The 40th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational
Piping Competition

St. Mark Presbyterian Church
10701 Old Georgetown Road
Rockville, Maryland 20852

 

View a pdf of the updated 2023 program.

Scroll down for 2023 competition results.

 

The 2023 Judges:

Dr. Jack Taylor (Aboyne, Scotland)
Nick Hudson (Houston, Texas)

Our judges began the Nicol-Brown weekend with an outstanding concert at 7:30 pm at St. Mark Presbyterian.

Competition schedule:
9:30 am 6/8 Marches
12:30 pm Piobaireachd
4:30 pm March, Strathspey, and Reel
6:30 pm Awards Ceremony

MCs for the Nicol-Brown Weekend:

Paula Glendinning, June Hanley,
Donald Lindsay, and Ben McClamrock

Contest Stewards:

John Bertino, Kathleen Brown, Olivia Corcoran,
Peter Kent, Thompson McConnell, JoAnn Scott,
and Chris Shepherd, Chief Steward

Admission is free to all events at the Nicol-Brown, thanks to our generous donors.

Your donations are always welcome!

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

The 2021 virtual concert is still available on YouTube, with thanks to Roddy MacLeod, Bob Worrall, Jenny Hazzard, Nick Hudson, and The Piper’s Dojo for their support of the Nicol-Brown and its mission of encouraging amateur piping.

 

Overall Nicol-Brown Championship

1. COLIN FORREST (21 points)
   Prizes: The 2023 Nicol-Brown Champion’s Chanter — a McCallum “CeòL” blackwood pipe chanter with a custom-designed sole — donated by McCallum Bagpipes (Kilmarnock, Scotland); plus travel expenses up to $1000, donated by the NHSCOT Fund (Concord, New Hampshire), to be used to compete in a major solo contest in 2024 to be approved by the Nicol-Brown committee; plus the Lee & Sons pipe bag of the winner’s choice, donated by Lee & Sons Bagpipes Ltd. (British Columbia). The 2023 Nicol-Brown Champion has qualified to play in the CLASP World Amateur Champion of Champions Solo Piping Competition on April 27, 2024.
2. CAMERON BONAR (18 points)
   Prize: $250 piping scholarship donated by Cathi Nixon (Tennessee) in memory of her father, Sandy Jones; plus a $50 credit for tunes from Bagpipemusic.com donated by Lee & Sons Bagpipes Ltd.
3. GILLIAN BLANEY (13 points)
   Prize: $200 piping scholarship sponsored by Doreen Forney (Vermont) in memory of Pipe Major Angus Macdonald, 1st Battalion Scots Guards; plus a $25 credit for tunes from Bagpipemusic.com donated by Lee & Sons Bagpipes Ltd.
4. WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE (8 points)
   Prize: $150 piping scholarship sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of Pipe Major Angus Macdonald, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.
5. HENRY MICHAEL PALUCH (5 points)
   Prize: $100 piping scholarship sponsored by Doreen Forney in memory of Pipe Major Angus Macdonald, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.

 

Robert Nicol-Robert Brown Chalice for Piobaireachd

1. COLIN FORREST (9 points)
   “The Groat”
   Prize: A bound Piobaireachd Society Collection, Volumes 1-16, donated by Jon Maffett from The Piper’s Hut (Pickerington, Ohio).
2. GILLIAN BLANEY (7 points)
   “The Rout of Glenfruin”
3. CAMERON BONAR (6 points)
   “Black Donald’s March”
4. WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE (5 points)
   “MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament,” No. 1
5. MAGNUS STONE (4 points)
   “Lament for Mary MacLeod”

 

William Ross Challenge Targe MSR Competition

1. CAMERON BONAR (8 points)
   “Inveran,” “Top of Craigvenow,” and “The Little Cascade”
   Prize: A long McCallum blackwood practice chanter with engraved sole, bowl, and presentation ferrule, donated by The Piper’s Dojo (Troy, New York).
2. COLIN FORREST (6 points)
   “Jimmy Young,” “Cabar Feidh,” and “The Sheepwife”
3. HENRY MICHAEL PALUCH (5 points)
   “The Argyllshire Gathering,” “Delvinside,” and “Tom Kettles”
4. GILLIAN BLANEY (4 points)
   “Mrs. Alex Johnstone,” “Dornie Ferry,” and “Willie Murray”
5. WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE (3 points)
   “John MacColl’s March to Kilbowie Cottage,” “Duncan Lamont,” and “Kalabakan”

