General News
9 September, 2024
Horsham City Pipe Band host second successful Highland music competition
A rousing day of Highland Music was held in Horsham on Saturday
A rousing day of Highland Music was heard throughout Horsham on Saturday September 6 as Highland Music Bands vied for honours in the beautiful setting of the Horsham Botanic Gardens.
This is the second year the Victorian competitions have been held in Horsham.
Secretary of the Pipe Band Victoria Professor Euan M Wallace AM provided an account of the second annual Highland Competitions.
"Congratulations to Horsham City Pipe Band on hosting the day, particularly to Horsham Band Life Member Kaye Vincent for being appointed Chieftain of the Contests," he said.
A Miniband Contest was held across Grades 2, 3, and 4B. with City of Melbourne taking out Grade 2 and 3 and Horsham City Pipe Band taking home Grade 4B SoM and Medley.
"This is the first time the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band has competed in their newly upgraded Grade 2 - well done Melbourne - and it was lovely to welcome back City of Adelaide (Gd 3) who played here last year.
"Grade 4B was hotly contested between three - yes three - City of Horsham bands."
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Mr Wallace praised the contestants, "Well done to all minibands. It was a great format. Relaxed but polished and provided great music.
"There will be bragging rights in the pub tonight, that's for sure," he said.
Organiser Liz Minne said the event attracted several hundreds of enthusiasts to the gardens and many went away with tartan purchases from the market stalls.
"The food vans were popular and we hope they'll be back next year to support the event," she said.
"Visitors from the neighboring caravan park came across to the gardens for the event," she said.
Ms Minne was presented with an arrangement of flowers in appreciation for her work in organising the successful event.
"The 'rules of engagement for the Quintet contest were re-shaped by PBV College this year, with the aim of encouraging innovation, musicality and entertainment. One grade for all contestants. and it certainly worked," Mr Wallace said.
"The day provided stunning and really entertaining music, with improv, cut-outs, celtic mash-ups and more!!
"It was brilliant," he said.
"Placings were determined by a piping preference and there'll be lots of smiles as the glassware makes it way back across the border to South Australia," he said. City of Adelaide took home top honours.
The solo drumming was a smaller contest this year but it was a great opportunity for contest practice ahead of the Victorian Championships next week.
Winners in solo drumming Spencer Bodey, Anna Whitaker, Darcey Tuckerman and Kate Moyle who won two performances.
The addition of the Massed Band this year, under the direction of Drum Major Nola Blake (Vice Principal, Dress and Drill) was a stunning exhibition of coordination and choreography with the massed band coming into the contest area from two directions, meeting in the middle.
Mr Wallace said it was an all-round fabulous day and the bands can't wait until next year.
"The Horsham Contests are really establishing themselves as a 'not to be missed' event on the Victorian contest calendar," he said.
After the event participants enjoyed dinner together at the White Hall Hotel and then a time of music and merriment at the Horsham Band rooms.
Chieftain of the Day, Ms Vincent joined the Horsham City Pipe band in 1982. She received the Evan and Barbara Mackley Bandsman of the Year award in 1995, 1997 and 1999.
She held the position of Secretary of the band from 1994 to 1999 and again from 2003 t0 2016 and has been a committee member from 2017 to 2024.
Ms Vincent received the Ron Abbott Award for Band Member of the Year in 2023, the 40-year service badge presented in 2022 and the Life Member Award and can now add Chieftain of the Horsham Competition to her many awards for service to the Horsham City Pipe Band and community.