Californians organize new Silver Cap piping contest in Glasgow
Billed as “piping’s premiere competition,” Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band members Richard King and Steve Foley have scheduled Thursday, August 13th, as the date of the first-ever “Silver Cap” invitational solo piping contest.
A total purse of £3,250 – including a £1,000 first-prize – will be awarded to prominent solo pipers playing their own choice of march, strathspey, reel, slow air, hornpipe and jig. As an entry “fee,” competitors must provide an original unpublished tune either by them or provided by another composer. The competitor must play the tune in the contest, and the compositions will be part of a subsequent collection.
Competitors will be obscured from view of the competition’s judge, Bob Worrall, who will assess performances from behind a screen made from banners of sponsors who donate a minimum of $500.
A chrome hubcap that King found several years ago, which he self-engraved with “Super Open Piping Champ,” served as inpsiration for the event. He and Foley discussed the concept of developing a formal competition, and the event is being funded by King personally, although it is open to sponsorship.
The event will be held at 4 pm at the Glasgow College of Piping and is not part of the Piping Live! festival.
“I want this competition to be laid back and not stressful for the competitors and for the people who are running it,” King said. “The competition scene needs a facelift. I think the prize money should reflect the level of dedication and practice that these competitors put in. I would love to have next year’s first place be closer to £2,000.
“I know the judge will be able to pretty much guess who is playing,” King added. “However, that slight bit of doubt might help to ensure that the judging is based solely on the music.”
Also part of the event is a composing competition available to all, with the works also part of the collection.
So far Alasdair Gillies of Pittsburgh has confirmed as a competitor. King said that Willie McCallum, Angus MacColl, Niall Stewart, Gordon Walker and Stuart Liddell have or will be invited.
What about the trophies for second, third, fourth and fifth place? Or is it based on the premise that There can be only one”? Seriously though
Glenn Brown has just accepted his invitation to compete in Silver Cap Piping Competition. Just one more competitor to go. We currently have two sponsors who will be listed on our site very soon. Also, the finishing touches will be made for the Tune Competition” People will be able to listen to submitted tunes
What about the trophies for second, third, fourth and fifth place? Or is it based on the premise that There can be only one”? Seriously though
Glenn Brown has just accepted his invitation to compete in Silver Cap Piping Competition. Just one more competitor to go. We currently have two sponsors who will be listed on our site very soon. Also, the finishing touches will be made for the Tune Competition” People will be able to listen to submitted tunes
Yo, Holmes. I hope that the L.A.S. ain’t plannin’ on lo-jackin the rims from the L.A.P.B.’s new Mercedes to give away as trophies. Ya pickin’ up what I’m layin’ down? Aawight dawgs. Peace, I’m out…..
false. the link to the contests website explains the origins of the hub cap
From their webiste… Prizes: Solo Competition Prizes: 1st Place-£1000.00 2nd Place-£750.00 3rd Place-£600.00 4th Place-£450.00 5th Place-£300.00 6th Place-£150.00
Just realised you meant trophies, rather than prizes. I’d happily just have the cash! Not that I can enter mind you. lol.
Hello Friends. The trophy will only be awarded to the winner. All competitors however, will recieve their cash and a consestant gift from the SilverCap. Each placing will have a cash value. Thanks for all the positive feedback so far. Steve and Richard.
How exciting – a MUSIC competition for pipers. I’m there for sure.
Do you reckon it’s ok to submit a duet for the tune composition competition? And secondly, are entrants limited to one entry per composer do you think?
I hope to hear the composition Genevieve Dimepupil” at that contest. “
JanetteMontague The tune competition is open to duet tunes as well. You may enter as many tunes as you like. Just remember to have your tune entered in the tune competition, you need to supply a recording of the tune as well. Also, any tunes submitted to the Silver Cap tune competition will possibly be used in a future Silver Cap music book. More than likely the tunes which receive the most online votes will be the ones which will make it into the book. On the contact page of the website you will find the appropriate email addresses for any further questions. Richard King
Fabulous, thank you so much. This competition seems to attempt to put right quite a few anomalies all in one- encourages new compositions, has an international judge, nor only that, but one who is competent to do the job, – judge doesn’t know who’s playing (at least not seeing them) player is playing’ music’, not proving how good their memory is, decent prize money, good after- products coming out of it and I’m sure, more. Oh and arranged by people outwith Scotland – all this will surely help encourage people to be a bit more broad minded – you know that theire’s a WORLD of pipers out there, not just a few sqauare miles.
there’s, not theire’s!