 

Donald MacLeod Memorial 6/8 March Competition

1. COLIN FORREST (6 points)
   “Rab’s Wedding” and “Miss Ishabel T. MacDonald”
   Prize: The Donald MacLeod Memorial Silver Buckle (above) created and donated by Stephen Walker of Walker Metalsmiths (Andover, New York).
2. CAMERON BONAR (4 points)
   “Meg MacRae” and “Cameron MacFadyen”
3. KAYLEIGH JOHNSTONE (3 points)
   “Ian M. Campbell of Oban” and “Captain John Maclellan”
4. GILLIAN BLANEY (2 points)
   “The Scottish Division” and “Kirkhill”
5. MICHAEL TRENOR (1 point)
   “Pipe Major Donald MacLean of Lewis” and “A Cold Wind from Ben Wyvis”

Dress and Deportment

Judged by Donald F. Lindsay (Petersburg, New York)

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

1. MALACHI JOHANNSEN
   Prize: A $100 gift certificate for Walker Metalsmiths in Andover, New York, sponsored by Jane and Jim Spicer (Maryland).

Congratulations!

The Piobaireachd Society has donated a one-year membership to each competitor.

Andrew Berthoff (Ontario) has donated a two-year pipes|drums subscription to each competitor.

Sean Somers (Alberta) has donated a copy of The Out West Collection for each competitor.

Each competitor will receive the coveted Nicol-Brown lapel pin.

2023 Competitors

Invitations to the Nicol-Brown Competition are based on overall season rankings and competitive results in live and virtual solo contests sponsored by the piping and pipe band associations of North America; as well as results from other independent contests that show the highest standards of amateur piping. Prizes in events with larger numbers of competitors are given special consideration. All invited pipers must have significant results at the highest amateur level in both Piobaireachd and Light Music.

• GILLIAN BLANEY (Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia)
  Winner of the Grade One Piobaireachd and MSR at the April 2023 Atlantic Canada Piobaireachd Challenge; the Grade One overall champion for the July 2023 Antigonish Highland Games; the Amateur Piper of the Day at the August 2023 Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, Ontario; and 4th place in the 2023 MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd Competition in Oban, Scotland.

 

• CAMERON BONAR (Surrey, British Columbia)
  First Place in both Grade 1 events at the 2023 Winter Storm in Kansas City; First Place in all three Grade 1 events at the 2023 BC Indoor; 2023 BC Pipers’ Association Grade 1 Grand Aggregate Champion; 2023 Pipe Idol Champion in Glasgow, Scotland; 1st in the Intermediate MSR at Oban (for pipers 21 & under); One of eight finalists in the 2023 MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd Competition for pipers under the age of 22; First Place in the Under-18 Piobaireachd at the 2023 Northern Meeting in Inverness.

 

• THOMAS CANGELOSI (Arlington, Virginia)
  First Place out of 60 Grade 1 competitors in the 2023 EUSPBA Season Standings for both Light Music and Piobaireachd, as of September 3. Overall Amateur Champion at the 2023 US Piping Foundation Competition. Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the 2023 Fair Hill Scottish Games, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Covenanter Scottish Festival.

 

• COLIN FORREST (Mission, British Columbia)
  2nd Place in the 2023 BC Pipers' Association Grade 1 Grand Aggregate Standings; 2nd Place in the Grade 1 MSR at the January 2023 Winter Storm in Kansas City; 3rd in the Intermediate MSR at Oban; First in the Junior March contest at the Lochaber Gathering in Fort William, Scotland.

 

• MALACHI JOHANNSEN (Modesto, California)
  First Place in the 2023 WUSPBA combined aggregate standings for Grade 1 Light Music and Piobaireachd through September 3; Grade 1 Aggregate winner at the May 2023 United Scottish Society Highland Gathering in Costa Mesa, California.

 

• KAYLEIGH JOHNSTONE (Aurora, Ontario)
  First Place in the 2023 PPBSO Champion Supreme standings for both Senior Amateur Piobaireachd and Grade 1 Light Music; One of eight finalists in the 2023 MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd Competition in Oban, Scotland for pipers under the age of 22.

