It's time for the Tasmanian State Pipe Band & Solo Championships to round out the Tasmanian season before it returns in October. This event will be accompanied by a single day Workshop to be held on the Sunday. Interested parties can review the workshop which will be posted here in coming days in addition to the Pipe Bands Tasmania Facebook.

Key Points:

Indicative start time 0930
Event to be held at the Valentine Park, Campbell Town
Solo competition to be held in harmony at opposing ends of the competition field
Entries Close April 20.

Key Terms & Conditions:

All competing bands must supply update to date Public Liability insurance certificates to the Pipe Bands Australia, Tasmania Branch
The Organiser reserves the right to modify the number of elements required to be played depending on the number of competitors listed. Entrants will be advised by email if this is the case.
In the event a competitor will be accompanied by another they will be required to compete prior to band elements.
Should any band and/ or soloist not meet the expected performance standard required for a particular element said party will receive a feedback sheet only and no placing.

Band Elements:

4B Selection of Marches
4x 2-part March Music
Includes Drill & Dress Inspection
Includes March Off
4B Medley
Musical Selection of own choice no less than 3 minutes no more than 5 minutes
4A March, Strathspey & Reel
2/4 March, Strathspey & Reel, each 4 parts. Strathspey and Reel may consist of 2x2 parted tunes for both components (totalling 4 parts for each strathspey and reel)
4B Limited Area Quickstep
Novice A
Four parts 2/4 march (may be 2x2), four parts strathspey (may be 2x2), four parts reel (may be 2x2)
Novice B
2x 2 part March music

Other Elements:

Drum Majors Flourish (Solo)
Interested Drum Majors may elect to participate in this competition.
Band Display
Bands may elect via the entry form if they wish to participate in a musical display. This element will not be judged and is provided for the entertainment of visitors. Length and availability will be dependent on the final program.

Solo Piping

A Grade
Element 1 - 1x 2/4 March or 4 or more parts (Submit 3)
Element 2 - 1x Strathspey or 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 of each)
Element 3 - 1 x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1x jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 of each)
B Grade
Element 1 - 1x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (Submit 2)
Element 2 - 1x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1x Rell of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 of each)
Element 3 -1x Hornpipe of 4 or more parts into 1x Jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 2)
C Grade
Element 1 - 1x 2/4 March of 4 parts (own choice)
Element 2 - 1x Strathspey of 4 parts into 1x Reel of 4 parts (own choice)
Element 3 - 1x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1x jig of 4 parts (own choice)
D Grade
Element 1 - 1x 2/4 March of 4 parts (own choice)
Element 2 - 1x Strathspey of 2 parts into 1x Reel of 2 parts (own choice)
Novice
Element 1 - 2 parts of 2/4 March (own choice)
Element 2 - 2 parts of Slow Air/ Slow March (i.e. 2 parts with repeats or 32 bars of music)
Beginner
Please note, competitors in beginner are to play on a practice chanter. Competitors should have been learning the chanter for one year or less prior to July 2024 and may compete in this section for one solo contest season only.
Element 1: Two parts of own choice March style music

Solo Drumming:

Beginner: Competitors are to play on a practice pad and are to be accompanied by a piper on a practice chanter. Competitors should have been been learning the snare for one year or less prior to July 2024 and may compete in this section for one solo constest season only.
Elements 1: Two parts of own choice March style music. Must begin with introductory rolls.
Novice: Snare (learner), Tenor and Bass
Element 1: Four parts of simple, or four parts of Compound march time.
D Grade: Snare, Tenor and Bass (Elementary)
Element 1: Four Parts of Simple, or four parts of Compound march time.
C Grade: Snare, Tenor and Bass (Sub Intermediate)
Element 1: March, Strathspey and Reel, each of two parts only traditional style.
Element 2: Two or more parts of Hornpipe and jig
B Grade: Snare, Tenor and Bass (Intermediate)
Element 1: March, Strathspey and Reel, each of four or more parts, traditional style.
Element 2: Four parts of Hornpipe into four parts of Jig
A Grade: Snare, Tenor and Bass (Open)
Element 1: March, Strathspey and Rell, each of four or more parts, traditional style
Element 2: Four parts of Hornpipe into four parts of Jig.
Note: All competitors across all grade are to commence their performance with two three paced rolls. All competitors to play both elements where indicated and must be correctly attired in traditional Highland dress. For beginner competitors, traditional highland dress is optional. Backing tracks may be used in the absence of a piper but must be of good quality with a click track.

