2023 Cincinnati Indoor Solo Contest and Workshop

Back again after a pandemic-related hiatus, the annual Cincinnati Indoor Solo Contest and Workshop offers an EUSPBA-sanctioned piping and drumming solo contest followed by a workshop taught by the competition judges. This year we're at a new venue offering superior setup for the event and convenient location (map) just off I-71 north of Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band annual ceilidh takes place in the evening after this event as well, just a few minutes' drive away!

Registration for the competition is now closed (workshop registrations still welcome - please contact Andy Douglas at webmaster@cincypipesanddrums.org). Click here to see the current competition schedule.

Solo Competition Information (8:00 AM-12:30 PM)

Piping: EUSPBA sanctioned
Grade Event(s)/Details
Grade 5 (sanctioned) Two-parted march (2/4, 3/4 or 4/4) on the bagpipe, Piobareachd (ground only)
Grade 4 Jr/Sr Piobaireachd (full tune), 2/4 March (1 4-parted tune or 2 2-parted tunes), Strathspey/Reel, 6/8 March (1 4-parted tune or 2 2-parted tunes)
Grade 3 Piobaireachd, 2/4 March, Strathspey/Reel (see EUSPBA rules), Jig
Grade 2 Piobaireachd (submit 2), 2/4 March (submit 2), Strathspey/Reel (submit 2 of each), Hornpipe/Jig (submit 1 of each)
Grade 1 Piobaireachd (submit 3), M/S/R (submit 3 of each), Hornpipe/Jig (submit 2)
Grade "Open" (Professional and Premier) Piobaireachd (submit 4), M/S/R (submit 4). Prize money is $100/$50/$25 per event.
Novice (non-sanctioned) March (any time signature). This is a practice chanter event and is non-sanctioned (no pipe band association membership is required).
Snare Drumming: EUSPBA sanctioned
Grade Event(s)/Details
Grade 5 (sanctioned) Two-parted march (2/4, 3/4 or 4/4) on the snare drum, piper accompaniment optional
Grade 4 Jr/Sr 2/4 March (1 4-parted tune or 2 2-parted tunes), March Set (quick march set between 1 minute 45 seconds and 3 minutes 15 seconds)
Grade 3 2/4 March, 6/8 March, Strathspey/Reel (4 parts each, may be 4-parted or 2-parted music)
Grade 2 M/S/R, Hornpipe/Jig
Grade 1 M/S/R, Hornpipe/Jig
Professional M/S/R (submit 2), Hornpipe/Jig (submit 2)
Novice (non-sanctioned) March (non-sanctioned practice pad event, 2-parted march in any time signature, no piper required, pipe band association membership required)
Tenor Drumming: non-sanctioned
Grade Event(s)/Details
Grade 4 March Set
Grade 3 2/4 March, S/R
Grade 2 M/S/R, H/J
Grade 1 M/S/R, H/J
Bass Drumming: non-sanctioned
Grade Event(s)/Details
Grade 4 March Set
Grade 3 2/4 March, S/R
Grade 2 M/S/R, H/J
Grade 1 M/S/R, H/J

Registration for the competition is now closed (workshop registrations are still welcome - please contact Andy Douglas at webmaster@cincypipesanddrums.org).

Event Location:
Mars Hill Academy
4230 Aero Drive
Mason, Ohio 45040
(map)

Workshop Information (1:30 PM-3:45 PM)

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: Jigs
Session 2: How to tie in a hide bag
Light music Barry Conway Session 1: 2/4 Marches
Session 2: Technique
Piobaireachd Calum MacDonald Session 1: Piobaireachd
Session 2: Strathspeys & Reels
Snare Jon Quigg TBA