Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario Sponsored by The Beat 91.5 SATURDAY AUGUST 10TH 8:30 am Solo Competitions 2:00 pm Pipe Band Competition 5:00 pm Massed Bands
SUNDAY AUGUST 11TH 12:30 pm Massed Bands 1:30 pm Grade 5 Competitions 5:00 pm Grade 5 Awards Final Massed Bands
The Fergus Scottish Festival hosts its piping competition in conjunction with the Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario and is ranked as a “Champion Supreme Contest”. Competitors compete at different “grade” levels which are determined by the piping association. Players and Bands are assigned Grades 1 through 5, with Grade 1 being the most seasoned and experienced pipers and drummers. Band competitions are the way most people judge bagpipe music. Solo Piping competitions are the way that pipers judge themselves. Bands are judged as much by very strict, standardized criteria as they are by subjective means. Bands in similar grades are required to perform tunes of the same style, to allow fair judging. For instance, a band competing in Grade 5 may be required to perform a medley (or set of tunes played continuously) of marches in a certain time signature. The higher the grade, the more difficult the requirements are and the more tunes required. The length of time allotted depends on the grade as well, ranging from 3-10 minutes. Higher-grade bands (Grades 2 and 1) must also prepare two selections of required tunes, drawn by the judges prior to entering the field. This adds to the complexity and difficulty of tune requirements in competition. There are typically four judges that critique a competing band. These judges are seasoned professional players and must pass an exam to be certified by the association in which they judge. In most associations, there are two piping judges, one drumming judge, and another for overall ensemble. Points are tallied and weighted as per the rules of the association, and the overall winner is awarded. Pipe sections and drum sections are judged on technical ability and technique, unison within the section, use of harmonies or dynamics, score composition and tuning. The ensemble judge listens for overall effect within the entire band, how well the two corps play together, the tune selections chosen and overall band sound. After the Closing Ceremonies are concluded and the winners are announced, each band receives a sheet from each judge, containing his comments about the performance, and any numeric points awarded.
Bands Participating Grade 1 Toronto Police Pipe Band Peel Regional Police Pipe Band Grade 2 400 TH RCAF Squadron Pipes & Drums Grade 3 Toronto Police Pipe Band Windsor Police Pipe Band Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band Penetangore Pipe Band Durham Regional Police Pipe Band Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band Grade 4 Dofasco Pipe Band Hamilton Police Pipes & Drums Grand Celtic Pipe Band Forest City Celtic Pipe Band York Regional Police Pipes & Drum Grade 5 32 Service Battalion Pipes & Drums Cambridge & District Pipe Band Chatham Kent Police Services Pipes Band Pipes & Drums of Lindsay White Heather Pipes & Drums Forest City Celtic Pipe Band Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band Hamilton Police Pipes & Drums Grand Celtic Pipe Band Dundas Pipes & Drums Barrie Pipes & Drums *Bands registered at time of print
Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games
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