year but lots of other interesting information as well.
You can also contact Walter McKibben direct to obtain your copy on telephone 92688007 or 07795561135
The College of Piping will be celebrating 60 years of the Piping Times from 1948-2008 on 14th March at 7.30pm live and exclusive at Fisher's Hotel Pitlockry Scotland.
Robert Wallace, editor of the paper, will give the lecture and one interesting point he will talk on is "learn how to insult and get away with it". Sounds intriguing. All this and four piobaireachd from double Gold Medallist Stuart Liddell. Tickets cost £10(which includes refreshments) and are available at www.college-of-piping.co.uk or call 0141 334 3587
This is also the address to log on to if you would like to hear the College of Piping radio broadcast, which is now available on demand. Solo and band performances, archive spots, history interviews and informed comments are some of the highlights of this show.
Also worth a listen to every Saturday evening from 9.05pm to 10pm is the BBC's "Pipeline" radio show, which promises the best of music news and reviews from the pipe band world.
Anyone still interested in attending the 2008 Annual General Meeting of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association should contact secretary David Scott as soon as possible.
It will take place on Saturday 8th March 2008 at the Quality Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, Glasgow.
David can be contacted by telephone 028638823 mobile 0788 1410333.
Ulster Star
18/01/2008
