North American Pipe Band Championships™

These competitions take place on Saturday, August 4, 2007. Grades 4 and 5 will be held during the morning, starting times dependant upon number of bands competing. Following the Official Ceremonies (12:30P.M.) and the Massed Band performance, the Grades 1, 2 and 3 bands will compete. Massed Bands are also held at the end of the day when awards are handed out.

Pipe Band Competitions

All competitions are governed and organized by the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO). All competitors must be members of the PPBSO or a member of an officially recognized affiliated organization, or Society, in another Province, State or Country.

Submission of Tunes

As determined by the PPBSO, bands must submit a list of tunes and a roster with the names of the band members, when registering for competition at a highland games. The requirements are as follows:

Grade 1 (minimum of 8 pipers, 1 bass and 3 side drummers)

two sets of a march, strathspey & reel (MSR)
two medleys of 5 to 7 minutes each. A medley is usually a combination of marches, slow airs, hornpipes, strathspeys, jigs and reels.

At the Glengarry Highland Games, Grade 1 bands must play in a MSR and a Medley competition at different times. The set or medley to be played is decided by a draw "at the line" (the point where a band halts and is met by a steward, before marching and or playing into the circle and contest).

Grade 2 (minimum of 6 pipers, 1 bass and 3 side drummers)

• two sets of a march, strathspey and reel (MSR)
• one medley of 4 to 6 minutes. Composition of medleys is as in Grade 1 bands.

At the Glengarry Highland Games, Grade 2 bands must play in a MSR and a Medley competition at different times. The set to be played is decided by a draw "at the line".

Grade 3 (minimum of 5 pipers, 1 bass and 2 side drummers)

• one set of a march, strathspey (MSR)
• one medley of 3 to 5 minutes. Composition as in Grades 1 & 2 bands.

Grade 4 (minimum of 5 pipers, 1 bass and 2 side drummers)

• 1 medley of 3 to 5 minutes.
• 1 march medley in quick time of 2:45 to 4:30 minutes.

Grade 5 (minimum of 5 pipers, 1 bass and 2 side drummers)

• 1 march medley in quick time 2:45 to 4:30 minutes.

This contest is limited to twelve bands at the Glengarry Highland Games.

Basic Rules

Each band must bring the pipes to the waist position and drums to the side and then stand at ease. The members of the band are brought to attention; pipes and drums are then brought to the playing position, followed by the "attack" into the musical competition. There are no points for drill, dress and deportment, however, the procedure "at the line" is a requirement. In medley contests, the band may take their place in the circle before starting to play. There are two circles denoted by chalk lines or 6" yellow discs on the ground. The band must form up within the inner circle and the judges or adjudicators must remain outside of the outer circle.

All competitors must wear proper highland dress, including appropriate head dress.

Criteria for Judging

Bands are judged on:

ATTACK - a combination of drum rolls, drones and chanters beginning at specific points together, in-sync, before the tune is started.

TONE/TUNING - quality of sound of chanters, drones and drums

EXPRESSION - a combination of tempo, rhythm and duration of notes in music.

PITCH - the sharpness or flatness of the pipe chanters and drum heads.

EXECUTION - how well particular movements and played and executed

UNISON - how well the pipe or drum corps plays together (as one)

ENSEMBLE - how the pipe and drum corps complement each other musically.

Entry Forms may be obtained by contacting

Piper's and Pipe Band Society of Ontario
50 Steeles Avenue East.
Milton Ontario
L9T 4W9

Champion Supreme

This award is given to the pipe band in each category by the Pipers Society of Ontario for accumulating the most points at 5 designated highland games over the summer season. Because of the size and prestigiousness of the competition at The Glengarry Highland Games, more points are awarded here than at other games.

Individual Piping and Drumming Competitions

All competitors must register with the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario at www.ppbso.org where a 2007 Master Entry Form may be downloaded. Competitions include marches, strathspeys, reels, piobaireachd, jigs and hornpipes. Questions may also be directed to info@ppbso.org. The "Order of Play" under "Competition" at www.ppbso.org is posted one to two weeks before the Games.

Friday, August 3, 2007

• All Grades 2, 3, 4 & 5 solo piping and drumming
• Gold Medal

Saturday, August 4, 2007

• All professional and Grade 1 solo piping and drumming
• All tenor, bass drum and drum major contests
• 60th Anniversary March/Strathspey/Reel Competition for Professional Pipers Professional pipers register for this event through the PPBSO.  !st, 2nd, 3rd  & 4th place-prizes of $400, $300, $200, $100 respectively.

Questions regarding Piping & Drumming competitions can be directed to

Gilbert Young (use our feedback form)
135 High Street
P.O. Box 486
Vankleek Hill, Ontario
K0B 1R0

or by calling (613)678-3235

Information for Bands Attending for the First Time

The Town of Maxville, Ontario, is located one hour east of Ottawa, Ontario and one hour west of Montreal, Quebec.

Exit at Highland Road, off Hwy. 417 and travel south of approximately 8 km. It is also approximately 45 minutes north of Cornwall, Ontario which is on Hwy. 401 traveling between Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec.

Temperatures during the time of the Glengarry Highland Games run from 85 to 95+ F or 25 to 32+ C. Historically, it has been sunny and hot!

Consider the following for group or individual accommodations which comes highly recommended with very reasonable rates:

NAV CANADA Training & Conference Centre
1950 Montreal Road
Cornwall, Ontario
K6H 6L2
Tel. 1-613-936-5003
1-877-832-6416
conference@navcanada.ca
http://www.navcanada.ca/navcanada.asp

Camping is also available on the grounds.