Lorient brings back qualifying contest for UK players

The MacCrimmon Trophy competition at the annual Festival Interceltique in Lorient, Brittany, will see a return to a qualifying competition for UK-based pipers wishing to get in to the event that showcases section in Irish, Breton and Scottish music.

 

The qualifying competition on Saturday, February 21st, at 7 pm at the College of Piping in Glasgow is open to the first 10 entrants. Three competitors will be selected by judges Tom Johnstone and Loic Denis. Johnstone has taken over as the Scottish delegate for the festival.

 

Each competitor at the Glasgow qualifier has to perform a five-to-six-minute medley of Scottish music of their own choice. Johnstone says that the selection “should reflect a degree of traditionalism whilst incorporating the players’ interpretation and innovation.”

 

Before the qualifier was reinstated, UK-based players were simply invited by the Festival delegate.

 

Pipers from Ireland, Australia, Canada and other countries apparently will continue to be asked to participate in the Lorient event, with no official qualifying competition.

 

Johnstone also said that the final MacCrimmon Trophy will require a medley for the Scottish section, rather than a traditional MSR. He said that the Scottish medley puts the section in line with the selection requirements for the Breton and Irish music components.

 

Johnstone added that so far only five pipers have entered for the February 21st qualifier. The qualifier offers prize-money of 100, 60 and 30 pounds for first, second and third. Entries may be made by contacting Tom Johnstone by e-mail.

 

2009 marks the 29th year of the MacCrimmon Trophy competition, which was previously sponsored by Macallan Distillery. Prize money for this year’s event, which is scheduled for August 2nd, totals 4400 euros.