Metro Cup gives pipers time to focus

Unlike most top solo piping competitions that keep competitors on edge, not divulging what they’ll be required to play often until only minutes before they take the stage, the Metro Cup Solo Piping Competition is giving pipers almost three full weeks to focus on the piobaireachd that they’ll have to play.

The event, which takes place on February 20th at the Ramada Inn in Newark, New Jersey, and is put on by the Metro Branch of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association,  has attracted 17 competitors in the invitational professional category, most not from the United States. In alphabetical order, the participants and their selected tunes are:  

• Chris Armstrong, Glasgow, “Lord Lovat’s Lament”

• Callum Beaumont, Bo’ness, Scotland, “Beloved Scotland”

• Duncan Bell, New Jersey, “Lady Margaret MacDonald’s Salute”

• John Bottomley, New York, “Lament for the Earl of Antrim”

• Glenn Brown, Glasgow, “Beloved Scotland”

• Jori Chisholm, Seattle, “Mary’s Praise”

• Brian Donaldson, Edinburgh, “Lament for the Viscount of Dundee”

• Alastair Dunn, Glasgow, “The Old Men of the Shells”

• Bruce Gandy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, “Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy

• Alasdair Gillies, Pittsburgh, “The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute”

• Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland, “Lament for the Children”

• William McCallum, Bearsden, Scotland, “Lament for the Children”

• Brian Meagher, “Lament for Donald of Laggan

• Robert Minnear, Atlanta, “Lament for the Viscount of Dundee”

• John Patrick, Fankerton, Scotland, “The MacDougalls’ Gathering”

• Alen Tully, Dublin, “His Father’s Lament for Donald Mackenzie”

• Gordon Walker, Galston, Scotland, “The Bells of Perth”

The 1 pm Piobaireachd event is followed by a Medley contest at 7 pm. The competition also features amateur events, named in honour of the late George M. Bell, who died on January 16th.

Both professional events will be judged by Jack Taylor, John Wassman and Bob Worrall. Glenn Brown will judge the amateur piobaireachd and Terry Tully the amateur MSR.

pipes|drums has made a monetary donation to the event.