Ontarians spoiled for choice November 17th
The 9 million or so people who populate the area around the city of Toronto have a rare opportunity to choose from two major piping and drumming events occurring within 50 miles of each other on Saturday, November 17th.
From 10 am on the twelfth annual George Sherriff Amateur Invitational Solo Piping Competition will take place at the grand Convocation Hall at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The event features twelve of the world’s most successful amateur and junior solo pipers who will compete in three contests: 6/8 Marches (10 am); Piobaireachd (1:30 pm); and March, Strathspey & Reel (7:30 pm). The competition honours the memory of George Sherriff (pictured right), a piper who lived in the Hamilton area and ehtusiastically taught many young students throughout his life.
Also that evening the Grade 1 Scottish Lion-78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band will perform its “Seanchaidh” production at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. The band has not performed at a formal concert in Ontario since 1998, and not in the Toronto area since 1994. Tickets to the event range from $25 to $45. The band will perform its show, which it debuted in 2003 along with the Celtic Accent Dance Company.
Dozens of enthusiasts will reportedly attempt to attend both events during the day.
p|d
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Ontario enthusiasts are ALWAYS spoiled for choice: excellent bands in a variety of grades, scads of good teachers and contests, a major center for travelling shows to stop, a large and well-organized PBA, and a large enough native Scottish or Scots-background to make it all go. Good on ya.
The 78th played Hamilton, Ontario in the Fall of 1999.
If you are snowed in on the Niagara penninsula on Saturday night come to the Optimist Hall in the Falls for a NRPPB ceilidh. See Events posted on this website.
The Living Arts Centre website shows tickets from $28-$48. Lets hope other bands in get afforded a FREE PLUG disguised as a news article on this site when they have their concerts.
Great Concert, 1st Class all the way !