Fourth Competition Southern MD First Place 2/4 March

The fourth competition was in The Celtic Society of Southern Maryland located at the Jefferson Patterson Park. Running late was one thing, but being detoured because of a fire which closed the road to the event was worrisome. I made it at 9am, the start of of the solo competition. After walking passed the registration booth once, finally made it there and found the times for 2/4 March and Piobaireachd.

I set up my folding chair and put the pipes together for warm up and tuning. The steward for the 2/4 March found me and gave me the time. I was two competitors behind. I had plenty of time to tune, the weather was hot but the pipes were tuning very well. I found that wearing the ear plug helped me in drowning the other pipers around me so I can lock in the drones to the chanter. the Troy in the MacLellan chanter was played in the same venue in my first ever competition, it is a little over a year old.

My first event was piobaireachd, "The Marquis of Argyll Salute". The tune was not ready, I had plenty of time to think about not playing it when I went in the long detour due to a fire. I had this feeling and decided to play "The Little Spree" instead of the "Marquis..", but when I was warming up my confidence was back. It was a mistake to play it, I ended up playing it safely and everything went south.

I did not place and the judge, John Bottomly, wrote that "the tune was cautiously approached to a bold tune". Other glitches on notes not being held. Drones were excellent but the chanter was a little thin.

After half an hour, the steward came and informed me that it was my turn. She was a student of Marsha as well. I approached the judge, Joyce McIntosh and told her my tune. After a brief warm up, off I went to play "Prince Charles Welcome to Lochaber". The drones were steady and only a crushed B doubling on the third line. The chanter was thin, second time. I was confident on the tune and everything went well in my opinion. First place out of 13 competitors. She wrote that I was being taught well. Since they were not ready with the medals I went to see my band. I was asked by the P/M to play with at the Massed Bands, but I left my pipes in the car, so I filmed instead.

After filming the band compete, I left for home. The band came in Second Place.

Things that needs to be done. New reed for the chanter since it was sounding thin. "The Little Spree" will have to come back for now. Playing steady throughout and flawless in the the embellishments will definitely elevate the scores. I will have to refocus practice and write down the priorities. Next competition is in June 7 at McHenry Maryland.

Started a piping business, Piper of Dunguncreek. I hope to grow in piping and the business.