Mackay, Chamberlain sweep Balmoral Classic

Pittsburgh – November 20-22, 2015 – The ninth annual Balmoral Classic United States Junior Solo Junior Bagpiping & Solo Snare Drumming Championships were won, respectively, by Gavin Mackay of Kitchener, Ontario, and MacKenzie Chamberlain of Sarnia, Ontario. Mackay and Chamberlain each won both events in piping and drumming. Twelve pipers and four drummers competed. The competition is produced by the Balmoral School of Piping and Drumming and was held in the McGonigle Theatre, Central Catholic High School, in the university district of Pittsburgh.

Over the weekend, piping judges Bill Livingstone and Bill Wotherspoon and drumming judge Gordon Bell performed in recital, with Wotherspoon giving a talk on piobaireachd at the University of Pittsburgh. McCallum Bagpipes was one of the sponsors of the event.

Solo Piping
Piobaireachd
1st Gavin Mackay, “Clan Campbell’s Gathering”
2nd Kathleen Brown, “The MacGregors’ Salute”
3rd Stanton Man, “The Park Piobaireachd” (#2)
4th Steven MacDonald, “The Battle of the Pass of Crieff”
5th Colin Tait, “The Big Spree”

MSR
1st Gavin Mackay, “Dr. E.G. MacKinnon,” “The Islay Ball, “Kalabakan”
2nd Steven MacDonald, “The Duchess of Edinburgh,” “Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn,” “The Cockerel in the Creel”
3rd Stanton Man, “Leaving Lunga,” “John Roy Stewart,” “The Rejected Suitor”
4th Kathleen Brown, “Stirlingshire Militia,” “The Doune of Invernochty,” “Alick C. MacGregor”
5th Jack O’Connell, “Major Manson at Clachanstrusal,” “Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn,” “Major David Manson”

Duncan Bell, Bill Livingstone and Bill Wotherspoon judged both events.

Solo Snare Drumming
MSR
1st MacKenzie Chamberlain
2nd Cameron McCall
3rd Jeremiah Whitney
4th Dan Evans

Hornpipe & Jig
1st MacKenzie Chamberlain
2nd Cameron McCall
3rd Jeremiah Whitney
4th Dan Evans

Gordon and Donald Bell judged both events.