Willie McCallum has just accepted his invitation to compete in the Silver Cap piping competition.
To pick up on the international element mentioned below. The Todds Bar recital has always featured non-UK players from its very first year as well as using non-UK judges. In some years, the mix of the panel (which is not published) has been a majority of non-UK judges. So it’s nothing new in that respect. All the best to the guys for putting the event on.
Yo, Holmes. I hope that the L.A.S. ain’t plannin’ on lo-jackin the rims from the L.A.P.B.’s new Mercedes to give away as trophies. Ya pickin’ up what I’m layin’ down? Aawight dawgs. Peace, I’m out…..
false. the link to the contests website explains the origins of the hub cap
From their webiste… Prizes: Solo Competition Prizes: 1st Place-£1000.00 2nd Place-£750.00 3rd Place-£600.00 4th Place-£450.00 5th Place-£300.00 6th Place-£150.00
Just realised you meant trophies, rather than prizes. I’d happily just have the cash! Not that I can enter mind you. lol.
Hello Friends. The trophy will only be awarded to the winner. All competitors however, will recieve their cash and a consestant gift from the SilverCap. Each placing will have a cash value. Thanks for all the positive feedback so far. Steve and Richard.
How exciting – a MUSIC competition for pipers. I’m there for sure.
Do you reckon it’s ok to submit a duet for the tune composition competition? And secondly, are entrants limited to one entry per composer do you think?
I hope to hear the composition Genevieve Dimepupil” at that contest. “
JanetteMontague The tune competition is open to duet tunes as well. You may enter as many tunes as you like. Just remember to have your tune entered in the tune competition, you need to supply a recording of the tune as well. Also, any tunes submitted to the Silver Cap tune competition will possibly be used in a future Silver Cap music book. More than likely the tunes which receive the most online votes will be the ones which will make it into the book. On the contact page of the website you will find the appropriate email addresses for any further questions. Richard King
Fabulous, thank you so much. This competition seems to attempt to put right quite a few anomalies all in one- encourages new compositions, has an international judge, nor only that, but one who is competent to do the job, – judge doesn’t know who’s playing (at least not seeing them) player is playing’ music’, not proving how good their memory is, decent prize money, good after- products coming out of it and I’m sure, more. Oh and arranged by people outwith Scotland – all this will surely help encourage people to be a bit more broad minded – you know that theire’s a WORLD of pipers out there, not just a few sqauare miles.
there’s, not theire’s!
Willie McCallum has just accepted his invitation to compete in the Silver Cap piping competition.
To pick up on the international element mentioned below. The Todds Bar recital has always featured non-UK players from its very first year as well as using non-UK judges. In some years, the mix of the panel (which is not published) has been a majority of non-UK judges. So it’s nothing new in that respect. All the best to the guys for putting the event on.
Just a quick update, Niall Stewart has just confirmed his participation in the Silver Cap piping competition. We hope to make it possible for people to pre-purchase tickets online. Most seats will be 10 pound. The front row might be 20 pounds. Please check the website in a couple of weeks for this option.
Tickets for the Silver Cap Piping Competition are now available online. Please visit the silver cap’s website to purchase. The link to purchase the tickets is on the Home page. Seating is limited to the first 80 purchased tickets. We only have 70 left!
Tickets for the Silver Cap Piping Competition are now available online. Please visit Silver Cap’s website to purchase. The link to purchase the tickets is on the Home page. Seating is limited to the first 80 purchased tickets. We only have 70 left.
Just a quick update, Niall Stewart has just confirmed his participation in the Silver Cap piping competition. We hope to make it possible for people to pre-purchase tickets online. Most seats will be 10 pound. The front row might be 20 pounds. Please check the website in a couple of weeks for this option.
Tickets for the Silver Cap Piping Competition are now available online. Please visit the silver cap’s website to purchase. The link to purchase the tickets is on the Home page. Seating is limited to the first 80 purchased tickets. We only have 70 left!
Tickets for the Silver Cap Piping Competition are now available online. Please visit Silver Cap’s website to purchase. The link to purchase the tickets is on the Home page. Seating is limited to the first 80 purchased tickets. We only have 70 left.