Latest News
Happy New Year to You All.
YOU NEED TO REGISTER!!
I hope you have all had a lovely break and enjoyed some quality time with your families.
We are about to embark on a new season in the Pipe Band World with all to play for. The County Down Section want to help you achieve your aspirations by offering you an opportunity to attend a Presentation/Seminar on Ensemble.
The presentation/seminar will take place at the Lagan Valley Island Centre on Saturday 19th January 2019. All bands registered with the RSPBA/IPBA are welcome. This event is FOC to all bands. We are restricting it to a maximum of 4 members per band as we have only 100 spaces available. We ask that all representatives are there at 1.00 pm ready for a 1.30 pm start.
We have had a great response from bands to attend this unique opportunity to improve and enhance your Ensemble performance especially on the competition field.
A large conference hall has been booked for this event and there are still places available for bands to attend We do need you to register your attendance for seating and catering.
The 1st half of the presentation will be in depth on the principles of Ensemble covering Piping, Bass, Tenors and Snare drumming. The 2nd half of the presentation will be as a seminar with the presenter and invited guest speakers, all highly experienced with a wealth of knowledge to expand on the 1st half of the presentation and providing an opportunity of a 2-way question and answer session. This is a bespoke event for you to ask all the questions you always wanted to ask.
Please note that this event caters for all bands from grades 4B to 1.
We encourage all bands from RSPBA/IPBA to seriously consider attending this event.
If you wish to register please contact me at Lorraine.ronaldson@rspbani.org for your place. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Kindest regards
Lorraine
As part of their 100th-year-anniversary celebrations in 2019, Ballyboley Pipe Band are presenting Fred Morrison in concert.
Please see the attached poster for further details.
.jpg)
Broughshane & District Pipe Band hosted a Gospel Praise Concert on Thursday 29th November in 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Church Hall (the band's practice hall). Under the direction of their new pipe major, David Reid, the band kicked off a great evening of entertainment as they played a selection of well-known sacred music including 'Abide with me', 'Jesus loves me' and 'Amazing Grace' and rounded off an excellent performance with the well-known tune, 'Highland Cathedral'. After a quick change from the tartan band uniform the new pipe major took to the stage several times during the rest of the evening as he sang with two musical groups; firstly as a member of the Grace in Harmony Trio (accompanied by Jane Dickey) and secondly with Kellie Hanna when the duo were accompanied by David's musical wife Edith. Also taking part were gospel singer John Porter and the minister, the Rev Ronnie Agnew, who was the compere. A free-will offering collected on the evening raised over £1,100 in support of the Church Hall renovations.
Caption for photo: 2018-1473
Pipe Major David Reid (left) and Broughshane & District Pipe Band pictured playing at a Gospel Praise Concert in 1st Broughshane Presbyterian Church Hall on Thursday 29th November.
Text and photo: John Kelly
RSPBANI Branch President Winston Pinkerton presents a cheque for £5000.00 to Grace Williams from Air Ambulance N.I. at the Branch A.G.M. on Saturday 24th November.
Air Ambulance N.I. was the President's chosen charity for 2018.
The question was asked at last years AGM “What is Ensemble?” and sadly no-one could answer this question. The Co Down Section have taken the decision to address this subject by hosting a presentation/seminar to assist the bands in better understanding this vitally important subject.
This is a one-off opportunity to enable the Bands to improve and enhance their musical potential at all levels through Piping, Snare, Bass and Tenor drumming. The presentation will be based on the RSPBA Structured Learning principles. The main presenter will be Alan Ronaldson with other invited guest speakers in attendance.
The presentation/seminar will take place at the Lagan Valley Island Centre on Saturday 19th January 2019. All bands registered with the RSPBA/IPBA are welcome. This event is FOC to all bands. We are restricting it to a maximum of 4 members per band as we have only 100 spaces available. We ask that all representatives are there at 1.00 pm ready for a 1.30 pm start. Please email the numbers of your band who wish to attend to lorraine.ronaldson@rspbani.org.
Kind regards to you all
Lorraine Ronaldson
President
Co Down Section RSPBANI
Please see the attached press release regarding the County Fermanagh & District Massed Pipe Band- 100th Anniversary WW1 Tribute.
CALLING ALL PIPE BANDS IN FERMANAGH/OMAGH
A reminder of our final Autumn Training Event.
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch in conjunction with Artsland (Fermanagh and Omagh District Council) and Dun Uladh are running the training event in the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh on the following date and topics;
10th November 2018 @ 10.00 a.m.
• Events Management
• Safeguarding
• Working with Volunteers (Motivation and Retention)
World Solo Snare Drumming
Congratulations to Samuel Hanna, Juvenile Section 1 World Solo Drumming Champion 2018!
Well done also to the following prize winners from NI bands:
Juvenile Section 1
1st - Samuel Hanna - Broughshane and District
Juvenile Section 3
3rd - Arren McWilliams - Pipes and Drums of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
6th - Jamie Coffey - Major Sinclair Memorial
Juvenile Section 4
2nd - Ashley Fyffe - Pipes and Drums of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
3rd - Daniel Mulcahy - Closkelt
5th - Lee Montgomery - Quinn Memorial
Juvenile Section 5
4th - Ben Gibson - Pipes and Drums of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Adult
2nd - Gareth McLees - Field Marshal Montgomery
Well done also to Matthew Shaw - Ravara - for making it through to the Semi Final!
International Juvenile Solo Tenor Drumming
Congratulations to Adam Montgomery, Juvenile Section 3 International Juvenile Solo Tenor Drumming Champion 2018
Well done also to the following prize winners from NI bands:
Juvenile Section 3
1st - Adam Montgomery - Quinn Memorial
Juvenile Section 4
2nd - Jamie Blair - Ravara
5th - Zoe Abraham - Ravara
