A strong, 100+ crowd attended the most recent Ottawa Branch event, which featured B and A Drumming contests, and the A Piping Canadian Content Hornpipe/Jig contest. The evening also featured presentation of Eastern Ontario Champion Supreme awards, and the new Pipe Major Tom Brown Memorial Cup.
Pipe Major Tom Brown Memorial Cup Presentation
The Pipe Major Tom Brown Memorial Cup.
Early in the evening, a new trophy in memory of Tom Brown, whom we lost this past spring, was awarded for the first time. We are grateful to the Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, Ottawa for the donation of this trophy.
Michèle and Abigail with the Pipe Major Tom Brown Memorial Cup. (photo: Cindy Ritchie)
We were honoured to host Tom’s wife Michèle and their daughter Abigail for the presentation of this award to the inaugural winners, the Glengarry Pipe Band – Gr. Five. This trophy will be awarded every year to the “Most Successful Pipe Band – Eastern Ontario Champion Supreme – All Grades” as part of the Eastern Ontario Champion Supreme aggregate. This is defined as the band with the most 1st place finishes in Eastern Ontario contests with two or more bands competing.
Tom loved being a piping adjudicator, and following receipt of the trophy by the Glengarry Pipe Band, the band presented Michèle and Abigail with the framed scoresheet that Tom wrote for the band at the 2017 Ottawa Branch Indoor Games a couple weeks before his passing in May.
This presentation included announcement of the funds raised for the Tom Brown Memorial Fund since his passing, totalling more than $7,500.
Pipe Major Erin Bell presenting the scoresheet that Tom Brown wrote for the Glengarry Pipe Band – Grade Five at the 2017 Ottawa Indoor Games in Kemptville. (photo: Cindy Ritchie)
The Ottawa Branch is grateful to everyone who contributed toward these lasting tributes to Tom.
A Piping – Canadian Content Hornpipe/Jig
In the evening’s piping contest, 13 contestants submitted a great variety of tunes written by Canadian composers. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Liam Melville!
Canadian Content H/J winner and recipient of the Glengarry School of Piping and Drumming Trophy with Ottawa Branch President Jacob Dicker. (photo: Cindy Ritchie)
Judge: Andrea Boyd
Liam Melville – “Lord Montgomery of the Todd” (W. Ridley), “Ainsley’s Jig” (B. Gandy)
Charles-David Mitchell – “William Grey” (M. Grey), “Ross Davison’s Army” (C.D. Mitchell)
Hugh Metcalfe – “The Captain’s Pledge” (B. Livingstone), “Dunrovin Farm” (M. Grey)
Ross Davison – “Lynn Sutherland” (M. MacIsaac), “St. Ninian’s Parish Ceilidh” (B. Worrall)
Nico Gravel – “Hennigham Reunion” (B. Gandy), “Drew James MacIntosh” (B. Worrall)
Greg Joseph – “Colin MacKay (R. MacKay), “Iain Grant” (J.T. MacKenzie)
Our emcee for the evening, Brian Williamson, captured some statistics throughout. Of the 26 tunes entered, six (26%) were composed by Michael Grey, followed by three each (11.5%) by Bob Worrall, Bill Livingstone, and Bruce Gandy. In total, tunes from 13 Canadian composers were submitted.
A Drumming – Two 6/8 Marches
Judge: Chris Bell
Shahna Summers – “Mrs. Lily Christie”, “Bengulion”
B Drumming – Jig
Judge: Chris Bell
Sarah McKinnon – “Flora MacIsaac”, “Jack Thornsbury”
Eastern Ontario Champion Supreme Award Presentations
The evening concluded with the presentation of awards to winners in the Eastern Ontario Champion Supreme aggregate across all categories. Congratulations to all!
Plaques for winners in each category of the Eastern Ontario Champion Supreme aggregate. (photo: Cindy Ritchie)
We are grateful to the Scottish and Irish Store for donating this year’s awards.
Bands
Grade 3 – Arnprior McNab Pipes and Drums
Grade 5 – Glengarry Pipe Band – winners of the new Pipe Major Tom Brown Memorial Cup
Solo Piping
Grade 1 – Liam Melville
Grade 2 – Finley van de Ven
Grade 3 – Olivier Rommelaere
Grade 4 – Paula Campbell
Grade 5 – Charles Pianosi
Practice Chanter – Noah Yateman
Senior Amateur Piobaireachd – Charles-David Mitchell
Intermediate Amateur Piobaireachd – Liam Melville
Junior Amateur Piobaireachd – Nadine MacRae
Novice Piobaireachd – Charles Pianosi
Solo Drumming
Grade 1 – Rita DeNobriga
Grade 3 – Shahna Summers
Grade 4 – Sarah McKinnon
Grade 5 – Susan Lunn
Amateur Tenor – Andrea Jackson
Novice Tenor – Nancy McKinnon
Amateur Bass – Andrea Brennan-Doucette
Upcoming Events
Knockout Contest:
B Piping – 2/4 March
40+ Piping – Air & 6/8 March