Nigel Foster the Comunn na Piobaireachd President.
Introduction
On behalf of both the General and Music Committees I have pleasure in presenting the annual report for the 2013-2014 year.
While it has been a comparatively quiet year the “business as usual” activities have of course carried on and we report on these below.
The Right Honourable Sir Ian Lloyd McKay KNZM
Sadly, this report must begin by acknowledging the passing of Sir Ian McKay on February 20 2014.
Sir Ian was integrally involved in the establishment of this Society in 1957. He was Chair of the Music Committee from 1959 to 1970 and President for 36 years. 1970-2006. He won the Gold Medal in 1959 and the Clasp in 1968, 1970, 1974 and 1986.
Beyond the Society’s prizes Sir Ian was the winner of the NZ Championship Piobaireachd in 1956, 1968, 1981, 1982 and 1986. In 2006 he was awarded the Balvenie Medal at Blair Castle in Scotland for services to bagpipe music.
While our focus is of course on Sir Ian’s contribution to piping, he had an illustrious career in the law, culminating in his membership of the Privy Council and sitting as a judge of the Court of Appeal in New Zealand.
Seminars and teaching
Given the importance CNP attaches to the teaching of piobaireachd it is appropriate that we report fully on seminar and teaching activity during the year.
Two seminar series were held during the year. The following are the reports received from Iain Hines and Marion Horsburgh for the Wellington Seminars and Brendon Eade for the Hamilton Seminars:
“In Wellington a series of three sessions was held at approximately 3-week intervals in the winter. We went over some Silver Medal, Gold medal and Clasp tunes from the 2014 list. Attendance varied, with a total of 10 people taking part.
An advantage of regular sessions (as opposed to one longer seminar) is that people have more time to learn the tunes. A disadvantage is that attendance may vary. For this series, both were true. Some people made good progress on their selected tune, with some more advanced players going over several. For others who attended only one or two sessions, progress was less obvious.
The wide range of experience and ability among participants meant that time focused at each level was limited.
We would be happy to run 1-2 follow-up sessions.
Marion Horsburgh and Iain Hines”
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“In late September/October 2013 CNP hosted two seminars at the Hamilton Caledonian Society Band rooms. These consisted of two 5 hour sessions across consecutive weekends covering many aspects of piobaireachd, including history, technique, performance and competition.
The seminars were attended by an enthusiastic group – 12 pipers in all, ranging from learner/beginner pipers through to top silver medal competing pipers. They came from Hamilton, Rotorua, Auckland, Coromandel. Of note there were 1 or 2 adult learners who had never come across piobaireachd before. The group however was largely made up of young pipers all wanting to improve their understanding of piobaireachd, with most expressing an interest in competing at the CNP competitions in Hastings, 2014.
Tunes covered were largely from the CNP silver medal list, including Black Donald’s March, Hector Maclean’s Warning, MacDonald of Kinlochmoidarts’ Lament #1 and Corrienessan’s Salute.
The seminars were well received , and it is pleasing to note that many of those pipers attending have already gone on to attend Summer school tuition in piobaireachd, or enter their first piobaireachd competition or indeed enter themselves in the upcoming CNP competitions at Hastings. Most pipers have continued their contact and receive ongoing tuition either via face to face or Skype.
I believe that the small seminars that CNP supports are providing a valuable tool in the ongoing pursuit to promote the understanding and performing of our art to an ever widening audience
Brendon Eade”
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As well as these CNP-specific initiatives we again collaborated with the RNZPBA to have dedicated teaching of Piobaireachd at the RNZPBA Summer School in January. Brendon Eade was again the dedicated piobaireachd tutor and he provided his report on the week as follows:
“I once again had the pleasure of providing piobaireachd tuition to pupils at the RNZPBA summer school in Christchurch, on behalf of CNP. This was my third consecutive year as tutor at this event and this was the fifth consecutive year that CNP had a dedicated piobaireachd tuition stream at the school. This continues to be a well received presence, as evidenced by a further increase in number of students attending the classes.
