News
May 31, 2004

MacLellan, Donaldson, Hazzard to step down from CPA executive

In an advance exclusive, Piper & Drummer Online has learned that Colin MacLellan, Brian Donaldson, and Jenny Hazzard — respective president, vice-president, and treasurer/acting secretary — will not run for re-election to their executive posts with the Competing Pipers Association at the CPA’s annual general meeting this October.

MacLellan has led the CPA for five years. During that time he has evoked significant changes to the way the organization runs, and instituted many policies that are considered leading edge for the U.K. solo piping world.

“We feel that it is time to move on, and let other people take up the challenge,” MacLellan said. “We’ve given it our all, and I think we’ve made a difference, and I’m sure that within our membership there are many people who will wish to maintain the initiatives which we have created and who will take their own path.”

Among the changes MacLellan has overseen is the development of a Code of Conduct, which includes policies for judges adjudicating pupils, asking competitions and members to avoid such circumstances whenever possible.

In the first year of MacLellan’s tenure as president, the CPA took the bold move of asking its members to rate judges. The feedback led to a more informed regrading of adjudicators, and the addition of several North American pipers to the approved list of judges.

The CPA in last five years has become more of an influence on the Joint Committee for Piping, which subsequently led to bringing back judges from Association of Piping Adjudicators, including such luminaries as John D. Burgess and Hugh MacCallum, into the U.K. judging fold.

The CPA since 1999 has also established a circuit of six B- and C-Grade piobaireachd competitions at Scottish games, securing sponsorship of the events by Glenfiddich, the long-time supporters of piping. The CPA, in conjunction with the National Piping Centre, also created the Duncan Johnstone Memorial Competition.

Under MacLellan’s presidency the CPA has also helped to develop an open process for applications to the Northern Meeting and Argyllshire Gathering, including detailed consideration of every entry, and the creation of a system in which pipers who may not be known to the committee can submit performances on videotape.

MacLellan continued, “We thank all those – and there are many – who have helped us. There are many people who do such an immense amount of work for solo piping with little reward, other than the satisfaction of knowing that piping is better for their effort. I have really enjoyed our time in office, and now I look forward to having time for doing what I like to do most – playing the pipes.”

The CPA’s rules call for all of its executives to be actively competing in solo competitions.

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