The 2015 Ulster Festival of
Solo Piping and Drumming
Tenor Drumming
18th April 2015
Monkstown Community School
Closing Date 28th March 2015
General Information & Rules
•Pipers & Drummers sign in from 9.30am,
•Piping at 10.00am and Drumming at 10.30am subject to entry numbers.
•Only registered members of bands in membership of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association or an affiliated association are eligible to take part.
•Any Grade may be split depending on entry numbers.
•Uniforms must be worn.
•Pipers will have a maximum 3 minutes for tuning in the competition hall.
•Competitors will be required to guarantee that their practice room will be left as found. Competitors/Bands will be held financially responsible for any damage caused in the classrooms.
•In drumming contests the number of accompanying pipers is limited to two. Drummers and accompanying pipers must wear uniform.
•A competitor having cause to protest must lodge same with a deposit of £10.00 with the contest secretary before the presentation of prizes. The deposit will be returned if the protest is upheld.
•Smoking in all government buildings, including schools, is strictly illegal and forbidden. This rule will be strictly enforced and a fine of £30 will be levied on any person found to contravene the No Smoking rule.
•Catering will be available during the day
Contest Grades
Novice
Competitors taking part in the novice grades are not required to wear a uniform. Practice Chanter and Drum Pad competitions are reserved for individuals who have not competed with a band. The Pipe Chanter and Novice Snare Drumming competitions are open to players who have competed with a pipe band. The Novice Snare Drummers do not require piper accompaniment.
Juvenile
The Juvenile grades will be split at U13, U16 & U18 level. Players may enter any section allowed by their age i.e. 14 year old could play in U18 but once they move to the higher section they cannot move back.
Age restrictions are based on the players age on the 1st November 2014
Junior:
Confined to competitors 18 or over on 1st Nov 2014 who have not won a 1st prize in a previous All Ireland Solo Contest (Junior Grade) or have not hitherto been graded Intermediate.
Intermediate:
Confined to players who have hitherto been graded as Intermediate & players who have won an All Ireland Junior Grade. The second placed competitor in the Junior 2014 All Ireland may elect to play in this grade and thereafter will be graded Intermediate.
Senior:
Confined to players who have been hitherto been graded as Senior Soloists, players who have won a first prize in the All Ireland Intermediate grade are automatically graded as Senior.
Piobaireachd Competitions
Piobaireachd B: Players in this grade will not be eligible to enter the Open Grade Competition.
Open Piobaireachd: Players in this Grade will not be eligible for the B Competition.
Playing Requirements
•In all competitions where a March, Strathspey and Reel are to be played each tune should be a minimum of 4 parts and should be played without stopping between tunes.
•Competitors in the Senior March, Strathspey and Reel competitions must submit two sets.
•In the Senior Piping competition the set to play will be chosen by the Adjudicator prior to the performance.
•In the Senior Drumming competition a draw for the set to play will take place approximately one hour before the start of the grade.
•The overall result in the Senior competitions will be based on the on the combined scores of the MSR and Hornpipe & Jig competitions. Ties will be split on MSR preference.
•Competitors in the Open Piobaireachd competition must submit two Piobaireachd. The Piobaireachd to play will be chosen by the Adjudicator prior to the performance.
Novice Drumming
Novice Drum Pad:...... Four parts of Quick March, in any time signature
Advanced Drum Pad:...... Four part 2/4 March
Novice Snare Drum:...... Four parts of Quick March, in any time signature
Drumming
Juvenile U13:...... Four parts of Quick March, in any time signature
Juvenile U16:...... March, Strathspey and Reel
Juvenile U18:...... March, Strathspey and Reel
Junior: ...... March, Strathspey and Reel
Intermediate:...... March, Strathspey and Reel
Senior M.S.R.:...... March, Strathspey and Reel (Two Sets to be Submitted.)
Senior Hornpipe & Jig...... Hornpipe & Jig at least two parts each
Novice Piping
Novice Chanter:...... Four parts of Quick March, in any time signature
Advanced Practice Chanter ...... Four part 2/4 March
Pipe Chanter:...... Four parts of Quick March, in any time signature
Piping
Juvenile U13:...... Four parts of Quick March, in any time signature
Juvenile U16:...... Four part 2/4 March
Juvenile U18:...... March, Strathspey and Reel
Junior:...... March Strathspey and Reel
Intermediate:...... March Strathspey and Reel
Senior M.S.R.:...... March, Strathspey and Reel (Two Sets to be Submitted.)
Senior Hornpipe & Jig...... Hornpipe & Jig at least two parts each
Piobaireachd B...... Piobaireachd
Open PiobaireachdPiobaireachd (Two tunes to be Submitted.)
Prize Money
Drumming
Intermediate:...... 1st £30 | 2nd £20 | 3rd £15
Senior:...... 1st £75 | 2nd £50 | 3rd £30
Piping
Intermediate:...... 1st £30 | 2nd £20 | 3rd £15
Senior:...... 1st £75 | 2nd £50 | 3rd £30
Open Piobaireachd:...... 1st £50 | 2nd £30 | 3rd £20
Prizes
A perpetual trophy will accompany the medals for 1st prize in each grade. Medals will be presented for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each grade except the beginner competitions where achievement awards will be presented.
Entries
Closing Date: 28thMarch 2015
•Piobaireachd Entry fee is £10 (€ 15). Both Grades
•All other competition grades £4 ( € 6).
•Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (Nl Branch) Solo Piping and Drumming
•DO NOT SEND CASH COINS IN THE POST
•Entries on the attached form only please and must be completed in all sections using codes provided.
•The appropriate fee / fees must accompany each entry.
•No entries will be accepted by phone, entries sent without payment will be returned
•Please include contact details on form.
•Please forward all entries to:
•Mervyn Herron,
9 Ballydown Meadows,
Banbridge,
BT32 4QX
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