Latest News
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
Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch School Appoints New Principal
The RSPBANI Branch School has recently appointed Mark Faloon as their new School Principal.
Mark is a renowned Piper, Tutor, Pipe Major and a former member of Field Marshal Montgomery having won every major title with the band. Mark is also a Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Adjudicator holding all the RSPBA qualifications having recently achieved his Pipe Band Musicianship qualifications.
School Conveyor Adam Fawcett said, “we are delighted that Mark has accepted the role of Branch School Principal, he is highly qualified and respected in Pipe Band circles and will bring his expertise and knowledge to take the Branch School to the next level.”
Mark said, “I am looking forward to the challenge of the role of School Principal and providing the opportunity for School members to excel in their chosen art and assisting them to achieve their accredited qualifications to progress their knowledge and skills."
The Branch School runs five centres on Saturday mornings at Banbridge, Cookstown, Broughshane, Enniskillen and Derry/Londonderry. The School offers expert tuition in Piping, Drumming and Drum Majoring practical and theory with students being taught Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework levels.
For further details on the Branch School please email info@rspbani.org.
A reminder of the Section A.G.M. tomorrow night in the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch at 7.30 p.m.
We would request that all County Down Section Bands attend please as there is an important item on the agenda to discuss. County Armagh bands would also be very welcome to attend.
Refreshments will be served after the meeting.
Press release - 18th October 2018
SLOT return to Armagh to continue their Musical Journey
Turas Ceoil - Live in Ireland
Armagh City Hotel, 27th April 2019.
On Saturday 27th April 2019, St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band will once again take to the Armagh City Hotel stage to showcase their critically acclaimed concert “Turas Ceoil”.
Having performed the concert to a sellout crowd of over 2,100 people last August, the show has received many rave reviews.
Following numerous enquiries, SLOT have decided to bring the show to Ireland.
“We really didn’t expect the huge levels of appreciation we have received following our show last August,” says P/M Alen Tully, “we’ve had an unbelievable amount of enquiries about whether we may ever put the show on again,
surprisingly from some people who were at the show and also from many who couldn’t make it across to Glasgow for the original.
Considering we have all the material still in our repertoire, we felt it would be a great opportunity to perform it once more for our followers who missed out or even for those who would like to experience it for the second time.”
The band have confirmed that Coda, the 7 piece male vocal group will also be joining them, while many of the other accompanying musicians will also be there.
“We will freshen the show a little so that for anyone who has seen the original will have a surprise or two, however, the majority will be the same as the last one,” says P/M Tully.
Armagh City Hotel holds up to 1,000 people and the band are expecting it to sell out fast.
“Given how quick the last concert sold out and the level of interest already in this show, we would anticipate these tickets to sell out pretty quickly.
We know there were a number of disappointed people last time around who left it too late to get their tickets, so we would encourage people not to leave it so late this time!” says P/M Tully.
Tickets for Turas Ceoil - Live in Ireland, go on sale on Thursday 18th October and will be available initially online through the band's portal on ticket retailer, Tito.
Please visit the link below to book online :
https://ti.to/st-laurence-o-toole-pipe-band/turas-ceoil-resume-live-in-ireland
There will also be a limited number of physical tickets that can be obtained from band members or at the Armagh City Hotel and these will be available from Monday 22nd October.
Tickets are priced at £17 each which includes a £2 booking fee.
For additional information contact the band at turas_ceoil@slotpb.com