Cap Caval marks return of Summerside Gathering with concert and contest success

Summerside, Prince Edward Island – June 25-26, 2011 – After a two-year hiatus the Summerside Highland Gathering returned June 25-26 to the College of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts of Canada with a much anticipated concert by Bagad Cap Caval, the band’s first appearance in North America. The audience was a mix of Canadian Maritimes pipe band people, College families and volunteers and the local Acadian community. The band was pleased with the exuberant welcome and appreciation from the audience, which called Cap Caval back to the stage for an encore with a standing ovation.

Cap Caval’s participation in the gathering gave the Acadian community its first real reason to visit the college, and the Acadian folk group Visten performed to an eclectic mix of Breton, Francophone-Canadians, Anglophone pipers and drummers and locals at what has been described by some highly experienced beer tent attendees as “the best beer tent atmosphere ever.”

The solo piping and drumming, pipe band and Highland Dance contests took place on the Saturday and Sunday. The conditions were overcast and quite chilly on day one, but warmed up considerably for day two, though the clouds remained – but the rain held off until after massed bands. Professional piper of the games was James MacHattie, while Jeremey Keddy was the Professional drummer of the games.

According to College of Piping Education Director James MacHattie, the organization is now preparing for the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge next week, with the College of Piping bands staging at least three different performances over their two-day trip to PEI.

Saturday Results

Grade 1 (medley)
1st 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) (ensemble preference)
2nd Bagad Cap Caval

Grade 2 (MSR)
1st Fredericton Society of St. Andrews

Grade 3 (medley)
1st College of Piping (Gr4)
2nd Dartmouth & District
3rd 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) (Gr3)

Grade 4 (march medley)
1st College of Piping

Grade 5 (medley)
1st 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) (Gr5)
2nd College of Piping (Gr5)
3rd Dartmouth & District (G5)

Judges for all events: Donald Lindsay, Glenna Mackay-Johnstone (piping); John Fisher (drumming); Bill Livingstone (ensemble)

Sunday
Grade 1 (MSR)
1st Bagad Cap Caval
2nd Fredericton Society of St. Andrews (Gr2)

Grade 2 (medley)
1st Fredericton Society of St. Andrews

Grade 3 (MSR)
1st Dartmouth & District
2nd 78th Highlanders (Gr3)

Grade 4 (medley)
1st College of Piping

Grade 5 (march medley)
1st College of Piping (Gr5)
2nd 78th Highlanders (Gr5)
3rd Dartmouth & District (Gr5)

Judges for all events: Bill Livingstone, Glenna Mackay-Johnstone (piping); John Fisher (drumming); Donald Lindsay (ensemble)

Professional Solo Piping
Piobaireachd
1st James MacHattie
2nd Brittney Otto
3rd Alexis Meunier

Judge: Bill Livingstone

March
1st Sylvain Hamon
2nd James MacHattie
3rd Brittney Otto

Judge: Donald Lindsay

Strathspey & Reel
1st James MacHattie
2nd Brittney Otto
3rd Nick van Ouwerkerk

Judge: Bill Livingstone

Hornpipe & Jig
1st Sylvain Hamon
2nd James MacHattie
3rd Brittney Otto

Judge: Donald Lindsay

Professional Solo Snare Drumming
MSR
1st Jeremy Keddy
2nd Tangi Le Boucher
3rd Sam Ramsay

Judge: John Fisher

Hornpipe & Jig
1st Jeremy Keddy
2nd Tangi Le Boucher
3rd Sam Ramsay

Judge: John Fisher