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In this episode, we’ll recap some of the performances from eastern US bands and soloists who ventured to Scotland this year for the World Pipe Band Championships and the big solo contests. We’ll have a listen to those performances as well as have a chat with Eric Oulette and Derek Cooper, PM and lead drum respectively of the Ulster Scottish PB of Philadelphia PA who finished an impressive 6th place in the final results in grade 2 at the Worlds. Andrew Douglas and I will also provide a glimpse of the background on the EUSPBA 60th anniversary tune composition contest and the five final tunes to be voted on by the association membership.

0:00 Intro and episode summary
1:37 Jim Engle recaps the eastern competition scene
9:03 The Worlds and Ulster Scottish PB
37:02 Ulster PB medley (The Highland Swing, Iron Man, Arniston Castle, Smellin' Fresh, Cha Teid Fionnlagh, O'Teannaidbh Dluth, St. Ninian's Thunderheaded Ceilidh)
43:07 Roisin Dubh Irish PB MSR
47:51 Oban and the success of eastern US solo pipers
48:46 Andrew Donlon gold medal performance
1:00:00 EUSPBA 60th anniversary tune composition contest preview
1:01:50 Closing
1:02:34 Ben McClamrock gold medal performance

EUSPBA

Bonus Episode: 60th Anniversary Tune Composition Competition

Ulster Scottish Pipe Band 
Roisin Dubh Irish Pipe Band 
World pipe band championships   
Oban Games and the Argyllshire Gathering 
Pocono Workshop 

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Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Voice, the podcast of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. Today, we present the five finalists in the EUSPBA 60th anniversary tune composition competition. This competition was conceived as a way to celebrate 60 years of organized piping and drumming in the eastern US. More information on the history of the association can be found at euspba.org.

Listen and relisten at your leisure. Voting will commence very soon after this episode posts, so all EUSPBA members should watch their email for online voting information. The winner will be announced and played at this year’s Annual general meeting.

0:17  Intro and anniversary composition contest background with Andrew Douglas
6:13  Tune voting information
6:54  Tune 1
8:16 Tune 2
9:12 Tune 3
10:30 Tune 4
11:22 Tune 5

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Welcome to The Voice, the podcast of the Eastern United States pipe band association.

All EUSPBA news, results, and more at EUSPBA.org.

Fair Hill Scottish Games

Jersey Shore Piping Society

Band draw for the World Pipe Band Championships

This podcast is open to contributions from all members of the EUSPBA and beyond. We want to hear from you! If you think you might have interesting audio to contribute, have news to share about events or piping and drumming activity in your area, or wish to be involved in future episodes, please get in touch at [email protected].  

Episode 003

00:00 Episode summary
01:12 EUSPBA season updates with Jim Engle
08:04 Bill Caudill and Iain MacWilliam
13:13 Maclean Macleod and the Colonial Highland Gathering
15:01 Fair Hill solo piping: Andrew Donlon piobaireachd
26:52 Fair Hill solo piping: Dan Lyden MSR
31:03 Fair Hill pipe bands: MacMillan Pipe Band
37:00 EUSPBA pipe bands headed to the Worlds
37:20 Hudson Valley Pipe Band Championships: Roisin Dubh Irish Pipe Band
42:00 Close with Danny Parrish solo MSR (London Scottish at Primosol Bridge/Captain Colin Campbell/The Blackberry Bush)

In this episode we’ll travel to the mid-atlantic region and learn about the historic Colonial Highland Gathering and hear some solo and band performances from that. We’ll also hear from Iain MacWilliam of the City of St. Augustine pipe band from Florida as he talks with Bill Caudill about the challenges of keeping a band excited and improving as it enters the challenges of higher grade competition. 

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Welcome to The Voice, the podcast of the Eastern United States pipe band association.

All EUSPBA news, results, and more at EUSPBA.org.

The Metro Cup

NYC Bagpipe Club

This podcast is open to contributions from all members of the EUSPBA and beyond. We want to hear from you! If you think you might have interesting audio to contribute, have news to share about events or piping and drumming activity in your area, or wish to be involved in future episodes, please get in touch at [email protected].  

Special thanks to Chris Hamilton for vintage audio of the 1972 CNE.

Episode 002

In this episode, we’re going to stay local (mostly) to New York metropolitan area, one of the EUSPBA’s largest regional branches and an area that continues to generate piping activity of all kinds. The annual Metro Cup competition returned this year after a 3-year pause and included the RSPBA’s world solo drumming qualifier. We’ll have a listen to some of the successful performances at those events. We’ll also hear from Cris Rodriguez, the organizer of the region’s latest gathering of pipers, and his New York City bagpipe club. 

00:45 Episode Overview
01:11 EUSPBA Updates with Jim Engle
09:07 NYC Bagpipe Club
27:40 The Metro Cup, Cameron MacDougall Medley
37:06 Adult International Solo Drumming Championship, Derek Cooper, Scott Fletcher
45:00 The Metro Cup, Derek Midgley Piobaireachd
59:31 Closing, 1972 CNE Grade 1 Pipe Bands, Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band, Kenmure Pipe Band

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All EUSPBA news, results, and more at EUSPBA.org.

Florida Pipe and Drum Academy

Midwest Highland Arts Fund and Winter Storm

This podcast is open to contributions from all members of the EUSPBA and beyond. We want to hear from you! If you think you might have interesting audio to contribute, have news to share about events or piping and drumming activity in your area, or wish to be involved in future episodes, please get in touch at [email protected].  

Special thanks to the hard work of the organizers of Winter Storm and Dojo University for Winter Storm contest performance clips. Vintage audio of City of Washington Pipe Band courtesy Chris Hamilton.

Episode 001 May 15, 2024

:50 Episode overview

1:34 Jim Engle Competition Scene Recap

7:56 Bill Caudill talk with folks at the Florida Pipe and Drum Academy

20:14 Winter Storm overview

21:16 Danielle Cooper solo bass hornpipe/jig

23:50 Maddison Sprague solo bass march, strathspey, & reel

29:12 Nick Hudson Gold Medal Ceol Baeg 

34:37 N.A. Gold Medal Piobaireachd overview

35:57 Mike Rogers N.A. Gold Medal Piobaireachd

46:47 Close featuring City of Washington Pipe Band 

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