Thursday, April 26, 2007

Brandon Games This Weekend

I always have liked going to the Brandon Indoor Games. For years, it was organized single-handedly by PM Alex Cupples, and he looked after the judges, sold tickets, harassed soloists and pipe majors, organized the stewards, did the anouncements...well, you get the picture. It was a one-man show. His supporting team was his late wife, Jenny, and his family members and students, and the members of the Brandon Shrine and 26th Field Regt. bands.

Now, the Games is run by students of Alex: Dave Kyle and Richard Wilson, and they have a great supporting team, too. Their team includes Alex himself, who meets and greets, opens his home to folks, and harasses the recitalists about not playing enough piobaireachd.

Alex Cupples is one of the great characters of prairie piping. He came to Canada in 1973 or '74 after a career with the British Army as a pipe major in the Gordon Highlanders. He was PM of a good civilian pipe band, Livingston and Pumpherston, and he had instruction from some of the greats. He arrived on the prairies as a great gust of fresh air, and he set about organizing. He brought amateur solo grading—as opposed to age categories—to the prairies, and he has been a tireless volunteer, judge, teacher, organizer and cheerleader for regional piping.

This weekend the Conservatory Pipe Band will be competing in Brandon, and all the kids are in the solos, and it's always a great time. The thing that I've really come to value over the years is the tremendous energy and commitment it takes to run these events, and the ability to catch up and enjoy tunes with so many good people.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

A Year Off the Competition Field

The band recently took the decision to not compete in 2007. This was not reached easily. The band has competed each year since it was formed in the Fall of 1992, and for those 14 years the band has been Saskatchewan's premier pipe band, and has also won contests near and far. This year, it was not to be. The loss of a valued lead drummer in January to university studies, and thin numbers in the snare line for mixed reasons...and getting on the contest field at the level we desire is beyond what can be done this year.

The good news is that our advertising for a LD has drawn the attention of some very good people, and we are following up some exciting prospects for the future. Also, we have some new members recently acquired, and we are looking forward to re-launching the band's competitive streak next Fall, just in time to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the organization.

In the meantime, band members have sought other competitive opportunities to keep the skills up, and it'll be a great summer for many as they experience other bands and other competitive circuits. The band will be playing at a few events upcoming, and we are working hard on the Highland games weekend, the SPBA summer school, and other events. So, business as usual, but not on the contest field this year.

Stay tuned. We'll be back. It'll be the time of your life.