Nicol - Brown Amateur Invitational

The 2020 Nicol-Brown competitors

The 38th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational
Piping Competition

Saturday, October 10, 2020
The competition was held in Cyberspace via video submissions.

 

The 2020 Piobaireachd Judges:

Jack Taylor from Aboyne, Scotland
Patrick Molard from Maël-Carhaix, Brittany

The 2020 Light Music Judges:

Sarah Muir from Glasgow, Scotland
Matt MacIsaac from Nova Scotia and Ontario, Canada

 

The awards ceremony was hosted via Zoom at noon Eastern Time on October 10. The prizes listed below are being mailed to the competitors.

Many thanks to our judges for the brilliant concert to start the Nicol-Brown weekend, and the outstanding Master Classes, held on Zoom after the Awards Ceremony, with thanks to the EUSPBA and other generous sponsors and volunteers.

Your donations are always welcome!

View a pdf of the 2020 program.

You’re welcome to browse through our Facebook photo albums.

 

The 2020 Prize McCallum Chanter

Overall Nicol-Brown Championship

  1. STUART H. MARSHALL (16 points)
    Prizes: The Nicol-Brown Champion’s Chanter—a blackwood McCallum “CeòL” pipe chanter with a custom-designed sole, donated by McCallum Bagpipes; Plus expenses up to $1000, donated by the NHSCOT Fund, to be used to compete in a major solo contest (when travel is possible) to be approved by the Nicol-Brown committee. The prize may be used for a piping school or remote piping tuition if travel remains problematic next year.
  2. TYLER DESTREMPS (15 points)
    Prizes sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald: A McCallum “CeòL” B-flat polypenco pipe chanter plus a $100 piping scholarship, payable to the tutor or piping school of the competitor’s choice.
  3. HENRY PALUCH (14 points)
    Prize: A McCallum “CeòL” B-flat polypenco pipe chanter donated by Henderson’s Ltd. in Traverse City, Michigan.
  4. JESSICA BAIN (10 points)
    Prize: A $150 piping scholarship, sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald.
  5. JUSTIN HOWLAND (8 points)
    Prize: A $100 piping scholarship, sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of P/M Angus Macdonald.

 

The Nicol-Brown Chalice

Robert Nicol-Robert Brown Chalice for Piobaireachd

  1. (9 points) STUART H. MARSHALL
    Tune: “The MacLeods’ Salute”
    Prizes: A bound Piobaireachd Society Collection, Volumes 1-16, donated by Jon Maffett from The Piper’s Hut in Pickerington, Ohio; and a custom-designed leather sporran created and donated by Andrew Hagen from Hagen Leather in Port Charlotte, Florida.
  2. (7 points) TYLER DESTREMPS
    Tune: “I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand”
    Prizes: A leather pipe bag donated by Andrew Hagen; and a copy of Binneas is Boreraig, sponsored by Brian Turner.
  3. (6 points) SANDY ADAMS
    Tune: “Hector MacLean’s Warning”
    Prizes: A leather pipe bag donated by Andrew Hagen; and a copy of Pipers Meeting: New Tunes from the Campbell Canntaireachd, sponsored by Nancy Tunnicliffe.
  4. (5 points) JUSTIN HOWLAND
    Tune: “The MacDougalls’ Gathering”
    Prizes sponsored by Bonnie Rideout: A copy of Donald MacDonald’s Collection of Piobaireachd, Volume 1 (1820), and The History & Stucture of Ceol Mor by Alexander J. Haddow.
  5. (4 points) JESSICA BAIN
    Tune: “Lament for Donald of Laggan”
    Prizes sponsored by Genevieve Pluhowski: A copy of P/M Donald MacLeod’s Collection of Piobaireachd (2019 edition), and Pipers Meeting: New Tunes from the Campbell Canntaireachd.

 

