Happy exam week everyone.................. (Insert nervous chuckle and crazy look)
We're in it deep this week, I estimate nearly 60% of our organization is writing exams this week. Crazy, but we get to spend the weekend with the grade 2 band and our wonderful festivus/christmas party is Saturday night, so at least we can look forward to that.
If anyone out there is remotely interested in pipe bands they'd know this is the year for concerts. The top three bands from the worlds will be performing major concerts in the British Isles this summer.
SLOT (3rd 2009) are performing at the "Pre-World's Concert" put on by the Phoenix Honda Glasgow Skye Pipe Band..... I think they need another sponsor! All kidding aside this organization peforms a great service to the pipe band community by bringing the premier bands to the concert hall stage to show us all how it's done.
The Friday before, the weekend before the worlds, the two best pipe bands in the business are actually sharing the stage in Belfast prior to the Ulster Championships. There's a dream ticket if I ever saw one. SFU (World Champions), FMM (2nd last year and have won so many times they're gonna change the Jubilee Trophy's name to Richard) will share the stage and put us all to shame.
Sure, this is impressive, I guess.... and yes, I'll probably be at both of these concerts......... but there is an even bigger show this summer.
That's right!
B IN THE PARK!!!!!!!!!!
This annual tradition, put on by the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band (Ottawa), has turned Ottawa into the pre-Maxville pipe band hub. Held the Thursday before the North American Championships each year highlights a few of the big bands that travel to Ontario for the games.
I think outside of the Sons of Scotland themselves we probably hold the record for performances at this event. It's a great way to start the weekend.
This year is uber special however as not only will the audience be treated to performances by the SASPB, and Sons of Scotland, but our good friends the Rocky Mountain Pipe Band will be rockin out as well!
That's right! THREE BANDS!!!!!!
Two of this years major contenders for the grade 2 prize list in Maxville, in one show!
P/M Sean Somers and Lead Drummer Ryan Sullivan are really bringing the heat east this year as our new mantra seems to be, Rocky Mountain is coming... be prepared!
So the prairies will be well represented this year in Maxville and especially at the B in the Park.
So dollar for dollar, including travel costs, I'd personally recommend our show over the British Concerts..... mostly because you can watch ours from a beer tent!
Anyways, we're all very excited to be taking the stage with two excellent pipe bands this year and we're looking forward to adding one more band to the prairie rivalry!
Alright I gotta go teach myself Micro-Economics before Wes and I leave for Fargo this afternoon.
Cheers everyone. Stay warm!
Sean
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A long overdue update
HO HO HO!!!!!!
Well it has been far to long since our last chat.
It's been a busy couple weeks for me. School has crunched for many of us college/university types and exams are already beginning. Hence the lack of blogging.
The bands have been incredibly busy the past couple weeks.
Grade 2 has been working very hard in the absence of Wes. Wesley has been recovering from various cold/flu/god only knows what, and it was up to Cam Ballantyne and the rest of the pipe corp leadership to fill his shoes for a few weeks. Job well done I say.
Practices rolled on despite some location issues and everyone came together to be in our best shape for the St. Andrew's Society Men's Dinner performance the last weekend of November.
Traditionally the drum corps have always neglected to learn any new music for this performance, opting rather to hold new scores until the concert in late January early February. I, on the other hand, felt it was time to use this performance to push the corp and challenge the new members.
We performed some traditional sets, 6/8's, 3/4's, that type of thing, and did a fabulous job of the Reel set wowing the crowd. We only brought 8 pipers out due to work, illness, etc. however it worked out well due to lack of stage space and the 7 sides in attendance.
The drum corp put a cap on the performance tearing through their first public performance of the Salute to Max Rayne.
It dawned on me in Montreal last year that there were only two grade 2 drum corps who can't play this salute, us... and another. I feel Max Rayne is a right of passage and the corp took up my challenge.
The rehearsal in the basement wasn't stellar... but not terrible. The performance on the other hand was second to none. One of those moments when, as a leader, you get to just look up and fight to keep your grin from showing.
The dinner was also the first roll out of our concert marketing. Tickets were available as of that friday for our winter concert: "The St. Andrew's Society Pipe Bands Live"... the concert is being held February 6th, 2010, at Jubilee Theatre. Tickets are $20, and available from myself or any band member.
We sold an all out record at the dinner this year.... 2...... but I have faith that we gained some fans that night and we shall see some new faces come February.
I have to thank Dan Sloan for helping us stay coordinated at the dinner, especially without Wes there. Cam and I were much more relaxed having Dan around to tell us where to be.
Also a huge thank you to Ed Bethune for picking up some concert tickets to take to the Society executive meeting this week, and for placing an ad in "the Saltire" (the society news letter) upcoming.
It's incredibly important to have friends like Dan and Ed involved and communicating with the band.
Next big event is the upcoming weekend rehearsal on the 19th, 20th, and of course the ensuing Christmas party.
Merry Christmas everybody, talk to you all soon!
Sean
Well it has been far to long since our last chat.
It's been a busy couple weeks for me. School has crunched for many of us college/university types and exams are already beginning. Hence the lack of blogging.
The bands have been incredibly busy the past couple weeks.
Grade 2 has been working very hard in the absence of Wes. Wesley has been recovering from various cold/flu/god only knows what, and it was up to Cam Ballantyne and the rest of the pipe corp leadership to fill his shoes for a few weeks. Job well done I say.
Practices rolled on despite some location issues and everyone came together to be in our best shape for the St. Andrew's Society Men's Dinner performance the last weekend of November.
Traditionally the drum corps have always neglected to learn any new music for this performance, opting rather to hold new scores until the concert in late January early February. I, on the other hand, felt it was time to use this performance to push the corp and challenge the new members.
We performed some traditional sets, 6/8's, 3/4's, that type of thing, and did a fabulous job of the Reel set wowing the crowd. We only brought 8 pipers out due to work, illness, etc. however it worked out well due to lack of stage space and the 7 sides in attendance.
The drum corp put a cap on the performance tearing through their first public performance of the Salute to Max Rayne.
It dawned on me in Montreal last year that there were only two grade 2 drum corps who can't play this salute, us... and another. I feel Max Rayne is a right of passage and the corp took up my challenge.
The rehearsal in the basement wasn't stellar... but not terrible. The performance on the other hand was second to none. One of those moments when, as a leader, you get to just look up and fight to keep your grin from showing.
The dinner was also the first roll out of our concert marketing. Tickets were available as of that friday for our winter concert: "The St. Andrew's Society Pipe Bands Live"... the concert is being held February 6th, 2010, at Jubilee Theatre. Tickets are $20, and available from myself or any band member.
We sold an all out record at the dinner this year.... 2...... but I have faith that we gained some fans that night and we shall see some new faces come February.
I have to thank Dan Sloan for helping us stay coordinated at the dinner, especially without Wes there. Cam and I were much more relaxed having Dan around to tell us where to be.
Also a huge thank you to Ed Bethune for picking up some concert tickets to take to the Society executive meeting this week, and for placing an ad in "the Saltire" (the society news letter) upcoming.
It's incredibly important to have friends like Dan and Ed involved and communicating with the band.
Next big event is the upcoming weekend rehearsal on the 19th, 20th, and of course the ensuing Christmas party.
Merry Christmas everybody, talk to you all soon!
Sean
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