Tuition in piobaireachd was offered over 5 days Monday to Friday, with sessions for beginners, bronze medal and silver medal participants on a daily basis. These sessions were well attended, approx 5-6 per session at beginner level, 5-6 at bronze level and a very pleasing 10-12 silver medal level participants (largely made up of youth band members).One on one sessions were also provided – 6 daily from Monday to Thursday. These were essentially fully booked, in fact some ‘overflow was absorbed, with some sessions overlapping with lunchtimes, just to fit everybody in. There were a number of new faces at all sessions which was satisfying , suggesting that CNP is on the right track with an ever- increasing reach to new, young pipers. (and some not so young!) Age ranges from 1year olds to 60+.
The tunes covered were largely selected from CNP’s own Silver medal list for the 2014 Hastings Highland Games and included McLeod’s Short Tune, Black Donald’s March , Hector Maclean’s Warning, MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament (1), Corrienessan’s Salute. Other tunes included the Donald Macleod compositions Caber Feidh Gu Brath and Lament for the Rowan Tree. The Glen is Mine, Sir James macDonald of the Isles Lament and Struan Robertson’s Salute were also explored.
Some attendee names included Angus Mackay, William McArthur, Adrienne Mclellan, Lewis MacDonald, Liam Thompson, Sam Darling, Josh Smith, Hamish Dick, Ollie Stapleton Stevens, Caitlin Mclellan, Nick Parsons, Blake and Alex Wagstaff, Juliet Johnston, Morgan Tabateau, Anita Bentley, Anna Smart, Allwyn Mcallum, Scott Marshall.
In summary I would thank CNP for the opportunity to teach and promote piobaireachd at the summer school – and encourage the committee to continue to have a presence at this event in the future”
We express our real thanks to Iain, Marion and Brendon for giving their time to this valuable teaching activity.
2013 Comunn Na Piobaireachd Competitions
The Society’s 55th annual competitions were held at the Hastings Easter Highland Games over the weekend of 29-31 March 2013.
The judges for the weekend were Brian Switalla of Auckland and Ross Campbell of Queensland. We thank them both for their judging efforts over what is becoming an increasingly long weekend of piobaireachd.
The entries and results for the 4 competitions were as follows:
Clasp Sponsored by Security Risk Management
1st Greg Wilson – Ronald McDonald or Morar’s Lament
2nd Brendon Eade – The Big spree
3rd Marion Horsburgh – Lament for Donald Duaghald McKay
4th Tom Glover – The Old Men of The Shells
Gold medal Sponsored anonymously
1st Gary Stewart – The Groat
2nd Liam Kernaghan – Lachlan McNeil Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy
3rd William Rowe – Lachlan McNeil Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy
4th Jason Craig (Canberra) – The Young Laird of Dungallen’s Salute
Silver medal Sponsored by Bruce Cawood
1st Reuben McDonnell – Lament for Mary McLeod
2nd Donella May – Too Long in this Condition
3rd Scott Marshall – The Little Spree
4th Hamish Dick – Too Long in this Condition
Bronze Medal Sponsored by Donald Gannaway
1st Anna Smart – The Glen is Mine
2nd Tim Dudley – Too Long in this Condition
3rd Cameron Richardson – Struan Robertson’s Salute
4th William Rogerson – The Little Spree
We express our sincere appreciation to the sponsors named alongside each event. It is important that these annual competitions are characterised by “prestige”. This prestige inevitably involves a financial element and we thank our sponsors for enabling this to continue.
Competitions in Scotland
As has become the tradition we have pleasure in recording the results of the premier piobaireachd competitions in Scotland during 2013.