The Wm Ross Challenge Targe

William Ross Challenge Targe MSR Competition

  1. (8 points) HENRY PALUCH
    “The Argyllshire Gathering,” “The Caledonian Society of London,” and “Tom Kettles” (YouTube link)
    Prize: A McCallum long blackwood practice chanter with engraved sole, bowl, and presentation ferrule donated by The Piper’s Dojo.
  2. (6 points) TYLER DESTREMPS
    “74th’s Farewell to Edinburgh,” “Loch Loskin,” and “Broadford Bay” (YouTube Link)
    Prize: A McCallum long blackwood practice chanter donated by Scott’s Highland Services in London, Ontario.
  3. (5 points) JESSICA BAIN
    “The Braes of Castle Grant,” “Kirstie MacCallman’s Favourite,” and “Peter MacFarquhar” (YouTube link)
    Prizes: A Zoom iQ7 Mid-Side Stereo Microphone, sponsored by Bruce and Betsy Douglas; and Scots Guards Standard Settings of Pipe Music, Vol. 1, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply in Royal Oak, Michigan.
  4. (4 points) STUART H. MARSHALL
    “Donald MacLellan of Rothesay,” “The Bob of Fettercairn,” and “Dr. McPhail’s Reel” (YouTube link)
    Prizes: The Bagpipe Music of John MacColl 1860–1943, and The Bagpipe Music of John McLellan 1875–1948, sponsored by Jackson Galloway; plus The Moidart Collection I by Allan MacDonald, sponsored by the McClamrock family.
  5. (3 points) JUSTIN HOWLAND
    “Allan Dodd’s Farewell to Scotland,” “Catlodge,” and “Traditional” (YouTube link)
    Prize: Scots Guards Standard Settings of Pipe Music, Vol. 2, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply in Royal Oak, Michigan.

 

The Donald MacLeod Silver Buckle

Donald MacLeod Memorial 6/8 March Competition

  1. (6 points) HENRY PALUCH
    “The Hills of Kowloon” and “The Goldfinch” (YouTube link)
    Prize: The Donald MacLeod Memorial Silver Buckle created and donated by Stephen Walker of Walker Metalsmiths in Andover, New York.
  2. (4 points) LIAM MACDONALD
    “Dr. Ross’s 50th Welcome to the Argyllshire Gathering” and “MacLeod of Mull” (YouTube link)
    Prize: A bound copy of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod’s Collection of Music for the Bagpipe, Books 1–6 donated by Iain MacDonald from reelpipes.com in Regina, Saskatchewan.
  3. (3 points) STUART H. MARSHALL
    “The Braemar Gathering” and “The Trees of North Uist”
    (YouTube link)
    Prizes: Gordon Duncan’s Tunes, Book I and Book II, sponsored by Steve Porter; and a hardcover edition of Performance by Bruce Gandy, sponsored by Jane and Jim Spicer.
  4. (2 points) TYLER DESTREMPS
    “Cameron MacFadyen” and “Jean Mauchline” (YouTube link)
    Prizes: The Outlands Collection and The Fred Morrison Collection, sponsored by Rick Woolard in memory of Ronald Morrison of South Uist.
  5. (1 point) JESSICA BAIN
    “Tug Argan Gap” and “Angus Mackinnon” (YouTube link)
    Prizes: Pipe Major Donald MacLeod’s Collection, Books 4 and 6, donated by Duncan’s Highland Supply in Royal Oak, Michigan.

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. KEVIN DARMADI
    YouTube link
    Prize: A $100 gift certificate for Walker Metalsmiths sponsored by Jane and Jim Spicer.

Congratulations!

Each competitor this year will receive the coveted Nicol-Brown lapel pin. In addition, pipes|drums Magazine will donate a one-year subscription to each 2020 Nicol-Brown competitor.

Nicol-Brown Lapel Pin

2020 Competitors

Invitations to the Nicol-Brown Competition this year are based on overall rankings and competitive results in the pipers’ home associations in live contests over the winter, and/or in virtual contests through the season; as well as results from other 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, provided that piper competed in the Piobaireachd event that day.

INVITED BUT UNABLE TO ATTEND:

  • ALISTAIR BEVAN (Abbotsford, British Columbia)
    Three-time winner of the Donald MacLeod Memorial 6/8 Marches at the 2017-19 Nicol-Brown contests. Winner of all four Grade 1 events at the 2019-20 BC Pipers’ Association winter mini-gatherings before the lockdown.
     
  • CHARLIE MORRIS (Agoura Hills, California)
    First Place in both Grade 1 events at the 2020 Winter Storm Contest in Kansas City, Missouri in January; prizes in Grade 1 at the Queen Mary Contest in February 2020.

THANK YOU!

The 2020 Nicol-Brown Contest and Master Classes 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:

2020 Dedications

  • Doreen Forney’s donation was given in memory of Pipe Major Angus Macdonald.
  • Stephen Pack’s donation is dedicated “to my father, Neville Pack, for all the love, support, and encouragement for piping and life, including all the priceless Saturday drives together to St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit for lessons when I was a boy.”
  • 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 for this year or a future year. 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 2020 Nicol-Brown Chalice Committee

  • Judy Campbell
  • Maureen Connor
  • Jim Feeney
  • Paula Glendinning
  • June Hanley
  • Donald F. Lindsay
  • Barbara McCarthy
  • Thompson McConnell
  • Sean Moran
  • Eric Ouellette
  • JoAnn Scott
  • Heather Scott-Wisehart
  • Chris Shepherd

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