by Stuart Curnow
Australian Pipe Band Championships starts with a feast of solo piping...
T
HE weekend of the 2012 Australian Pipe Band Championships got off to a great start with top pipers battling it out in a
recital to whet the appetite for the competi- tions ahead. Taking inspiration from the Lord Todd Piping Recital
at Piping Live!, where six elite pipers present their best to a crowd of their peers, piping aficionados and a panel of anonymous judges, the Bagpiper Recital Challenge also boasted a six-strong field eager to wow a crowd of more than 300.
Craig Sked (South Africa), Stuart Easton (New Zealand), Martin Frewen (New Zealand), Ian Lyons (Australia / Northern Ireland), Andrew Roach (Aus- tralia) and Jamie Hawke (New Zealand) fought out a tightly contested evening of electric playing. The flying fingers of Jamie Hawke and Martin
Frewen had the crowd on the edge for much of their performances. Ian Lyons raised the pressure to the point that the audience barely drew breath until his last note, while the beauty of Stuart’s rendition of Hector the Hero almost sealed the evening with the one tune. The venue, much like the Todd, was tightly packed, almost uncomfortably so, with the paint barely dry from a recent renovation. The audience was appre- ciative of the quality and presentation of the music, even of the piobaireachd presented by all recitalists, despite being a predominantly pipe band crowd. The large New Zealand contingent, as always, was vocally supportive of their fellow countrymen. The winner, apart from the appreciative crowd, was Stuart Easton with a stellar performance on a superb, vibrant instrument, which held beautifully throughout very warm conditions. For his trouble, he took home AUD 1,000, a Bagpiper Case and a bottle of whisky. All in all, not a bad evening out. The 2012 Bagpiper Recital Challenge was a night of
great piping from some of the Southern Hemisphere’s best and most exciting players. Time will tell if this type of contest becomes a standard before the Aus- tralian Championships, but the reaction of the sell-out crowd was a clear indication that there is an audience for these events Down Under.
It was the perfect starter before the main course: The 2012 Australian Pipe Band Championships. This year saw the return of Western Australia
Police Pipe Band to top form winning the Grade 1 contest in a virtual clean sweep of all places. A strong core of Perth based players was augmented with several Australian and overseas guests filling-out a line up that has been a consistent provider of top music over the years.
In Grade 2, Moorabbin City Pipe Band has enjoyed a very successful season culminating with the Grade 2 Australian Pipe Band Championship. Pipe major Ian Lyons, pipe sergeant Kelvin Mounsey and leading drummer Daniel Staley have consolidated the band’s performances of the 2011 season into a formidable record of achievement this year. Unbeaten in all the events they have contested, 2012 has been a remarkable season seeing Moorabbin
Western Australia Police Pipe Band, Grade 1 Australian Pipe Band Champions 2012
Moorabbin City Pipe Band, Grade 2 Australian Pipe Band Champions 2012
Thanks to Ian Wilson Photography for permission to use the pipe band photos above. Ian was the official photographer for the Australian Pipe Band Championships and his photos from the event can be purchased on-line at
www.ianwilsonphotography.com.au
Recital winner Stuart Easton centre with sponsors Ian lyons and Murray Blair of Bagpiper Cases
City finish with both the Australian and New Zealand Grade 2 Championships. Said Ian: “Moorabbin City Pipe Band has a proud
history in the Australian piping scene with most of its members having started at the band as learners. After our third place finish in the Australian Championships in 2010, we focused on strengthening our work ethic and developing our teamwork. All our members, bar one, live and work in Melbourne. We’re essentially a homegrown band. We like it that way.” Developing a close-knit team, a focus on good music and a development of the younger members of the band augers well for the future of Moorabbin. Ian added: “Our aspirations stay the same — development of our younger band members, consolidating our technique and producing good music. Being promoted to Grade 1 is not a priority. It’s on our radar, certainly, but it’s not our only goal.” The New Zealand Foundation National Youth Band under Stuart Easton, fresh from his recital win, took
the honours in Grade 3 and Juvenile. Stuart was very enthusiastic about the recital and the competition: “To share the excitement and sense of achievement with the band was amazing. Everyone really enjoyed the trip over, and prepared well for the competition. There is real talent in this band; the future of New Zealand piping is looking very bright. They are some of the most talented and driven young musicians I’ve worked with.
It was extremely rewarding for the
tutors to hear the band play to such a high musical standard. The result was a bonus. We all enjoyed the hospitality at the recital and at the competition and we’re all looking forward to coming again.” The honours for Grade 4 went to the hometown favourites, University of Ballarat No. 2. A young band with a developing sound and growing reputation, it was good to see the locals rise to the challenge. The bar has been set high with the trial of a two- day contest; time will tell whether it will become the standard for all Australian Championships. l
PIPING TODAY • 9
Photo: Stuart Curnow
Photo: Ian Wilson Photography
Photo: Ian Wilson Photography NEWS
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