Nicol - Brown Amateur Invitational
The 2017 Nicol-Brown competitors, judges, and founder

The 35th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational
Piping Competition

Saturday, October 7, 2017
First Reformed Church of Scotia
224 N. Ballston Ave (Route 50)
Scotia, New York 12302

 

View a pdf of the 2017 Nicol-Brown program. (Program graphics donated by Kevin Wisehart.)

 

You’re welcome to browse through our 2017 Facebook photo album.

 

Ben McClamrock Reviews the 2017 Nicol-Brown in the Piping Press.

 

Judges:
Ian K. MacDonald from Whitby, Ontario;
Andrew Lee from Surrey, British Columbia;
and Ben McClamrock from Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Masters of Ceremonies:
Donald F. Lindsay and Daniel Cole

Stewards:
Ursa Beckford, Chris Shepherd, JoAnn Scott, and Alice Thomas

Overall Nicol-Brown Championship

  1. ALISTAIR BEVAN (21 points)
    Prizes: airfare to compete in London in November 2018, sponsored by the New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival; an McC2 pipe chanter with a custom-designed sole, donated by McCallum Bagpipes; and choice of any Lee & Sons pipe bag (Sheepskin, Goatskin, Cowhide or Sheepskin Premium) donated by Lee & Sons Bagpipes.
  2. LAUREANO THOMAS-SANCHEZ (18 points)
    Prizes: Choice of any Lee & Sons pipe bag (Sheepskin, Goatskin, Cowhide or Sheepskin Premium) donated by Lee & Sons Bagpipes; and a $100 piping scholarship, sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald.
  3. CHARLIE MORRIS (8 points)
    Prize: Choice of any Lee & Sons pipe bag (Sheepskin, Goatskin, Cowhide or Sheepskin Premium) donated by Lee & Sons Bagpipes.
  4. TORI KILLORAN (8 points)
    Prize: A $100 piping scholarship, sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald.

Robert Nicol-Robert Brown Chalice for Piobaireachd

  1. (9 points) LAUREANO THOMAS-SANCHEZ
    (“Lament for the Earl of Antrim”)
    Prize: A bound Piobaireachd Society Collection, Volumes 1-16, donated by Jon Maffett from The Piper’s Hut.
  2. (7 points) ALISTAIR BEVAN
    (“The Groat”)
    Prizes: TechnoPipes by Fagerstrom, donated by Scott’s Highland Services; and the new, revised edition of Donald MacLeod’s Collection of Piobaireachd donated by Iain MacDonald from reelpipes.com.
  3. (6 points) BEN MONTROSS
    (“Lament for Captain MacDougall”)
    Prizes: A Ben Bhraggie Pipe Case, donated by Mike and Susan Mackay; an autographed copy of Pipers Meeting: New Tunes from the Campbell Canntaireachd by Patrick Molard and Jack Taylor, donated by Charlie and Paula Glendinning; and a CD-ROM of The Edinburgh Collection of Highland Bagpipe Music by David Glen (published 1903-1908), donated by Steven Scaife.
  4. (5 points) CHARLIE MORRIS
    (“Lament for MacSwan of Roaig”)
    Prizes: A Ben Bhraggie Pipe Case, donated by Mike and Susan Mackay; and A.G. Kenneth’s Books 1, 2, 4, and 5, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply.
  5. (4 points) GAVIN MACKAY
    (“Lament for the Viscount of Dundee”)
    Prizes: A Ben Bhraggie Pipe Case, donated by Mike and Susan Mackay; and a copy of The Glenfiddich Collection of Ceol Mor, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply.

William Ross Challenge Targe MSR Competition

  1. (8 points) ALISTAIR BEVAN
    (“Donald MacLellan of Rothesay,” “Dorrator Bridge,” and “Peter MacFarquhar”)
    Prize: A McCallum long blackwood practice chanter with engraved sole, bowl, and presentation ferrule donated by The Piper’s Dojo.
  2. (6 points) TORI KILLORAN
    (“The Pap of Glencoe,” “Cabar Feidh,” and “Alick C. MacGregor”)
    Prize: A McCallum long blackwood practice chanter with Celtic engraved sole, bowl, and ferrule, donated by Henderson’s, Ltd.
  3. (5 points) LAUREANO THOMAS-SANCHEZ
    (“John MacColl’s March to Kilbowie Cottage,” “Cameronian Rant,” and “The Smith of Chilliechassie”)
    Prize: A bound copy of Pipe Major William Ross’s Collection, Volumes 1-5, donated by Jon Maffett from The Piper’s Hut.
  4. (4 points) CHRISTIAN RHOADS
    (“Mrs. Duncan MacFadyen,” “The Fiddler’s Joy,” and “Major Manson”)
    Prizes: A copy of The Gillies Collection, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply; and a CD-ROM of Donald MacPhee’s A Selection of Music for the Highland Bagpipe, (3rd edition published in 1923) donated by Steven Scaife
  5. (3 points) CHARLIE MORRIS
    (“Verna Leith’s Wedding March,” “Susan MacLeod,” and “Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran”)
    Prize: The Bagpipe Music of John MacColl, 1860-1943, sponsored by Nancy Tunnicliffe.

