Bands eye up the last of the 2003 major championships
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
THE last of this year's five major competitions is the European Championships, which will take place at Alden Biesen Castle, Belgium on 13 September.
This will be the first time that a major Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association event has been held outside the British Isles.
There are 96 pipe bands and 56 drum majors entered for the championships, including four from Northern Ireland.
They are Altnaveigh Memorial who will compete in 3B; Killadeas in 3A; Bleary & District in Grade 2 and Field Marshal Montgomery in Grade 1.
It is the intention of the Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA to hold a meeting on Wednesday 24 September in the Bridge Community Centre, Railway Street, Lisburn at 8 prn, to discuss the way forward for the solo competitors within the Branch.
It is the wish of the Executive to formally adopt a policy for the organisation of solo playing in the province but that can only be done with full participation from the people it affects the. most.
If you are one of those people ten it is vitally important you attend this meeting and voice your views and opinions as to the way forward.
The next Northern Ireland Branch Meeting of the RSPBA will take place on Saturday 27 September at 2pm in the Bridge Community Centre, Lisburn.
The 53rd Annual General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA will be held in the Bridge Community Centre on Saturday l l October at 10.30am for 11 am start.
Any bands having a change or alternation to any rule, Notice of Motion or Recommendations for the AGM should forward these before Saturday 20 September to Lorraine McVeigh, Branch Secretary, so they can be read at the Branch Meeting on 27 September.
The Drum Corps of the RUC. have produced a unique book containing 40 drum scores - some of which they have won major titles with; which is sure to attract the interest of all drummers.
This is sure to be a collector's item as the book also contains the names of drummers and the history of or e of the best drum corps ever to be: formed in Ireland.
The drum corps of the RUC - now defunct - was the winners of the 2000 world Grade 1 championship title under Leading Tip Gary Corkin as well as winners of 17 other major titles.
Available
The book is now available from leading music shops including Belfast Music Supplies, the Essay on the Newtownards Road and the Music shops in Cookstown and Magherafelt.
All proceeds will go to the RUC Widows' Association.
Now is the time to order your copy of the CD of this year's World Pipe Band Championships, which was held in Glasgow Green in August.
These can be obtained from Beat Street, telephone 028 25 880210 priced £12.99. This year you can also order the Grade One Qualifying round.
The Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming, School will be holding an Open Evening on Wednesday 24 September at Laurelhill Community College, Lisburn and at the University of Ulster, Magee Campus Londonderry.
This will be an opportunity to see for yourselves what the students in previous years have achieved. All ages and standards are catered for by qualified instructors.
The Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming School was established in 1980 to teach piping and drumming to all and to improve the skills of existing players.
Many bands, as well as individual players, have benefited from what they have learned in the school by achieving top awards, even in world competitions.
Most students however come to learn, to improve and to enjoy it.
Enrolment will take place on Saturday, 27 September at l0am in both of the centres.
For further information please contact Robert Finlay on 9188 3577.
This year's All Ireland Solo competition will take place on Saturday 20 September in Dublin.
Ulster Star
12/09/2003
