More than 40 judges expected to attend PPBSO Seminar

The Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario’s annual Adjudicators’ Seminar will be held on Saturday, May 2nd, in Milton, Ontario, and more than 40 accredited piping and drumming judges are expected to attend to day-long event.

 

The theme of the seminar is Ensemble, and the planned agenda will examine various aspects of the rapidly developing category and criteria, from both a judge and performer’s perspectives.

 

PPBSO Music Board member Bob Worrall will manage a session entitled “The Future of Pipe Band Judging,” considering, among other issues, the impact that the RSPBA’s MAP program may have had on the way pipe bands are assessed.

 

The second morning session will take a look at pipe band ensemble, but from the perspective of top pipe band leaders, in an effort to enlighten all judges on various ensemble approaches and techniques that Grade 1 bands are striving for and developing. The think-tank forum will comprise James MacHattie and Drew Duthart from the Scottish Lion-78th Fraser Highlanders, John Cairns and Graham Brown from the Peel Regional Police, and Michael Grey and Reagan Jones from the Toronto Police. Music Board member Jim Scott will moderate.

 

The first afternoon session is “The Evolving Mid-Section,” with a group of prominent bass and tenor players from around the world participating in a panel discussion managed by Music Board member Tyler Fry.

The day will conclude with an open forum for all judges to raise issues and develop ways to improve the judging experience for competitors.

 

“Ensemble has always been a much discussed and, at times, contentious topic,” said PPBSO Music Board Chair Andrew Berthoff. “The day will attempt to bring important issues to the fore, with an aim of providing better understanding and clarity, always with the competitors in mind first.”

 

The PPBSO recommends that all judges accredited with the organization attend at least one official seminar every two years. Several adjudicators expected to make Saturday’s event are traveling more than 500 miles to attend.