New man takes the drumming helm at Altnaveigh
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
ALTNAVEIGH Memorial Pipe Band, who won promotion to Grade 3B this seas on , have appointed Kenny Gibson from Portadown as their new leading drummer.
Kenny was a drummer with Grade 2 Bessbrook for some years and then later on with Grade 1 Ravara.
He takes over a drum corps who last year won the Grade 4A champion of champions in Scotland and the All Ireland championships in Kilkenny.
Richard Coffey, who was the man instrumental in securing these victories, has reluctantly stepped down from contest drumming but leaves the corps in good shape for his successor.
Pipe Major David Hanna speaks very highly of Richard and praises him for his commitment and first class dedication to Altnaveigh. He says that Richard has left a good platform for Kenny to take over the corps, and he hopes this year will bring more success to the band.
Practice
They practice every Tuesday and Thursday and anyone interested in joining this up and coming pipe band will be made very welcome. Contact David Hanna on 30-266157 for more information.
Andrew Scullion, originally from Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry, and ex leading Tip of Grade 1 Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, has now joined world drumming champions Shotts & Dykehead Pipe band as a drummer.
The corps is under the leadership of Jim Kilpatrick, the winner of the world solo drumming championships a record 13 times.
Andrew is one of the world's most talented and highly respected solo drummers with three world solo titles to his credit and countless other successes in solo drumming competition.
His outstanding leadership of the drum corps and his positive role in supporting Pipe Major Richard Parkes has proved a significant factor in the Ulster band's continuing success in competition over the past four seasons culminating in Field Marshal's world championship success in August 2002.
Force
With the addition of Andrew to Shotts, it could well make this drum corps an even more formidable force to contend with this season.
An advance notice from the Mid-Ulster drumming school is that they are planning to hold a concert in Maghera High School, Co. Londonderry on Saturday 3 May commencing at 7.45pm.
The show will feature Strathclyde Police Pipe Band under Pipe Major Jim Wark and Leading Tip Eric Ward, originally from Banbridge. Both of these men are well known and respected figures in the pipe band community.
The band has the distinction of holding the record of winning the Grade 1 world championship title an amazing 12 times under Pipe Major Ian McLellan. They have been consistently in the top six in the worlds this last ten years.
Also appearing on the night will be guest soloist Stuart Liddell who pipes with the S i m o n F r a s e r University Pipe Band from Vancouver. More details later.
Highland dance classes recommenced in Lisburn Orange Hall Railway Street last Monday at 6pm
Aimed at children between 5 and 11 years old, the classes are taught by Gillian Jones, who is a professionally qualified Highland Dance teacher, and cost £1 per child per class.
For further details please contact the Acting Secretary of Lagan Valley Arts and Cultural Association Diane Carlisle on 92 648451 or 07759 242710.
Ulster Star
17/01/2003
