EUSPBA News

Glasgow Lands Results Posted

7/25/2010 - The 2010 EUSPBA Grade 1-4 Band Championship contest results have been posted here. Congratulations to all our new EUSPBA Champions.

Rule Changes Effective 2011

04/29/2010 - The following rule changes have been approved for the 2011 competition season:

"Instructor/player rules are limited to Grades 5, and 4 bands. Instructor/Players cannot play lead in any section." , The current wording can be found on page 6 under "Definitions"
Grade 4 solo, Jr. and Sr. Piobaireachd, requirements found on page 8 of the existing Rule Book will change. The option for ground only to be sanctioned will be removed. Effective January 1, 2011, only the full tune event will be sanctioned by the EUSPBA.

Bachelor of Bagpipes

04/19/2010 - Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas is pleased to announce a new academic program of interest to pipers. Beginning with the Fall semester of 2010 the Scottish Heritage Program, under the direction of Jimmy Bell, will team with the Music Department to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with Great Highland Bagpipe as the primary instrument. Students will also have opportunities for internships while participating in the degree program, and will graduate with marketable skills.

Lyon is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the foothills of the scenic Ozark Mountains in north-central Arkansas. In addition to a nationally recognized academic reputation, the school is known for its gorgeous surroundings, and is in the process of developing an outdoor experience that will be second to none.

The award winning Lyon College Pipe Band is internationally recognized, and travels around the country competing at Highland games and participating in events such as Mardi Gras, the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library, and the New York Tartan Day parade. The band performs at numerous school functions, at church services, parades, and events all over Arkansas and the surrounding region.

Pipers applying for the new degree program will be expected to meet Lyon's entrance requirements, and will also be required to hold an EUSPBA Level 3 certification or higher. They should also be prepared to audition on-campus for members of the Music department faculty, and Scottish Heritage Director.

For further information please contact Jimmy Bell at james.bell@lyon.edu or 870-307-PIPE.

Instructor Rule Update

The executive committee has revised the ruling on the instructor player for 2010. The instructor player rule found under definitions in the rulebook will remain the same for 2010 as it was in 2009. These rules will change for the 2011 competition season. Changes will be posted here as the information becomes available.

EUSPBA Pipe Band Championships

The EUSPBA Pipe Band Championships are back for 2010. Mark your band calendar for the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival, July 17, 2010 in Florence, MA. Participating bands MUST be members of the EUSPBA by May 1, 2010 and band rosters must be received by the EUSPBA Membership Coordinator by June 1, 2010. Bands from outside the geographical boundaries of the EUSPBA may participate, but must join and submit rosters by the aforementioned dates. More details will be forthcoming, no travel money, but rest assured there will be substantial prize money, and glory for the top bands in the EUSPBA. Please join us in Florence, MA.

Grade 1: 1st - $5000 | $3000 | $2000
Grade 2: 1st - $4000 | $2500 | $2000
Grade 3: 1st - $3000 | $2000 | $1000
Grade 4: 1st - $2000 | $1500 | $ 500
Total prize money = $28,000

New Scholarships Available

The House of Gordon USA and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Committee are sponsoring The Charles O. Gordon Memorial Grade 4 Jr. Piper of the Day. In addition, the Manchester Regional Police and Fire Pipe Band Inc. is offering three scholarships for pipers, drummers and drum majors in the New England area.

Passings

Albert L. McMullin, age 90, of Bear, DE, passed away on February 15, 2010, surrounded by his family. A veteran of WWII, the Korean era and the Viet Nam era, he served his country for 26 years in the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of MSG. Albert is the father of Albert McMullin, former EUSPBA President and current Southern Branch Chair.

Mike Murphy, (2/27/1979 - 2/11/2010) snare drummer for CoW and previous member of The Citadel and Charleston Police. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire family.

Randy Sperl, (2/7/1968 - 2/10/2010) former D/S of the CRC Grade 3 pipe band. Randy served as lead tip for CRC Grade 3 since 2002 and instructed the Grade 4 and 5 bands. The Capital Region Celtic Pipe Band has lost one of its most influential members.

Carnegie Mellon University Seeks Director of Piping

February 2, 2010 - Carnegie Mellon University invites applications for the position of Director of Piping. This may be one of the most coveted positions in the piping world.

2010 Music Requirement Update

January 26, 2010 - The following was developed at the last music board meeting and ratified by the EC. These changes are effective for playing year 2010.

The QMM for grades 4 and 5 shall be defined as six to eight parts of march music, simple time, no time limit. The list of tunes provided for each grade is strongly recommended, but not required. The QMM should contain tunes that by tradition are considered marches (such as written in time signatures 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4) played in quick time. The QMM shall not contain bridges or reprises. The music should be structured traditionally i.e. 2/4 marches-8 bars/16 beats per part repeated, 4/4 marches 8 bars/32 beats per part not repeated, 3/4 marches 8 bars/24 beats repeated. The QMM is to include a traditional attack of two three pace rolls, with the chanters sounding E on the seventh beat.

Marches are to be played as written, and if a part is written with repeats, the repeat does not count as an additional part. So a QMM could consist of 6 parts with nothing repeated, 8 parts all repeated, or anything in between, as long as the tunes are played the way they were written. Additionally, other time signatures of non-compound time can be included, such as a 5/4. Compound time signatures of 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8, or any other time signature where the beat is divisible by 3, are not permitted.

Rules and Regulations Updated

Competition Rules and Regulations for 2010 have been updated and posted on the Resource - Rules page of this site. Includes the new requirements for Grades 4 & 5 March Set.

P/M George M Bell 1926-2010

January 16, 2010 - We are sorry to report today that Pipe Major George M. Bell passed awayat age 83, on January 16, 2010, after several years of intermittent illness. P/M Bell was one of the most important piping figures in the North America.

Bell emigrated from Glasgow to New Jersey where he founded the Kenmure Pipe Band in 1953. Under his leadership, the band won the Grade 1 Eastern United States Championships nine times. He was also an active and successful solo competitor.

PM Bell was instrumental in the beginnings of EUSPBA in 1964, and served our association in many capacities, including Chairman of the Judges Committee, where he worked to develop our judging accreditation program.

George Bell may be best known as a teacher, whose students include his sons Jimmy and Duncan, as well as Derek Midgley and Bobby Durning. His sons Gordon and Donald are prominent pipe band drummers.

Our condolences go to the Bell family and many friends at this sad time.

The Voice Editor

The EUSPBA is seeking a new publisher for The Voice, the association’s quarterly magazine. EUSPBA members with experience in all facets of magazine production (writing, editing, advertising, photography and design) are invited to apply. To express interest, please contact EUSPBA President Jimmy Bell directly at president@euspba.org.

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