Nicol - Brown Amateur Invitational
The 2016 Nicol-Brown competitors, judges, and founder

The 34th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational
Piping Competition

Saturday, October 8, 2016
First Reformed Church of Scotia
224 N. Ballston Ave (Route 50)
Scotia, New York 12302

 

View a pdf of the 2016 program, with thanks to Kevin Wisehart.

 

Read the Nicol-Brown article, “Seriously Dedicated,” written by Nick Hudson for the Fall 2016 issue of the EUSPBA magazine, the VOICE.

 

Judges: Willie McCallum from Bearsden, Scotland,
and Nick Hudson from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

 

Masters of Ceremonies: Donald F. Lindsay and Daniel Cole

Overall Nicol-Brown Championship

  1. ANDREW HUTTON (21 points)
    Prizes: airfare to compete in London in November 2017, sponsored by the New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival; and an McC2 pipe chanter with a custom-designed sole, donated by McCallum Bagpipes.
  2. CHRISTIAN RHOADS (10 points: Piobaireachd Preference)
    Prize: A $200 piping scholarship sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.
  3. MAEGHAN BIELSKI (10 points)
    Prize: A $150 piping scholarship sponsored by Steve Porter in gratitude for the summer schools at Invermark.
  4. GAVIN MACKAY (8 points: Piobaireachd Preference)
    Prize: A $100 piping scholarship, sponsored by Albert McMullin in honor of all the parents who have encouraged their children to play the bagpipes.
  5. AUSTIN DIEPENHORST (8 points)
    Prize: A $50 piping scholarship, sponsored by Charlie and Paula Glendinning.

Robert Nicol-Robert Brown Chalice for Piobaireachd

  1. (9 points) ANDREW HUTTON
    (“MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute”)
    Prize: A bound Piobaireachd Society Collection, Volumes 1-16, donated by Jon Maffett from The Piper’s Hut.
  2. (7 points) GAVIN MACKAY
    (“The Battle of Auldearn No. 1”)
    Prize: TechnoPipes by Fagerstrom, donated by Scott’s Highland Services, Ltd.
  3. (6 points) CHRISTIAN RHOADS
    (“I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand”)
    Prize: A copy of Binneas is Boreraig, sponsored by Gordie and Emily Peters; and a Piper’s Pal reed case donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply.
  4. (5 points) SARAH SIMPSON
    (“MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart”)
    Prize: A $60 gift certificate from The Piper’s Hut, sponsored by Gordie and Emily Peters.
  5. (4 points) MAEGHAN BIELSKI
    (“Lament for the Departure of King James”)
    Prize: The History & Structure of Ceol Mor by Alexander Haddow, sponsored by Robert Mitchell in memory of a former friend, band mate, and Piobaireachd enthusiast, Howard Robinson.

William Ross Challenge Targe MSR Competition

  1. (8 points) AUSTIN DIEPENHORST
    (“The Braes of Castle Grant,” “Inveraray Castle,” and “The Grey Bob”)
    Prize: A McCallum long blackwood practice chanter with engraved sole, bowl, and presentation ferrule donated by The Piper’s Dojo.
  2. (6 points) ANDREW HUTTON
    (“The Pap of Glencoe,” “The Islay Ball,” and “The Man from Glengarry”)
    Prize: A MacLellan long blackwood practice chanter, donated by Henderson’s, Ltd.
  3. (5 points) TORI KILLORAN
    (“The Pap of Glencoe,” “Cabar Feidh,” and “The Sheepwife”)
    Prize: A McCallum long practice chanter with red sole and ferrule, donated by McCallum Bagpipes.
  4. (4 points) MICHAEL McLEOD
    (“Captain Campbell of Drum a Voisk,” “Kirstie MacCallman’s Favourite,” and “Lt. Col. D.J.S. Murray”)
    Prize: Scots Guards Standard Settings of Pipe Music, Volume 2 sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald, 1st Battalion Scots Guards; and Donald MacPherson, The Legend Lives On donated by JoAnn Scott.
  5. (3 points) MAEGHAN BIELSKI
    (“The Marchioness of Tullibardine,” “Glentruim,” and “The Cockerel in the Creel”)
    Prize: John Wilson’s Collection of Highland Bagpipe Music, Books 1 and 2, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply.

Donald MacLeod Memorial 6/8 March Competition

  1. (6 points) ANDREW HUTTON
    (“Miss Ishabel T. Macdonald” and “The High Island”)
    Prize: The Donald MacLeod Memorial Silver Buckle created and donated by Stephen Walker of Walker Metalsmiths.
  2. (4 points) CHRISTIAN RHOADS
    (“Jean Mauchline” and “Captain C.R. Lumsden”)
    Prize: Pipe Major Donald MacLeod’s Collection Volumes 1-3, sponsored by Betsy and Bruce Douglas.
  3. (3 points) MAEGHAN BIELSKI
    (“Lord MacPherson” and “Captain Lumsden”)
    Prize: A $50 gift card for The Piper’s Dojo sponsored by Betsy and Bruce Douglas.
  4. (2 points) MICHAEL McLEOD
    (“The Trees of North Uist” and “Kenneth J. MacLeod”)
    Prize: Two classic CDs: Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, Revisited, and Gordon Duncan, Just for Seumas, donated by Greentrax Recordings, Ltd.
  5. (1 point) GAVIN MACKAY
    (“Bruce Gandy’s Farewell to the Iron Horse” and “The Judging Was Bad”)
    Prize: The Bagpipe Music of John MacLellan (Dunoon) 1875-1949 sponsored by the Spicer family.

