Current Eastern United States Pipe Band Association Rankings.

Piping Grade IV Sr (745 pipers) Piobaireachd Only


Rank Name (Association ID) Branch Total Points

1 Lawrence Selden (80996) Southwest 68

2 David Madock (81751) Mid-Atlantic 58

2 John Daggett, Jr (80353) Northeast 58

4 Michael J. Capone (80492) Northeast 55

5 Robert W. O'Connor (81131) Mid-Atlantic 54

5 Robert Strother (80901) Ohio Valley 54

7 Andrew J Douglas (81558) Ohio Valley 48

7 Jack Barry (81545) Southern 48

9 Jerald Yaden (81439F) Southern 47

10 Daniel Cheuvront (81863) Northeast 46

10 Chris Benton (80880) Mid-Atlantic 46

12 Adriel Yaryan (80752) Southern 43

12 David McCrabb (80998) Mid-Atlantic 43

14 Josh Whitson (81393) Ohio Valley 36

15 Scott Solomons (80772) Metro 35

16 Timothy Stakem (80731) Mid-Atlantic 34

16 David McMath (81657) Northeast 34

18 Matthew Cornetto (80518) Metro 33

19 Peter Lockwood (80634) Northeast 32

19 James Lee (81942) Other 32







Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) is the govering body of bagpiping in the 26 eastern states. Highland games are sanctioned by EUSPBA and have a representative at each game. Judges must pass strict standards of testing and have competed at the highest levels themselves. Most are world class. All in all, a pretty fun hobby. I've made a lot of new friends and enjoy traveling to the various highland games. Currently tied for 5th.



I had arthroscopic knee surgery on July 11 and missed the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in NC on July the 12. I would loved to have competed and hopefully placed to add more points, but I'm thankful my knee is pain free. I'm doing physical therapy now at Mountain River Physical Therapy. Great place. (A free commercial for Justin, Nikki, Jeff, Chris and everyone.)



My next competition is Ligonier Highland Games, near Pittsburgh, September 6. Very large venue and great fun. It is a full piobaireachd and I'll play Struan Robertson's Salute.

Duncan MacRae of Kintail's Lament

I played "Duncan MacRae of Kintail's Lament" for the first time in competition at the Kentucky Scottish Games. I learned this tune at The College of Piping and really love it. A very sad, mournful tune that has a lot of music and expression in it. It's in 4 parts with each part having it's own interpretation of grieving. Mourning, celebration, anger and reluctant acceptance must all be conveyed by the musical presentation. Piobaireachd has lots of lights and shadows that must be handled delicately. Duncan MacRae has no taorluath or crunluath variation, but "Colin MacRae of Invereenate's Lament", is a very similar tune with these varations. I was very pleased to receive 3rd place out of 14 competitors. You'll notice the judge is following the tune in the Piobaireachd Society book.

Grade 4 Practice Video

Grade 4 pipers practicing Bathgate Highland Gathering, Heights of Dargai, and Dr. Ross's 50th Return to the Argyllshire Gathering. These pipers are jr. high age and are darn good. They were undefeated as a Grade 5 band last year. Press the play button on the lower left side corner.

Lemon Lover Video

Yes, I know, this has nothing to do with bagpipes. This is my grandson, Big Will, eating a lemon. He really does love them. Press the play button.

Prince Edward Island Snow Storm Video

A nice typical day on the Prince Edward Island. : )

Grade 3 Band Practice Video

Grade 3 band practicing in the main hall. Drones are shut off and playing chanter only. The tune is a 2/4 march, Balmoral Highlanders. Scott MacAulay, College director, is seen in the foreground. Matt MacLaine, principal piping instructor, is front row right. Yes, that's a young lady behind Matt. Ally Walker is an outstanding solo piper also. Be sure to press the play button.

Murdo's Wedding and Flett from Flotta

Here's a couple of fun tunes. It wasn't all piobaireachd at the College. The tune Flett from Flotta has an interesting story behind it. Donald MacLeod, MBE, was a very prominent piper of old in the Scottish regiments. The regimental silver was on it's way down to London for a big "do" and Donald and another soldier were guarding the silver on a train. While sitting on the crates containing the silver, they played their chanters to while away the time. Donald said they should write a tune to pass the time and when the tune was finished they were looking for a title. He asked the big soldier what was his name and where was he from. The rest is (as they say) history. The tune was written after Donald observed the peculiar gait of Flett. The rhythm is supposed to reflect his awkward walking style. Helps with the phrasing of the tune if you think of it like that, too. Flett from Flotta is the second tune and I hope you enjoy it.

College of Piping on Prince Edward Island, Canada

In my quest to improve as a piobaireachd player, I arrived at the College of Piping on Prince Edward Island. Here are a few pictures of my adventure.

Let's see. That's Brian, a student at Holland College. Danielle, cello player and one of the daughters of the Bed & Breakfast owners. On the couch from l to r: Christina, another daughter and harpist. Alyssa, pianist and daughter. Last but not least, Charlene, a physiotherapist student from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, doing intern work at a hospital on the island. This is the commons area of the B & B. Charlene and Brian were residents also.

Brian wearing a MacKay tartan kilt and holding my pipes. He really did play them. Well, kind of.

Lindsay Munro, an award winning highland dancer and instructor.

Little Hannah is 18 months old. Most mornings we had breakfast together. Alyssa would usually babysit her while her mother worked at the potato processing plant. Potatoes are a huge crop on PEI.

Brandon Summers and Principal Piping instructor Matt MacLaine. Matt is one fantastic teacher. If I'm fortunate to teach, I'll teach like him and my home instructor Winkie Taylor. Both are very musical and bring out the best in each student.

Drumming instructors Ashley Brockway and Chris Coleman. I think they have a total of 80 students.

Jean Walker, finance director. Tim Horton's is a very popular drink in Canada.

Patsy Martin, registrar. Great lady, she takes care of the paperwork with Scotland.

One of the private study rooms. Plenty of space and a sound proof room to get the pipes going.

Tools of the trade. Sheet music for Clan Campbell's Gathering. Practice chanter. Laptop with a recording of the lecture and canntaireachd. Cell phone. Water.

4th place trophy from the 2007 World Pipeband Championships in Glasgow, Scotland

These pipes were actually played in battle at Culloden. Pipers always led the Scots into battle and the current Scottish regiments of the British army have they're own pipers.

Chalkboard from a piobaireachd lecture of Duncan MacRae of Kintail's Lament. Yes, that is canntaireachd and yes, we had to sing it before we played it. Great stuff

The College of Piping pipebands are consistent winners in North America and Scotland. They've got the hardware to prove it.

Looking out to the Atlantic Ocean. It's pretty amazing this much water can actually freeze over. You can see an island in the distance.

Ice fishing is popular on PEI. This is looking out into the harbor.

The Confederation Bridge links PEI to the mainland at New Brunswick. It's the world's longest bridge over ice covered waters and is 13 km long. The toll is $41.50 Canadian.

My room at the B & B. Very roomy, private bath, queen size bed, my own thermostat, and private entrance. All that with a daily breakfast, an always plentiful and hearty dinner, weekly laundry and bedding change for a very reasonable $150 Canadian. Willowgreen Farm, check out the website.

I had about a 2 minute walk to the College from my room at the Bed and Breakfast. This is pretty typical for the lane, nice and snow covered. Temperatures were around mid-teens to mid-twenties, with the occasional single digit.

A beautiful day at the College. When the sky is this clear, it's COLD.