Donald MacLeod Memorial 6/8 March Competition

  1. (6 points) ALISTAIR BEVAN
    (“Cameron MacFadyen” and “Mrs. Lily Christie”)
    Prize: The Donald MacLeod Memorial Silver Buckle created and donated by Stephen Walker of Walker Metalsmiths.
  2. (4 points) LAUREANO THOMAS-SANCHEZ
    (“George Sherriff” and “Pipe Major Scott Ruscoe”)
    Prize: A bound copy of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod’s Collection of Music for the Bagpipe, Volumes 1-6, sponsored by Charles McKee.
  3. (3 points) CHRISTIAN RHOADS
    (“Pipe Major Donald MacLean of Lewis” and “Captain C. R. Lumsden”)
    Prize: A copy of The Cabar Feidh Collection donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply.
  4. (2 points) TORI KILLORAN
    (“Pipe Major Sam Scott” and “The Trees of North Uist”)
    Prizes: A copy of The Seumas MacNeill Collection of Bagpipe Music, Part 2, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply; and a copy of Along the Road donated by Iain MacDonald from reelpipes.com.
  5. (1 point) MARK McCLENNAN
    (“The Bonawe Highlanders” and “Dundee City Police Pipe Band”)
    Prize: A copy of Along the Road donated by Iain MacDonald from reelpipes.com.

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. BEN MONTROSS
    Prize: A $100 gift certificate for The Piper’s Hut sponsored by the Spicer family.

Congratulations!

Each judge and first-time competitor this year received a Nicol-Brown towel, sponsored by Betsy and Bruce Douglas. Every competitor and judge also received 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.

Nicol-Brown Lapel Pin

2017 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.

  • ALISTAIR BEVAN (Abbotsford, British Columbia)
    Winner of the 2017 BC Pipers’ Association Grade 1 Grand Aggregate; 1st Place in the Grade 1 MSR at the 2017 BC Pipers’ Annual Gathering; Grade 1 Aggregate Winner at the Kamloops Highland Games, Portland Highland Games, and Pacific Northwest Highland Games; Junior Aggregate Winner at the Glenisla Highland Games, Scotland.
  • TORI KILLORAN (Pitt Meadows, British Columbia)
    2nd Place in the 2017 BC Pipers’ Association Grade 1 Grand Aggregate; 1st Place in Piobaireachd and the Grade 1 Aggregate at the 2017 BCPA Annual Gathering; Grade 1 Aggregate Winner at the BC Highland Games.
  • GAVIN MACKAY (Kitchener, Ontario)
    1st Place in the PPBSO Champion Supreme standings for both Grade 1 Light Music and Senior Amateur Piobaireachd for 2017; Amateur Piper of the Day at the 2017 PPBSO contests at Georgetown, Cobourg, Embro, Kincardine, Cambridge, and Maxville.
  • ALASDAIR MARTIN (Charlotte, North Carolina)
    2nd Place out of 106 Grade 1 pipers in the EUSPBA Overall Season Standings as of September 5, 2017; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2017 Charleston, South Carolina Scottish Games.
  • MARK McCLENNAN (Guelph, Ontario)
    2nd Place in combined PPBSO Champion Supreme standings for Grade 1 Light Music and Senior Amateur Piobaireachd for 2017; Amateur Piper of the Day at the Toronto Indoor and the Almonte Highland Games; 1st in Piobaireachd and 2nd overall at the November 2016 Balmoral Classic US Junior (Under-21) Solo Piping Championship.
  • BEN MONTROSS (Waterbury, Vermont)
    1st Place out of 106 Grade 1 pipers in the EUSPBA Season Standings for both Light Music and Piobaireachd as of September 5, 2017; Amateur Piobaireachd Champion and Overall Amateur Champion at the 2017 US Piping Foundation contest; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2017 Round Hill (Connecticut), Grandfather Mountain (North Carolina), Glasgow Lands (Massachusetts), and Capital District (New York) Games.
  • CHARLIE MORRIS (Agoura Hills, California)
    1st Place in the combined 2017 WUSPBA Grade 1 Aggregate standings for Piobaireachd and Light Music as of September 5, 2017; 2nd in Piobaireachd at the 2017 National Piping Centre Junior Competition; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2017 Las Vegas, Costa Mesa, and San Diego Games.
  • BRANNAGH O’DONNELL (Assonet, Massachusetts)
    3rd Place out of 106 Grade 1 pipers in the EUSPBA Overall Season Standings as of September 5, 2017; four prizes at Maxville in 2017; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2017 Maine Highland Games and Quechee Scottish Festival.
  • CHRISTIAN RHOADS (St. Louis, Missouri)
    2nd Place in 2017 MWPBA combined Grade 1 Champion Supreme Standings for Light Music and Piobaireachd as of September 5, 2017; 2nd Place Overall at the 2016 Nicol-Brown.
  • LAUREANO THOMAS-SANCHEZ (Cleveland, Ohio)
    Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2017 New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival; 2017 Grade 1 Piper of the Day at Pleasanton, California; 1st in Grade 1 Piobaireachd and 2nd in MSR at the 2017 Colonial Highland Gathering in Fair Hill, Maryland.

Invited but unable to attend:

  • GRIFFIN HALL (Overland Park, Kansas)
    1st Place in MWPBA Grade 1 Champion Supreme Standings for Light Music, and 1st Place for combined Light Music and Piobaireachd, as of September 5, 2017.

THANK YOU

The 2017 Nicol-Brown Contest, Concert, and Master Class were 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:

2017 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.
  • 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 2017 Nicol-Brown Chalice Committee

  • 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

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