Ontario workshops prepare for May 3rd weekend competition
Two ambitious one-day piping and drumming workshops within 50 kilometres of one another in Ontario this spring have worked hard to plan top-flight instruction for those attending, seemingly sweating all the details but one: the date.The new one-day Cobourg Highland Games workshop in Cobourg, Ontario, and the more established Masterclass Seminar event in Peterborough, Ontario, will overlap on May 3rd, each featuring famous names in piping and drumming from far away.
Instructors at the Peterborough May 3-4 workshop are Willie McCallum, piping; Jim Kilpatrick and Mark Passmore, snare drumming; Mike Cole and Tyler Fry, bass and tenor drumming; and Shannon Brooks, drum-major. The 2013 event was on April 27-28.
At the May 3rd Cobourg workshop are Ken Eller and Bob Worrall, piping; Gordon Brown, Drew Duthart, Reid Maxwell, snare drumming; and Johnny Rowe and Stevie McQuillan, bass and tenor drumming.
“The Cobourg games committee chose the May 3rd date since Peterborough’s workshop was held in April,” said Robin Lee of the Cobourg workshop. “Little did we know that they would change their date. It’s unfortunate that the two events are held on the same date. From our viewpoint this was purely coincidental.”Lee added that the Cobourg organizers chose May 3rd “as this was really the only weekend Gordon Brown was going to be available.”
The Peterborough workshop also offers a ceilidh on the Saturday night, while Cobourg is bringing in the Grade 1 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band for a concert.
The one-day Cobourg workshop is priced at $70, and Peterborough is $75 for one day or $125 for both days.
“I’d love to attend a Jim Kilpatrick workshop, and the chance to sit in on classes by Gordon Brown, Reid Maxwell, and Drew Duthart doesn’t come along very often. How’s a poor drummer to choose?” said an Ontario-based drummer who expressed his concern to pipes|drums.
Promotion for the Peterborough Seminar started last year. In August and September 2013 is when the two Facebook groups were created. This is easy to confirm. The purpose of these seminars is not to be in competition but to educate and promote the musical aspects of Scottish culture. I wish both seamers do extremely well.
Promotion for this year’s seminar began last year in June. In August and September of 2013 the two Facebook groups were created. Also on twitter. These are easy to confirm. The purpose of these seminars is not to be in competition but to educate and promote the musical aspects of Scottish culture that we all hold in high regards. I hope both seminars do extremely well.