Fifth Knockouts – February 9th
The fifth Knockout of the 2018-19 series is taking place on Saturday, February 9th, 2019 at 7:30 pm. The adjudicators for the evening will be Andrea Boyd for “A” Piping, Jacob Dicker for “B” Piping and Chris Bell for “A”, “B”, and “C” drumming. Andrea will play a recital afterwards.
Registrations are taken online or at the door typically starting at 7:00 pm.
Competitions start at 7:30 pm.
Fee: Competitors and attendees, $7.00 at the door.
Location: HMCS Bytown Naval Officers’ Mess, 78 Lisgar St. in downtown Ottawa.
“A” Piping – Canadian Content Hornpipe and Jig (minimum 4 parts each)
“B” Piping – Slow Air and 6/8 March (minimum 4 parts for march)
“A” Drumming – Two 6/8 Marches (minimum 4 parts each)
“B” Drumming – Strathspey and Reel (4 parts each)
“C” Drumming – 2/4 March (2 parts)
Given the large number of competitors, A and B categories will run concurrently on different floors.
The results of Saturday’s Knockout will determine who advances to the Knockout finals on March 9th. Knockout point standings can be found here.
Amateur Piobaireachd Contest – March 9th
On Saturday, March 9th we will be holding our amateur piobaireachd contest.
Where: HMCS Bytown Naval Officers’ Mess – 78 Lisgar St. in downtown Ottawa
Contests
“C” Piobaireachd (Main Level):
Requirements: One (1) ground – own choice
Grade approximation – New piobaireachd players, those with limited Novice competitive experience
“B” Piobaireachd (Crow’s Nest):
Requirements: One (1) full piobaireachd – own choice
Grade approximation – Experienced Novice, Junior Amateur
“A” Piobaireachd (Main Level):
Requirements: One (1) full piobaireachd – own choice
Grade approximation – Intermediate and Senior Amateur
Entry deadline: Wednesday, February 27th
Competition start times: All contest start times will be finalized based on entries. The contest will run during the mid-day/afternoon before the evening’s Knockout Final.
Order of play: Reverse order of entry. Sign up early to secure a later draw!
Cost: $7.00. Piobaireachd contest entrants and attendees get in free for the Knockout contest taking place that evening.
Note: Although similarly structured, these piobaireachd events will not be counted toward Knockout point standings.
Final Knockouts of the Year – March 9th
March 9, 2019 is Finals night.
The top three competitors from each Ottawa Knockout category will be invited to compete.
Competitions start at 7:30 pm.
Fee: Competitors and attendees, $7.00 at the door.
Location: HMCS Bytown Naval Officers’ Mess, 78 Lisgar St. in downtown Ottawa.
“A” Piping – Medley
“B” Piping – Medley (2-5 minutes)
“C” Piping – March Medley * (2-5 minutes)
“40+” Piping – Medley (2-5 minutes)
“A” Drumming – Medley *
“B” Drumming – March, Strathspey and Reel *
“C” Drummng – March Medley * (2-5 minutes)
“40+” Drumming – Medley (2-5 minutes)
* Finalists in these categories may utilize tunes submitted at earlier Knockout contests
Ottawa Indoor Highland Games – May 4th
The games will take place in Kemptville on Saturday, May 4th.
Entries will close two weeks in advance (Saturday, April 20th).
PPBSO Champion Supreme Points for solo events
PPBSO Champion Supreme points will be awarded to PPBSO members (alongside the traditional Eastern Ontario Champion Supreme points). Please note: PPBSO members, or members of other pipe band organizations risk disqualification if they enter a grade not assigned to them by their organization.
Juvenile band contest
Minimums for Juvenile grade are 5 pipers, 2 snare drummers, 1 bass, all of eligible juvenile age. “Eligible juvenile age” means any competitor whose 19th birthday occurs after the contest. Proof of age may be requested. Juvenile bands may add a non-juvenile piper as Pipe Major in addition to the minimum 5 juvenile age pipers. Juvenile bands may also add a non-juvenile drummer as their Lead Drummer in addition to the minimum 2 juvenile age snare drummers. Players of eligible juvenile age on the roster of a Juvenile band may also compete with one (1) non-Juvenile band on the day.
Quartet categories
We’ve also made some changes to the types of quartets that groups can enter.
New registration system
We are trialing a new registration system. If you have any questions when registering, please write to us via our contact page.
February 9th Knockout Judges
Andrea Boyd
Andrea Boyd was born and raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. From a family and community strongly steeped in piping tradition, she began piping at the age of nine and has received tuition from Scott Williams, John Walsh, Bruce Gandy, and Robert Wallace. Andrea played with the Antigonish Highland Society Pipe Band from 1994 – 2001; Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia from 2003-2006; St. Laurence O”Toole Pipe Band from 2006-2011; and Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band from 2013-2017. Andrea currently receives solo tuition from Willie McCallum.
She counts the Rankin Family, Howie MacDonald, Paul K. MacNeil, Doug Boyd, The 78thFraser Highlanders, and Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band as formative musical influences. Her favourite pipers are Angus MacColl, Fred Morrison, Stuart Liddell, and Terry Tully.
Andrea’s piping achievements include winning the Young Piper of the Year, Benbecula, Western Isles in 2006; B March and B Strathspey & Reel at the Argyllshire Gathering in 2006; the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 2008 and the World Pipe Band Championships with St. Laurence O’Toole in 2010. In 2015, Andrea was named Professional Piper of the Day at the Georgetown and Glengarry Highland Games and she was placed 3rd in 2014 and 5th in 2016 in the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering. In 2017, she won the Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal (Canada) at the Glengarry Highland Games and was the overall winner of the A grade solo piping at Cowal Highland Gathering.
Jacob Dicker
Jacob Dicker was seven years old when he began playing a full-sized bagpipe and could participate in parades and competitions with the local Sarnia Legion Pipe Band.
Jacob went on to play with the Windsor Police Pipe Band, the pipe band at Queen’s University where he studied history, and then joined the Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band, where he was recently promoted to Pipe Major, the band’s musical and administrative leader.
He has earned trophies at every amateur level, won the prestigious Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal at the Glengarry Highland Games in 2014, and has been repeatedly invited to compete on his own in Oban and Inverness.
Chris Bell
For more than 30 years, Chris has been a drumming instructor in the Kingston area, with several of his students going on to reach professional level solo success and grade 1 band success. Along with his brother Scott, the Bell boys have led Rob Roy to many competition wins while continuing to instill the importance of supporting community events.
Chris has spent the better part of his drumming career with Rob Roy, but at times has played with multiple bands, including the Niagara Regional Police and the Peel Regional Police. His instructors have included David Danskin, Al Savage, Harvey Dawson, Hugh Cameron, and Graham Kirkwood.
When he is not drumming, Chris is a Director of Culinary Services with Revera Retirement, but most enjoys spending time with his wife Erin and son, Euan.
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