Solo Upgrade Requests

Monday November 26th, 2018

An updated copy of the solo upgrade request form has been posted for members who wish to request an upgrade. The one change we’ve made for this year is that we’re now requesting a video submission from any member requesting an upgrade. Over the past couple of years the Music Committee has found video submissions to be incredibly helpful when they evaluate a request. By including it in the standard request submission, we’re hoping to be able to streamline the process.

The new form can be found at http://ppbso.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PPBSO-Solo-Grading-Request-Form-2019.pdf.

Band and Solo Upgrades

Saturday November 3rd, 2018

Based on the recommendation of the Music Committee, the Board of Directors has approved the following band and solo upgrades for the 2019 season.

Band Upgrades

Grade 4 to 3
8 Wing

Grade 5 to 4
Peel Regional Police
Guelph Pipe Band

Solo Piping – Light Music

Grade 2 to Grade 1
Callum Gauthier
Harrison Little
Michael Malish
Henry Paluch
Chris Scharf

Grade 3 to Grade 2
Alec Baker
Christopher Finlay
Janet French
Roy Huang
Connor McCutcheon
Victoria McRae
John David Mitchell
Matthew Parsons

Grade 4 to Grade 3
Paul Brunning
Yunus Caglar
James Doucette
Thomas Helland
Rhys Fitzpatrick
Alexander MacDonald
Caleb Macpherson
Tyler Redford

Grade 5 to Grade 4
Jillian Bunston
Ethan Flynn
Paul Lofthouse
Jeremy Rostirolla
Thomas Rozon
Ian Wyllie

Practice Chanter to Grade 5
Megan Drake
Declan Fox-Ivey
Cameron Fradette
Iain Lynch
Nathale Roy

Solo Piping – Piobaireachd

Intermediate to Senior
Callum Gauthier
Jazz Kersell
Michael Malish
Henry Paluch

Junior to Intermediate
Gregory Joseph
Harrison Little
Alexander MacDonald
Caleb Macpherson
Chris Scharf

Novice to Junior
Alek Baker
Paula Campbell
Christopher Finlay
Connor McCutcheon
Sarah MacKinnon
Jeremy Rostirolla
Danielle Williams

Solo Snare Drumming

Grade 5 to Grade 4
Grant Fox-Ivey
Julia Williams

Please note that due to a timing issue, the Bass and Tenor upgrades are awaiting final approval. These will be announced after they’re approved and the members affected notified of their upgrade

New Music Committee Chair

Thursday October 4th, 2018

On behalf of both the Board of Directors and the Music Committee, I’m pleased to announce that Lynda Mackay has been appointed as the new Chair of the Music Committee. Lynda has been an active member of our community for decades. She competed in several bands and as a soloist at all levels for almost 30 years (including as the Pipe Major of the former Strathnaver Pipe Band). She has taught both piping and drumming at The College of Piping in Summerside, PEI, and has been an active teacher of piping for almost 25 years. For the past decade Lynda has been a certified PPBSO Judge for both solo piping and bands, and has been an active member of the Music Committee for the past several years.

The Board and the Music Committee are both excited to see Lynda take on this new role.

For more information on the current membership of the Music Committee, please refer to the Music Committee page on the PPBSO website.

Chris Buchanan,
President

Upcoming Branch Contests and Annual General Meetings

Saturday September 29th, 2018

After a busy outdoor summer season, the PPBSO and its branches are moving ahead with a full calendar of events over the fall and the winter. The first event of the off-season starts tonight in Ottawa with the branch AGM and its first knockout contest for 2018/2019. Please check the local branch websites or the PPBSO event calendar (http://ppbso.org/events) for upcoming events and dates.

Please also check the dates and locations for your local branch AGM and the PPBSO AGM, which is on December 8^th in Milton. All members are encouraged to attend in participate in these general meetings, elect Branch and PPBSO officers and Directors, and to make your voice be heard.

2018 Highland Gala

Wednesday September 12th, 2018

2018 Highland Gala
November 3rd, 2018
Celebrating

Champion Supreme Bands and Soloists

Best Western Brantford Hotel and Conference Centre
19 Holiday Drive, Brantford, ON

For map to hotel, please click ON THIS LINK

This year’s Highland Gala dress code will be
Semi-formal or Highland Dress
Absolutely NO jeans

The bringing in of externally purchased food and alcohol is strictly prohibited!

Tickets are $25.00 per person at the door
or $20.00 until November 2^nd using the PayPal through the Niagara-Hamilton Branch.

A limited number of rooms are being held for the event, and can be booked at
the Best Western online booking site. Rooms will be held until Friday, October 5^th.

Maxville Band Meetings

Tuesday July 24th, 2018

This is a reminder that the band meeting for the grade 5 bands at Maxville will be on Friday, August 3^rd at 11:00. The band meeting for all other grades will be on Saturday, August 4^th at 11:00.

Kincardine Parade

Thursday July 5th, 2018

A couple of questions have been asked about the opening parade at the Kincardine Scottish Festival this weekend. Bands are to form up at 10:45 for an approximate 11:00 start. All bands are required to participate except for those grade five bands explicitly excused due to their placement in the order of play. The list of bands excused will be posted on the PPBSO board as per usual and will also be announced at the band meeting.

Kincardine Band Meeting

Tuesday July 3rd, 2018

The band meeting for Kincardine this Saturday, July 7^th will be held at 10:00 instead of the usual time.