Pipe Bands Australia Contest Regulations
Contest Elements can be reviewed here: Contest Regulations

Enquiries
Can be sent to the Branch Secretary c/- tas@pipebandsaustralia.com.au

Adjudicators:

Contest Supervisor
Stewart Ims

Piping
David Teleford (Victoria)
David Telford is Assistant Secretary to Pipe Bands Victoria and the Secretary of the Australian Championships 2024 Committee. David is an active member of the Australian National Adjudicator Panel in piping. He is a regular adjudicator at pipe band contests in Victoria and recently in New South Wales.

David started his piping career with Moorabbin Pipe Band in 1978 under the tutelage of Eric Christie and Bill Bruce, playing his first Grade 1 contest with the band at Daylesford HG in 1980.
David played solos for 25 years winning aggregate contests in every grade along with the silver medal in piobaireachd and the MacLennan gold medal prize.

David later moved to Nunawading PB in G2, and then to City of Melbourne Highland PB in G1 as pipe sergeant where the band won contests across Australia and placed 3rd in NZ. After 7 years in the UK, he returned to playing with Moorabbin in G2. He currently plays with Old Scotch Collegians Association (OSCA) PD in G4A winning Victorian and ACT band Championships. OSCA PD is looking forward to travelling to Scotland in August this year to compete at the World Championships.

An educator by profession, David is currently teaching Year 12 Legal Studies and Business Management at Pakenham Secondary College in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne. Finally, David hopes to live long enough to see his beloved St. Kilda FC win another Premiership.
Drumming
Dougal McConnell - Vice Principal Drumming, Tasmania
Dougal McConnell was introduced to snare drumming at the age of 11 prior to becoming a member of the City of Newtown Pipe Band in Geelong until, at the age of 13, he transferred to The City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band. Within that time he held the role of Lead Drummer for the Victorian Pipes and Drums Massed Bands performances.

Keen to advance, he progressed through the levels to achieve solo performance awards in Australia and the United Kingdom. He has held the Open Snare state titles of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

From 1995 Dougal was a member of the England based Clan Sutherland Pipe Band, a highly competitive and successful Band, which in 1997 was awarded the Champion of Champions of Grade 2, and 2nd place at the World Pipe Band Championships (Grade 2).

Dougal was a guest player with the Victoria Police Pipe Band during their victorious trip the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland in 1998.
He has also competed with the City of Blacktown Pipe Band, Bangkok Thistle Pipe Band and with the Western Australia Police Pipe Band as his work as a hotelier has taken him from place to place.

Dougal was with The Pipeband Club in Sydney, where he became Leading Drummer, winning multiple Australian Grade One Championships, and a finals finish at the World Pipe Band Championships the band’s 1st year in Grade One.

A keen supporter of playing music for enjoyment, Dougal tutored the Warrnambool & District Pipes & Drums, Watsonia RSL and City of Melbourne, and has composed a drum fanfare, “The Drag Queen” specifically for players in different bands to get together and enjoy music.

Dougal and his family are now living in Launceston, Tasmania Australia, where he is a Drumming Adjudicator with Pipe Bands Tasmania and Pipe Bands Australia, and has recently been a guest player with the Western Australia Police Pipe Band, winning the Australian Championships again in 2016. He enjoys helping players develop, particularly working on preparation strategies and score selection.

Ensemble
Rob Bennett - National Principal Ensemble & Adjudication
Rob joined the Rats in 1961 as a learner drummer. In 2014 in conjunction with the APBA College Victorian Drumming Panel Role he produced the VCE “Highland Drumming” list of works book for students wishing to study Pipe Band Drumming in the music program.

Drill & Dress
To Be Confirmed