 

• HENRY MICHAEL PALUCH (Aurora, Ontario)
  2nd Place in the 2023 PPBSO Champion Supreme standings for both Grade 1 Light Music and Senior Amateur Piobaireachd; 1st in the MSR at the 2020 and 2021 Nicol-Brown Competitions.

 

• WILLIAM SHROPSHIRE (Durham, North Carolina)
  Grade 1 aggregate winner at the June 2023 Chicago Scottish Festival; 2nd overall at the June 2023 US Piping Foundation Amateur Championships; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the September 2023 Virginia Scottish Games.

 

• MAGNUS STONE (Natick, Massachusetts)
  Third out of 60 Grade 1 competitors in the 2023 EUSPBA Season Standings for combined Light Music and Piobaireachd, as of September 3, after competing in 36 events; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the April 2023 Dunedin Highland Games; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the September 2023 New Hampshire Highland Games.

 

• MICHAEL TRENOR (Columbus, Ohio)
  Second out of 60 Grade 1 competitors in the 2023 EUSPBA Season Standings for combined Light Music and Piobaireachd, as of September 3, after competing in 39 events; Grade 1 Piper of the Day at the March 2023 Ohio Valley Indoor Competition.

THANK YOU!

The 2023 Nicol-Brown Contest will be made possible by the efforts of many volunteers, donors and sponsors who are generous in their support of amateur piping. We would love to add your name here:

• Bill Akerley (Maryland)
• Anonymous Friends of the Nicol-Brown
• Ursa Beckford (Washington, D.C.)
• Jayne Bennett (Delaware)
• John Bertino (Virginia)
• Kathleen Brown (Virginia)
• Joan Bull (Maryland)
• Judy Campbell (British Columbia)
• Michael Cole (Maryland)
• Thomas Cook (Michigan)
• Olivia Corcoran (Virginia)
• Betsy and Bruce Douglas (New York)
• Keith Earle (New York)
• Eastern United States Pipe Band Association
• Doreen Forney (Vermont)
• Jackson Galloway (Massachusetts)
• Charlie and Paula Glendinning (Maryland)
• June Hanley (North Carolina)
• Andrew Hutton (New York)
• The Hutton family (Ontario)
• Institute of Musical Traditions (Maryland)
• James R. Johnson (Minnesota)
• Peter Kent (Virginia)
• Lee & Sons Bagpipes Ltd. (British Columbia)
• Donald F. Lindsay (New York)
• Daniel MacRae (Connecticut)
• McCallum Bagpipes (Kilmarnock, Scotland)
• Barbara McCarthy (New York)
• Ben McClamrock (Washington, D.C.)
• Thompson McConnell (Pennsylvania)
• Charles and Christine McKee (Maryland)
• Bobby Minnear (Washington)
• Robert Mitchell (Maryland)
• NHSCOT Fund (Concord, New Hampshire)
• Cathi Nixon (Tennessee)
• The Piobaireachd Society (Scotland)
• Piobaireachd Society of Central Pennsylvania
• The Piper’s Dojo (Troy, New York)
• The Piper’s Hut (Pickerington, Ohio)
• pipes|drums Magazine (Ontario)
• Steve Porter (Maryland)
• Bonnie Rideout, Scottish Fiddler (Virginia)
• JoAnn Scott (Virginia)
• Chris Shepherd (New York)
• Sean Somers (Alberta)
• Graham Spicer and Claire Ma (Maryland)
• Jane and Jim Spicer (Maryland)
• United States Piping Foundation
• Stephen Walker of Walker Metalsmiths (Andover, New York)
• Rick Woolard (Virginia)

2023 Dedications

• Jayne Bennett’s donation was given in memory of Sandy Jones.
• Doreen Forney’s donation was given in memory of Pipe Major Angus Macdonald.
• Daniel MacRae’s donation was given in honor of his father, Duncan MacRae.
• Cathi Nixon’s donation was given in memory of her father, Sandy Jones.
• 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 2023 Nicol-Brown Chalice Committee

• Kathleen Brown
• Judy Campbell
• Jim Feeney
• Paula Glendinning
• June Hanley
• Donald F. Lindsay, Founder
• Ben McClamrock
• Thompson McConnell, Treasurer
• Sean Moran
• Eric Ouellette
• JoAnn Scott
• Chris Shepherd, Chief Steward
• Jane Spicer

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