The 8th annual Cincinnati Indoor Solo Contest and Workshop offers an MWPBA-sanctioned piping and drumming solo contest followed by a workshop taught by the competition judges. This year we're at a venue offering superior setup for the event and convenient location (map) just off I-71 north of Cincinnati.
Registration will be through the MWPBA website (coming soon)
Solo Competition Information (start time ~8am ET)
Piping: MWPBA sanctioned
| Grade | Event(s)/Details |
|---|---|
| Practice Chanter | Two-parted march (2/4, 3/4 or 4/4) on the practice chanter, no X/8 time signatures |
| Grade 5 Jr/Sr | Two-parted march (2/4, 3/4 or 4/4) on the bagpipe, no X/8 time signatures |
| Grade 4 Jr/Sr | Piobaireachd (ground + 1st variation), 2/4 March, Strathspey/Reel (2 parts each) |
| Grade 3 | Piobaireachd (full tune, optional "a mach"), 2/4 March (submit 1), Strathspey/Reel (submit 1 of each), 6/8 (submit 1) |
| Grade 2 | Piobaireachd (submit 2), 2/4 March (submit 2), Strathspey/Reel (submit 1 of each), Jig (submit 1) |
| Grade 1 | Piobaireachd (submit 3), M/S/R (submit 2 of each), Hornpipe/Jig (submit 2), 6/8 March (submit 2) |
Snare Drumming: MWPBA sanctioned
If you need pipe accompaniment, please email Andy Douglas at lessons@cincypipesanddrums.org
| Grade | Event(s)/Details |
|---|---|
| Grade 5 | Two-parted march (2/4, 3/4 or 4/4) on the snare drum, piper accompaniment optional |
| Grade 4 | 2/4 March, 6/8 March |
| Grade 3 | M/S/R, 6/8 March |
| Grade 2 | M/S/R, Hornpipe/Jig |
| Grade 1 | M/S/R, Hornpipe/Jig |
Tenor Drumming: MWPBA-sanctioned
If you need pipe accompaniment, please email Andy Douglas at lessons@cincypipesanddrums.org
| Grade | Event(s)/Details |
|---|---|
| Beginning | Two-parted march (2/4, 3/4 or 4/4), piper accompaniment optional |
| Novice | 2/4 March |
| Intermediate | M/S/R |
| Advanced | M/S/R, Hornpipe/Jig |
Bass Drumming: MWPBA-sanctioned
If you need pipe accompaniment, please email Andy Douglas at lessons@cincypipesanddrums.org
| Grade | Event(s)/Details |
|---|---|
| Novice | 2/4 March |
| Intermediate | M/S/R |
| Advanced | M/S/R |
Registration will be through the MWPBA website (coming soon)
Event Date:
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
Event Location:
Mars Hill Academy
4230 Aero Drive
Mason, Ohio 45040
(map)
Workshop to follow:
Following the competition, 2 60-minute workshop sessions led by the competition judges. The first workshop session will start at approximately 1:30pm followed by a 15-minute break. The second session will start at approximately 2:45pm.
| Judge/Instructor | Workshop Sessions | |
|---|---|---|
| Light music | Clark Abercrombie | Session 1: TBA Session 2: TBA |
| Light music | Barry Conway | Session 1: TBA Session 2: TBA |
| Light Music | Calum MacDonald | Session 1: TBA Session 2: TBA |
| Snare | Andrew Hoinacki | TBA |