Northern Meeting
Clasp
1st Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland, “Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy”
2nd Callum Beaumont, Bo’ness, Scotland, “Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy”
3rd Jack Lee, Surrey, British Columbia, “Ronald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament”
4th Willie McCallum, Bearsden, Scotland, “The Old Men of the Shells”
5th Glenn Brown, Glasgow, “In Praise of Morag”
Judges: John Wilson, Bill Wotherspoon, Andrew Wright
Highland Society of London Gold Medal
1st Callum Beaumont, Bo’ness, Scotland, “Nameless – Hiharin odin, hiharin dro”
2nd Douglas Murray, Cupar, Scotland, “The Rout of Glenfruin”
3rd Faye Henderson, Aberdeen, Scotland, “Clanranald’s Salute”
4th Cameron Drummond, Edinburgh, “Clanranald’s Salute”
5th John Mulhearn, Glasgow, “The Rout of Glenfruin”
Judges: Malcolm McRae, William Morrison, Stuart Shedden
Silver Medal
1st Alasdair Henderson, “Lord MacDonald’s Lament”
2nd Craig Sutherland, Crieff, Scotland, “Fair Honey”
3rd Darach Urquhart, Glasgow, “All the Old Men Paid Rent but Rory”
4th Jamie Forrester, London, “Duntroon’s March”
5th George Stewart, Perth, Scotland, “Melbank’s Salute”
Judges: Bruce Hitchings, Iain Morrison, Jack Taylor
Argyllshire Gathering
Highland Society of London Gold Medal
1st Alan Bevan, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, “The Young Laird of Dugallon’s Salute”
2nd Douglas Muurray, Cupar, Scotland, “Kinlochmoidart No 2″
3rd Innes Smith, Bridge of Allan, Scotland, “Nameless”
4th Andrew Bonar, Vancouver, “Nameless”
5th Fiona Manson, Glasgow, “Clanranald’s Salute”
Judges: Patricia Henderson, Ronnie McShannon, Bill Wotherspoon
Senior Piobaireachd
1st Jack Lee, “Lady MacDonald’s Lament”
2nd Bruce Gandy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
3rd Alastair Dunn, Glasgow
4th Callum Beaumont, Glasgow
5th Gordon Walker, Moscow, Scotland
Judges: John MacDougall, Stuart Shedden, Jack Taylor
Silver Medal Final
1st James P. Troy, “Melbank’s Salute”
2nd Alasdair Henderson, “Fair Honey”
3rd Jamie Forrester, “Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks”
4th Darach Urquhart, “The Parading of the MacDonalds”
5th Graham Drummond, “All the Old Men Paid Rent But Rory”
Judges: Robert Wallace, Bob Worrall, Andrew Wright
As always Kiwi pipers were very present in Scotland during the year. Among those competing around the Games circuit in 2013 were: Jamie Hawke, Tom Glover, Liam Kernaghan, Matt Fraser, Fiona Manson, Tracey Williams and Stuart Easton
Membership/Friends of Piobaireachd
Membership and Friends of Piobaireachd numbers have remained fairly static.
There is a range of funding sources for the activities and benefits provided by CNP and, as evidenced by the financial statements, these sources currently just manage to cover the cost of those activities.
We particularly appreciate the generous contribution made by our “Friends”
I believe we should all work towards a progressive increase in membership as those who benefit from the Society’s activities recognise the merits and perhaps obligation to contribute to the funding of those activities. This encouragement to join should not be left to the Committee: those who are teaching and working with piobaireachd pupils are well positioned to explain what CNP does and encourage them to join.
Officers
The following have been the Office Bearers during the 2013-2014 year
Patron His Excellency Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO, Governor General of New Zealand
President Nigel Foster
Vice President Ian Blakely
Secretary/Treasurer Brendon Eade
Music Committee Iain Hines (chair), Greg Wilson (Secretary), Brian Switalla, Bain McGregor, Marion Horsburgh
General Committee All of the above (except the Patron), Liam Kernaghan and Tom Glover
Honorary Auditor Graeme Mitchell
I thank all the office bearers for the commitment they have made to their various roles during the year. I also note and express our appreciation for the work done behind the scenes by Meleana Eade in support of the secretary treasurer role.
Financial
Attached are the financial statements for the 2013-2014 year for:
Comunn Na Piobaireach (NZ) Inc and
The Donald Bain Memorial Fund- of which the Society is Trustee
Both sets of financial statements have been audited by Graeme Mitchell
There is little to comment on in detail. However, we do note that the Society incurred a modest loss for the year although taken together the two entities recorded a surplus and the combined reserves are healthy- a sound foundation for future activity
I will have pleasure in presenting this report and recommending its adoption at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting
Kind regards
Nigel Foster
President