Simonds Lions representing Atlantic Canada in Scotland

Congratulations! Well Done Simonds Lions!

The Simonds Lions Caledonian Pipe Band from St. John, New Brunswick are in Scotland competing in competitions leading up to the World Pipe Band Championships this Saturday in Glasgow Scotland. 

They had great results with their competitions in North Berwick and Perth.  Click on their Facebook page Simonds Lions Caledonian Pipe Band and wish them well for their competitions at the World Pipe Band Championships this Saturday, August 18!  

Contest: North Berwick Games, Grade: 4B Date:  Saturday 11th August - Placing 5th out of 9 bands.

Contest: Perth, Grade: 4B, Date: Sunday, August 12th – Placing 6th out of 10 bands.

 

June 2018 Newsletter

The June 2018 Newsletter is available here. If you have submissions for our next newsletter, please email your news to acpbacommunications@gmail.com. 

- The ACPBA Communications Team 

Atlantic Piobaireachd Challenge 2018 Results

The ACPBA would like to congratulate the College of Piping for hosting another successful Atlantic Piobaireachd Challenge this past weekend. This event was held in the College's new Celtic Performing Arts Centre, which was an excellent venue for the challenge. Congratulations to all involved. Results are posted below:

 

Pewter Medal

1. Reilly Green, Fredericton, NB

2. Conall Gibson, Summerside, PE

3. Aidan MacNeil, Cape Breton, NS

Copper Medal

1. Dalton Faulkner, Halifax, NS

2. Rob McKay, Summerside, PE

Bronze Medal

1. Calum MacKinnon, Fall River, NS

2.Ryan Simpson, Summerside, PE

3. Carl Brydon, Summerside, PE

Nickel Medal

1. Calum Brydon, Summerside

2. Chris MacKnight, Nova Scotia

3. Brady Webb, Clan Thompson

Silver Medal

1. Sarah Bergen

Gold Medal

1. Bruce Gandy, Dartmouth NS

2. Alex Gandy, Dartmouth NS

3. James MacHattie, Summerside

Junior Amateur Jig:

1. Calum MacKinnon

2. Dakota Shaw

3. Danielle Chiarotto

Senior Amateur Jig :

1. Brandon Gardner

2. Brady Webb

3. Calum Brydon

ACPBA March 2018 Newsletter

Click here to view the ACPBA March 2018 Newsletter!

ACPBA Newsletter

The most recent ACPBA newsletter is now available for all to view on our website. Please click here to see what's new in the ACPBA! 

Remembering Sue Ellen Cummings

The ACPBA would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Sue Ellen Cummings. Sue passed away January 22, 2018 and was an important contributor to the piping and drumming community in Atlantic Canada as a member of the Stellarton Balmoral Pipe Band, Clan Thompson Pipe Band and Halifax Police Pipes and Drums for many years. She participated in many competitions over the years, including the World Pipe Band Championship in 1989. She was also a teacher to many drumming students in Pictou County and was a participant in both the Nova Scotia and Virginia Tattoos. Our thoughts are with Sue's friends and family at this time. Full obituary is available here. 

ACPBA December 2017 Newsletter

The ACPBA executive is happy to announce the return of the newsletter. This newsletter, in addition to posts on our blog and social media sites, will keep the membership up to date on what is happening in the piping and drumming community in Atlantic Canada. If you have news, photos, upcoming fundraisers, concerts - anything you would like included in the newsletter - please send your submissions to acpbacommunications@gmail.com. The newsletter will be distributed electronically through email to our registered members.

If you are not currently on our email list, please send an email to acpbacommunications@gmail.com if you would like to be added.  

Best wishes, 

The ACPBA Communications Team. 

2017 ACPBA AGM Minutes

Please find the minutes from the 2017 ACPBA Annual General Meeting below:

2017 Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association Annual General Meeting Minutes

Save the date! 2017 ACPBA AGM will be held October 28

The ACPBA invites its members to join the executive for the  2017 Annual General Meeting. The 2017 AGM will be held on October 28th, 2017 at the North Magazine of Citadel Hill National Historic Site located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Parking will be available. 

The AGM and elections will start at 12:00 p.m., followed by a lunch and the official awards ceremony. 

Champion Supreme winners are invited to attend to receive their awards and perform, however this is not mandatory. 

All are encouraged to attend. 

2017 ACPBA Champion Supreme List Released

The ACPBA has released the 2017 list of Champion Supreme Winners. Congratulations to all competitors in Atlantic Canada on all your hard work this year. We look forward to preparing for another year of piping and drumming in Atlantic Canada. 

