2013 Sherriff lineup set for Nov.16th amateur invitational

Eleven amateur solo pipers from Canada and the United States have accepted their invitations to compete at the 18th annual George Sherriff Memorial Invitational Competition on Saturday, November 16th, in Hamilton, Ontario. The players are nominated by their home associations as the top represenatives in the amateur Grade 1 category.

The event is often a swansong contest for pipers moving into the Professional grade, and past winners have included Glenn Brown and Faye Henderson, both of whom have gone on to win Highland Society of London Gold Medals for piobaireachd.

This year’s George Sherriff Memorial lineup:

• Aidan Bowan, Ontario (PPBSO)
• Andrew Donlon, Maryland (EUSPBA)
• James Dyson, Nova Scotia (ACPBA)
• Callum Harper, Ontario (PPBSO)
• Liam Hilder, British Columbia (BCPA)
• Tyler Johnson, Michigan (MWPBA)
• Andrew Mackay, Ontario (PPBSO)
• Aaron Stone, Washington (BCPA)
• Nick Theriault, California (WUSPBA)
• Campbell Webster, New Hampshire (EUSPBA)
• Jack Williamson, Kansas (MWPBA)

Harper was the overall winner of the 2012 Sherriff Invitational. Bowen and Donlon are also returning to compete at the event.

Each piper competes in a 6/8 March event in the morning, followed by Piobaireachd in the afternoon, and finishing with an MSR at night.

For the first time in the competition’s history none of the three judges will be from Ontario. Brian Donaldson, Wisconsin; Jim Stack, New Jersey; and John Wilson, Scotland will be assessing all of the performances at the St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 70 James St. South.The competition is named in memory of George Sherriff, a prolific teacher of piping in the Hamilton, Ontario, area for many years.

As part of the publication’s policy of contributing available funds from subscriptions, advertising and donations to important, nonprofit piping and drumming causes, pipes|drums Magazine is once again a sponsor of the Sherriff.