Recent Activities

The sun's out, the pipes are singing, drums are crackin' and the summer is in full swing. Meaning that there is a some sort of piping related activity nearly every week/weekend....
Here's what we've been up to:
BC Highland Games on June 28, 2008 saw James P. gain a third in the Piobaireachd, 2nd in the Hornpipe/Jig and first in the March. I had a good play in the MSR and ended up with a second, after a disasterous H/J! Both JP and James W. judged the afternoon of bands.
Last week both James P. and Ryan headed down south to Portland, Oregon for the annual Highland Musical Arts Summer School of Piping and Drumming. For the past couple of years, it has been held at Ocean Park but this year the venue, as well as the format, changed. The school, now located at the Lewis and Clark College in Portland, was attended, in a large part, by the Sir James MacDonald kids. This allowed the instructors to focus mainly on the band repertoire to gear them up for a superb performance at the Portland Highland Games at the end of the week. Ryan, never far from her camera, captured some moments after classes with fellow instructors, Bob Worrall and Micah Babinski. Those are to follow.
Up next: Portland Highland Games. James P., having a wonderful run in the solos this year, won the Piobaireachd, which was held on the Friday night. Saturday was also a good day for him as he walked away with a first in the H/J and a third in the MSR. JP also judged the bands in the afternoon. Full listings of results from the Games around the region are listed on the BC Pipers website. Of a special note, Jori Chisholm, a long time player of our reeds, has been doing well in the solos this season. Congrats go out to him!
As we were scorching in the Oregon heat this past weekend, James W. was on stage with The Chieftains. These fellas are credited with bringing the tradition of Irish music to the attention of the world. With a style so definitive and slick, it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity to take the stage with the likes of Paddy Moloney and friends. Here is the newspaper article that ran the next day, with a wee mention of the 'kilted James W. Troy'...



The World Pipe Band Championships are coming up on August 16, 2008. Both James P. and I are headed overseas August 9th to spend a week with the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band. Check out the website: http://www.spiritofscotlandpipeband.com/. Ryan is also headed over but playing with the revamped Peel Regional Police Pipe Band, under the direction of P/M Glenn Brown and D/S Graham Brown. In between band practices, she will having various photo sessions with various individuals. Look for her photo galleries on her website and blog, our blog as well as her photo essays on http://www.pipesdrums.com/ upon our return.
Lots to look forward to!

Cheers for now,
JLT