THE 2024 BALMORAL CLASSIC COMPETITION
The Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming invites young pipers and drummers to apply to participate in the Balmoral Classic: US Junior Solo Bagpiping & Drumming Championships. The competition will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at CRC Understory, Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Pipers will compete in MSR and Pìobaireachd. The competition’s Overall prize is decided by a combination of scores from Pìobaireachd and MSR. The winner will receive a set of MacRae bagpipes donated by McCallum Bagpipes. Drumming trophies will be awarded for MSR, Hornpipe/Jig, and Overall. Prizes for the Overall Winner of the Drumming contest and all other prizes to be announced.
Piping judge Dr. Angus MacDonald of Glenuig, Scotland has won nearly all of the top solo prizes in piping, including the Clasp at Inverness, the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medals, and the Silver Chanter. His compositions are played throughout the world, and he’s a much-respected judge for important solo piping competitions.
Piping judge Matt MacIsaac has been a Pipe Major in the Canadian Forces, a multi-instrumentalist with Natalie McMaster’s band, a sought-after piping instructor, and the P/M of the Grade 2 St. Andrew’s Association in Ontario. He was winner of the 2022 P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital-Challenge, the first non-Scottish piper to win.A complete lineup of piping and drumming judges will be announced when confirmed.
During the Classic weekend, events begin with the piping and drumming competition on Saturday from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and an awards ceremony after. On Saturday evening, following the competition, Balmoral will present a live concert of Celtic music. There will be a free Piobaireachd workshop, taught by Dr. Angus MacDonald, open to all 2024 applicants and former Classic competitors, on Sunday morning.
This year’s concert band, Beòlach, hails from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and features Balmoral Classic piping judge Matt MacIsaac on bagpipe, whistles and guitar. Beòlach won two 2021 Canadian Folk music awards for their album All Hands: Instrumental Group of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year and received nominations for four East Coast Music Awards and a Juno Award.
Rooms for Balmoral Classic participants have been set aside at a discounted rate at the Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh University Center, 100 Lytton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.Pipers Apply Here: https://balmoralschoolofpiping.org/balmoral-classic-piping-application
Drummers Apply Here: https://balmoralschoolofpiping.org/balmoral-classic-drumming-application
Call for Piping & Drumming Competitors 21 & Under 11-2 in Pittsburgh