The list of Champion Supreme Winners is available below:

2017 ACPBA Champion Supreme Rankings

2017 List of ACPBA Champion Supreme Trophies

Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew Pipe Band Celebrates 90 years

2017 marks the 90th year that the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew Pipe Band has existed in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The organization will celebrate this milestone with several events throughout the year. The first of the events will take place in conjunction with The New Brunswick Highland Games Festival.

Alumni and friends of the band are invited to join FSSAPB at the Ceilidh Tent on Friday, July 28th for an evening of entertainment. The lineup includes Paul McKenna of Scotland, and J.P. Cormier and Dave Gunning performing together. 

The current FSSAPB bands will also perform that evening. The FSSAPB hopes to see as many of its past members and ACPBA friends as possible that evening to join in on the celebration. 

Tickets for the event are $10 and will be available for purchase at the New Brunswick Highland Games Festival. 

Congratulations to the FSSAPB on 90 successful years of promoting pipe band music throughout Atlantic Canada and the world!
 

Upcoming Concert: Clan Thompson Pipe Band and Friends

The Clan Thompson Pipe Band and Friends In Concert

2:30 PM, Sunday, July 2nd,

St. James United Church, Main Street, Antigonish

The Clan Thompson Pipe Band, under the leadership of Pipe Major Scott Williams of Antigonish, Pipe Sergeant Madelyn Evans-Langlois of Stellarton, Drumming Instructor Ray Halliday of Shubenacadie, and Lead Drummer Judy MacMullin-Smith of Antigonish, will be staging their second major indoor concert of the season at 2:30 PM on Sunday, July 2nd at   St. James United Church, Main Street, Antigonish. Adult tickets are $10 and $5 for Seniors and children under 12. The proceeds from the concert will go to the St. James United Church Music Bursary Fund. Tickets are available from local band members and from the church office. They may also be purchased at the door on the day of the performance.

The concert will feature selections by the pipe band and individuals or small groups of band members on Highland pipes, Scottish small pipes, violin, chanter and trumpet, as well as selections by well-known local musicians and singers.

The Guests:

M.C.: Jack Langlois, Stellarton Town Crier

Organ: Sheila Davison is the organist at St. James United Church and has taught piano to numerous young people over the years.

Vocals: Margaret MacDonald has taught music locally for many years. She is the assistant organist at St. Ninian's Cathedral, and has performed in both English and Gaelic in concert programs throughout the region. James MacPherson started his musical training with the Marian Boy Choir, and attended St. F.X. University where he majored in piano with a double minor in voice and organ. He was a member of Winnie Chafe and Friends for over 20 years, and was a former member of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. He was a member of the Antigonish Highland Society's Gaelic Choir which performed in the first Nova Scotia International Tattoo in 1979. Jimmy served as the Principle Cantor at the Papal Mass in Halifax on September 14th, 1984 during Pope John Paul II's official visit to Canada. He is currently the organist, Senior Choir Director and vocalist at St. Ninian's Cathedral.

Flutist: Emery van de Wiel recently graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelors of Music in Performance with a minor in composition. During his time in Newfoundland, he studied under the guidance of Michelle Cheramy. He is working as the music director for the series of Keppoch shows which are performed during the Antigonish Highland Games. After placing first in the Newfoundland Provincial Kiwanis Competition, Emery played at the National Kiwanis Competition in Edmonton last year. While attending Domain Forget, Panoramic Flutist and Beyond the Masterclass last summer, he had Master classes with many well known Flautists including, Dennis Bouriakov, James Walker and Christina Jennings.
Smith Highland Dancers: Kylie England, Lydia MacPherson, Brenna MacPherson and Jillian Vink are all dancers from the Smith School of Highland Dance under the instruction of Janet Smith. All are competitive dancers with different levels of experience. Kylie has been dancing for 7 years and has reached the Premier level of competitive dance. Lydia has been dancing for 7 years and Brenna for 6 years and both are at the Novice level of competitive dance. Jillian has been dancing for 2 years and is at the Beginner level of competitive dance. Their instructor Janet Smith was both a competitive and performance dancer. She has been teaching both types of dance for over 20 years and instructs dancers in Antigonish, Havre Boucher and Guysborough.

New ACPBA Sanctioned Games! Colchester Highland Games and Gathering September 9, 2017

The Colchester Highland Games and Gathering will take place on September 9th, 2017 - Jennifer Drive, Bible Hill, NS. 

This is the inaugural year of the Colchester Highland Games and Solo Piping, Solo Drumming and Band Competitions will be available. 

