Stewart, McCormack win US Junior Piping, Drumming Championship

Pittsburgh – November 12, 2010 – Joseph Stewart of Seattle and Quinn McCormack of Pembroke, Massachusetts, were the overall winners of the second annual United States Junior Solo Piping and Drumming Championships held at the Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh. Stewart emerged the winner on Piobaireachd preference over Alexander Schiele of Snohomish, Washington. The competitions for any pipers and snare drummers younger than 18, and the event is put on as part of the Balmoral Classic in Pittsburgh. Stewart received the Ralph Murray Memorial Scholarship for room, board and tuition for two weeks at the Balmoral School. McCormack won a Premier HTS-800 snare drum.

Solo Piping
Piobaireachd (set of Inveran pipes)
1st Joseph Stewart, “Too Long in this Condition”
2nd Marshall German, Corona, California, “Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon”
3rd Alexander Schiele, “Catherine’s Lament”
4th Aaron Stone, Auburn, Washington, “Lament for Captain MacDougall”
5th Joseph Biggs, Princeton, Illinois, “Lament for MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart #1”

MSR (set of McCallum pipes)
1st Daniel Pisowloski, Canterbury, Connecticut, “Conan Bridge,” “Lady McKenzie of Gairloch,” “Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran”
2nd Alexander Schiele, “Lord Alexander Kennedy,” “Dora MacLeod,” “Major Manson”
3rd Ryan Praskovich, Pittsburgh, “Braes of Castle Grant,” “Shepherd’s Crook,” “Traditional”
4th Joseph Stewart, “Leaving Lunga,” “Shepherd’s Crook,” “The Sheepwife”
5th Marshall German, “Braes of Castle Grant,” “Piper’s Bonnet,” “The Grey Bob”

Both events were judged by Andrew Carlisle, Donald McBride and Willie McCallum.

Also competing but not in the prizes were Kirk Brunson, Derry, New Hampshire; Matthew Davis, Barto, Pennsylvania; John-Patrick Hanna, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania; Aaron Stone, Auburn, Washington; Tyler Tagliaferro, Medina, Ohio; Nicholas Theriault, Danville, California; and Billy Woods, Lyons, Colorado.

Solo Drumming
MSR
1st Quinn McCormack
2nd Amber Stone, Auburn, Washington
3rd Petey Lowrie, Brunswick, Ohio
4th Wesley Blevins, Louisville, Kentucky

Hornpipe & Jig
1st Quinn McCormack
2nd Amber Stone
3rd Petey Lowrie
4th Drew Donnelly

Jim Sim judged both events

Also competing but not in the prizes were Drew Donnelly, Strongsville, Ohio, and Andrew Koupal, San Ramon, California.