Worlds Week

The week of the World Pipe Band Championships has turned into a week filled with the best piping, drumming and celtic music going...thanks to the Piping Live - Glasgow International Piping Festival. With venues all over Glasgow and the music going at virtually any time of the day, it's hard to fit it all in between that and band practices...
Luckily enough, I was able to catch the CD release of Daimh's new-ish album, Diversions. These guys combine the Scottish, Irish and Cape Breton traditions creating a musically tight ensemble that is a such joy to listen to. So glad that I was able to see them perform live at The Piping Centre before heading to the Silver Cap Invitational contest at the Todd Bar to see James P. compete with the big boys (see previous pipes|drums article, James P. Storms into Silver Cap competition).
Organized by Richard King and Steve Foley of the Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band, this solo piping invitational is quickly becoming a popular event. Boasting some great prize money, all of the competitors have a chance to present a medley of tunes, one of which must be currently unpublished. This year's contest was adjudicated by P/M Iain MacLellan who was positioned behind a screen so as not to know who he was listening to. Eight contestants and eight very good performances with the outcome as follows:

1st Angus MacColl
2nd Stuart Liddell
3rd Willie McCallum
4th James P. Troy
5th Gordon Walker
6th Bruce Gandy
7th Jack Lee
8th Ken Sutherland

Way to go James P! Rob Wallace of the Piping Times gave a full review of each competitor (a little harsh on Bruce Gandy....) Read what he had to say.
And thanks to Jason Briscoe who managed to get a great recording of James P's performance. The unpublished tune Jamie chose to play was a hornpipe written by our uncle, Colin Magee (famous for composing Troy's Wedding) for the late and great Highland Dancing teacher, Mrs. Adeline Duncan. Download JPSilverCap.mp4 from our space on Box.net. Safe and easy to use!
More to follow...
-JLT

We Have Some Catching Up To Do...

It's been a while since our last post - our apologies. Due to excessive traveling and one brief hospital visit, we have just now enough time to regroup and to start posting! Lots to report and lots to share...
First off, I was able to share in the success of the Peel Regional Police Pipe Band at Maxville. We were crowned North American Champions after an undefeated season in Ontario! With seven out of eight firsts between both the MSR and Medley contest and a beautiful day to play to boot, we definitely finished the Ontario season on a high note. It was a honour to be a part of a band that has come leaps and bounds in the last few years under the direction of P/M John Cairns and D/S Graham Brown. Check out the MSR performance from Maxville below:



A big congrats go out to Bruce and Alex Gandy for putting in some great playing during the day, resulting in Bruce being named Piper of the Day! A full synopsis of Maxville results can be found at pipes|drums online.
While I was enjoying the humid Ontario weather, James P. was basking in the sunshine at Lorient, France for the Inter-Celtic Festival. A prestigious event that attracts players and performers from all over the world, this festival has always been on the Places to Go list. James P. was playing for the MacCrimmon Trophy which required contestants to play a Breton piece, a Scottish piece and an Irish piece. Placing second overall, James P. can be seen at 8:50 mark of the video below while the results of the contest are being read. Minute 9:10 is when the announcer reads out his name!



Part of the festival includes the Breton Championship of Bagadoù featuring the best Bagad bands around. Such a sight to behold as these guys really know how to put on a show! Congrats go out to Cap Caval for capturing this year's Championship and then turning around to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships a week later! No small feat, my friends.
This brings us to Worlds Week....more posts to follow.
-JLT