Dress and Deportment

(Judged by Donald F. Lindsay)

This prize is a special recognition for the effort and thought put into the presentation of performances, showing respect for the contest and bringing dignity to the music.

 

  1. TORI KILLORAN
    Prize: A Piper’s Choice Backpack Case sponsored by the Spicer family.

Congratulations!

Each competitor this year will receive a Nicol-Brown towel; a framed group photo sponsored by Barb, Erin, and Dan McCarthy; and the coveted Nicol-Brown lapel pin designed by Charlie Glendinning and sponsored by Steve Porter.

2016 Competitors

Invitations to the Nicol-Brown Competition each year are based on overall rankings and competitive results in the pipers’ home associations, as well as in national and international contests that show the highest standards of amateur piping for Piobaireachd and Light Music. An invitation is held each year for the Grade 1 Piper of the Day at The New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival, provided that piper competed in the Piobaireachd event that day. Nicol-Brown competitors pay their own way to the contest in Albany, or are helped with their travel expenses by their own sponsors and patrons.

  • MAEGHAN BIELSKI (Middleboro, Massachusetts)
    Winner of both Grade 1 events at the 2016 United States Piping Foundation Championships; 1st Place out of 76 pipers in the 2016 EUSPBA Grade 1 Overall and Piobaireachd Season Standings as of September 5, 2016; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2016 New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival.
  • AUSTIN DIEPENHORST (Santee, California)
    1st Place in the combined 2016 WUSPBA Grade 1 Aggregate standings for Piobaireachd and Light Music as of September 5, 2016; Overall winner of the 2015 George Sherriff Memorial; Grade 1 Piobaireachd winner at the 2016 Chicago Scottish Festival; and Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2016 Caledonian Club of San Francisco Games in Pleasanton, California.
  • ANDREW HUTTON (Brantford, Ontario)
    1st Place in combined PPBSO Champion Supreme standings for Grade 1 Light Music and Senior Amateur Piobaireachd for 2016; Amateur Piper of the Day at the 2016 Georgetown, Embro, Kincardine, Cambridge, and Glengarry Highland Games.
  • TORI KILLORAN (Pitt Meadows, British Columbia)
    BC Pipers’ Association Grade 1 Grand Aggregate Champion for 2016; Grade 1 Aggregate winner at the BCPA Mini-Gatherings, the Annual Gathering (tie), Bellingham Highland Games, BC Highland Games, Kamloops, and the Pacific Northwest Highland Games.
  • GAVIN MACKAY (Kitchener, Ontario)
    2nd Place in combined PPBSO Champion Supreme standings for Grade 1 Light Music and Senior Amateur Piobaireachd for 2016; Amateur Piper of the Day at the 2016 Cobourg, Fergus, and Almonte Highland Games; 1st Place in the Under-15 overall championship at the 2015 Northern Meeting in Inverness; and 1st in Piobaireachd and MSR at the 2015 Balmoral Classic US Junior (Under-21) Solo Piping Championship.
  • MICHAEL McLEOD (Greenwood, South Carolina)
    2nd Place out of 76 pipers in the 2016 EUSPBA Grade 1 Overall Season Standings as of September 5, 2016; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2016 Loch Norman Highland Games.
  • BEN MONTROSS (Waterbury, Vermont)
    3rd Place out of 76 pipers in the 2016 EUSPBA Grade 1 Overall Season Standings as of September 5, 2016; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2016 Capital District Scottish Games.
  • CHRISTIAN RHOADS (St. Louis, Missouri)
    1st Place in combined 2016 MWPBA Grade 1 Champion Supreme Standings for Light Music and Piobaireachd.
  • SARAH SIMPSON (Cavendish, Prince Edward Island)
    1st Place in combined Grade 1 Light Music and Piobaireachd standings for Atlantic Canada for 2016.

Invited but unable to attend:

  • JACK TOOHEY (Newberg, Oregon)
    2nd Place in the 2016 BC Pipers’ Association Grade 1 Grand Aggregate standings; Grade 1 Aggregate winner at the BCPA Annual Gathering (tie), Skagit Valley Highland Games, and the Portland Highland Games.

THANK YOU

The 2016 Nicol-Brown Contest, Concert, and Master Class will be made possible by the efforts of many volunteers, donors and sponsors who are generous in their support of amateur piping. We'd love to add your name here:

2016 Dedications

  • Doreen Forney’s donation was given in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald.
  • Albert McMullin’s donation was given in honor of all the parents who have encouraged their children to play the bagpipes.
  • Robert Mitchell’s donation was given in memory of a former friend, band mate, and Piobaireachd enthusiast, Howard Robinson, who passed away in November 2015.
  • Steve Porter’s donation was given in gratitude and appreciation for what Invermark has meant to him and to countless other pipers and drummers over the years. Keep making wonderful music and magical experiences!
  • Rick Woolard’s donation was given in memory of Ronald Morrison of South Uist.

Please contact Paula Glendinning or speak to one of the other committee members if you would like to donate a prize. We welcome cash donations if you would like to sponsor a scholarship or help with the expenses of the Nicol-Brown. We are happy to designate your gift with a dedication in honor or in memory of someone. Please let us know if you would like us to add a link or a dedication to your donation listing.

The 2016 Nicol-Brown Chalice Committee

  • Ursa Beckford
  • Judy Campbell
  • Daniel Cole
  • Maureen Connor
  • Paula Glendinning
  • Donald F. Lindsay
  • Barbara McCarthy
  • Eric Ouellette
  • JoAnn Scott
  • Heather Scott-Wisehart
  • Mary Robinson White
  • Kevin Wisehart