Field Marshal take to the stage at Piping Festival,
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
THE Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, Northern Ireland's premier Grade 1 band, will appear in concert at the 11th William Kennedy Piping Festival in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh on Wednesday 17th November.
The band has been directed since the early 1980s by Pipe Major Richard Parkes, who was recently honoured with an MBE in recognition of his contribution to piping in Northern Ireland.
They are the current world champions in Grade 1 and are renowned for their innovative arrangements combined with superb percussion accompaniment.
Also appearing with them will be the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, which was formed in 2002 by the National Piping Centre in Glasgow.
They are a non-competing, performance-orientated band intended to nurture and develop the talents of Scotland's best young pipers and drummers.
The band also features an exciting backing section of bass, bouzouki, percussion and drum kit, as well as a troupe of Scottish highland dancers. - Patrick Molard from Brittany, and Angus MacKenzie from Cape Breton Island, Canada, are the two solo pipers appearing.
This is a show not to be missed by every piping enthusiast. Tickets cost £9 and are available direct from the Market Place Theatre Armagh by telephoning 3752 1821. More information on the Festival can be found at www.wkpf.org.
A fantastic day's drumming was enjoyed by a large crowd, many from overseas, at the recent world solo drumming championships held in Bathgate Academy, Scotland. Simply awesome was the comment from the audience.
Breaking his own record and retaining his world title for the 15th time was Kim Kilpatrick, Leading drummer with Grade 1 the House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band. Jim also won 1st place in the Champion of Champions event, which took place after the finals.
Eric Ward, originally from Banbridge and now with Strathclyde Police, was in runner up spot.
Stephen Creighton from St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band from Dublin took a well deserved sixth placing.
Christopher McNicholl from Comber, who drums with Bleary & District, won the Juvenile section two event. He was the only competitor from Northern Ireland to claim a world drumming title. This talented young man is sure to be in the headlines many more times in his drumming career.
Other drummers from Ulster to claim prizes were Jonathon Hoy, who was awarded 6th place in Juvenile section two with Jason Hoy 4th in Juvenile section two and Jonathan Colville 6th in this section.
World champions were Craig Brown from Boghall & Bathgate; who won the Juvenile section One, and Tano Martone from the Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band who won the Juvenile section Three. It's reassuring to know that with these youngsters competing with Grade 1 bands the future of bands is in safe hands. .
An invitational solo piping competition has been arranged for Saturday 13th November in the Fort -Hotel, Dungannon commencing at 1 pin.
This event has been organised by Pipe Major Sean Faloon for several years now and has always been a popular event for soloists. Adjudicator will be Fred Morrison from Scotland, who is a brilliant solo player and who has won every major title in the solo player field.
Contact Brendan Murphy for further details on 077185 22126
Results of the 2004 World Solo Drumming Championships
1st Kim Kilpatrick. 2nd Eric Ward. 3rd Gordon Brown. 4th Barry Wilson. 5th Blair Brown. 6th Stephen Creighton.
Juvenile Section One. 1st Craig Brown. 2nd John Benson. 3rd Cameron Ward. 4th Chris Keating. 5th Billy Archibald. 6th Graham Horsman.
Juvenile Section Two. 1st Chris McNicholl. 2nd David Henderson. 3rd Alex Wright. 4th Craig Lawrie. 5th Chris Taylor. 6th Jonathon Hoy.
Juvenile Section Three. 1st Tano Martone. 2nd John Henderson. 3rd Cameron Reid. 4th Jason Hoy. 5th Scott Birrell. 6th Jonathan Colville.
Ulster Star
12/11/2004
