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 |