Registration Forms will be available soon at:  www.colchesterhighlandgames.com

Employment Opportunity for Pipe Band Musicians: The Halifax Citadel

The Halifax Citadel Regimental Association is hiring pipe band musicians for Summer 2017. Please visit the link below for more information: 

http://www.regimental.com/table/employment-opportunities/

Union Fire Club Pipes and Drums

The photos below are of the Union Fire Club Pipes and Drums in Halifax, led by Pipe Major Scott Baker. This is a non-competitive band that is new to the ACPBA. Welcome to the club! Photos are courtesy of Sean Dewitt, Haligonia.ca

Photo courtesy of Haligonia.ca  

Photo courtesy of Sean Dewitt, Haligonia.ca  

Call for Musicians: 2017 Barbados Celtic Festival

Pipe bands and individual players are invited to join the 2017 Barbados Celtic Festival taking place from May 26-29th. This a great opportunity to bring your pipes or drums and enjoy a pipe band holiday in Barbados next May! The event aims to be the biggest pipe band gathering ever to take place in the Caribbean. The specific events will be launched on the festival website soon and will include massed-band performances and ceilidhs. 
 Here is what you need to know to start planning this trip today:

Date: The festival is from May 26-29th - quotes are available for these date, as well as for longer stays (e.g., 1 week from May 24-31st)

Packages: GOwithHIPPO, the official Canadian travel agent for the Barbados Celtic Festival, has group packages available for bands as well as individual packages. For inquiries contact Maryanne Wagstaff at GOwithHIPPO –

Toll Free 1-844-469-4844 ext. 722, m.wagstaff@gowithhippo.com or CelticFestival@gowithhippo.com

Visit the festival website also - http://www.barbadoscelticfestival.com/

Once you have made your final decision, musicians are asked to go to the following website and register:
http://www.pipefest.com/

ACPBA Annual General Meeting Minutes

The Annual General Meeting of the ACPBA was held on October 22nd in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Click here to see the minutes of the meeting. 

ACPBA Annual General Meeting - October 22nd, 2016

The ACPBA will hold its Annual General Meeting on October 22nd, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. in the North Magazine Building, Citadel Hill, Halifax. Parking is available and food and refreshments will be provided. 

Champion Supreme Winners are encouraged to bring their instruments and play a tune. Champion Supreme Pipe Bands are also encouraged to perform, including mini-bands. Pipe Bands that wish to perform are asked to RSVP to Kevin Dugas at dugas.kevin@gmail.com. 

We hope to see you there!

- ACPBA Executive.  

ACPBA Champion Supreme Winners Announced

The ACPBA executive would like to congratulate the 2016 ACPBA Champion Supreme winners. The champions are invited to accept their awards at the ACPBA Annual General Meeting in Halifax on October 22nd. Venue to be confirmed. 
 

Solo Piping Champion Supreme Winners:

Practice Chanter: Reilly Green, Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew

Grade 5 Piping: Dalton Faulkner, 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel

Grade 5 Piobaireachd (Ground): Dalton Faulkner, 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel

Grade 4 Piping: Calum MacKinnon, 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel

Grade 4 Piobaireachd: James Gendron, Dartmouth and District

Grade 3 Piping: Clare Henderson, Clan Thompson

Grade 3 Piobaireachd: Chris MacKnight, 36th Service Battalion

Junior Amateur Hornpipe and Jig (Piping): Clare Henderson, Clan Thompson

Grade 2 Piping: Brady Webb, Clan Thompson

Grade 2 Piobaireachd: Calum Brydon, College of Piping

Grade 1 Piping NSPPBA Champion Supreme: Sarah Simpson, College of Piping

Grade 1 Piobaireachd: Sarah Simpson, College of Piping

Senior Amateur Hornpipe and Jig: Brandon Gardner, Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew 

Solo Drumming Champion Supreme Winners:

Drum Pad: Carter Green, Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew Pipe Band

Grade 5 Drumming: Stephen MacKinnon, College of Piping

Grade 4 Drumming: Jenna-Marie Gallant, College of Piping

Grade 3 Drumming: Austin Trenholm, College of Piping

Grade 2 Drumming: Alex Marr, Dartmouth and District

Grade 1 Drumming: Chris Griffin, Dartmouth and District

Senior Amateur Hornpipe and Jig: Chris Griffin, Dartmouth and District

Pipe Band Champion Supreme Winners:

Grade 5: Dartmouth and District

Grade 4: College of Piping

Grade 3: Dartmouth and District

Grade 2: College of Piping

Grade 1: 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel

Professional:

Piping Champion Supreme: Alex Gandy, 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel

Drumming Champion Supreme: Sam Ramsay, College of Piping