The Glengarry Highland Games (Often called the Maxville Games after the town where they are held) are this weekend and the Grade 3 will be ready with their MSR. (A recording of the current MSR taken at the Fair Hill Games this year.)

Massive massed bands at Maxville Games.

These Canadian games, the largest in North America, provide the stiffest competition of the year by far. The best bands will be there from the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Just about any music, food, drink or gift that is remotely Celtic can also be found there.

The band members will be driving up on Friday and spending the night in Cornwall Ontario, Canada assuming we can get across the border – the bridge we would normally take is closed (temporarily we hope). The competition is Saturday. We will stay the night in Cornwall again which will give us the evening to unwind, relax and enjoy the entertainment. Sunday we drive back and rest up before practice on Tuesday in preparation for Hunter Mountain two weeks later.

Age: Over 40

Where are you from originally? Schenectady, NY

With her pipes

Where do you live: Niskayuna, NY

What is your job or major if a student? Administrative Assistant at Ellis Hospital

Where did you learn to play? I took lessons from Maureen Connor

Instrument: Bagpipe

How long have you been playing? Almost 11 years

What got you interested? Going to the very first Irish 2000 Festival and seeing the original Seven Nations with piper Neil Anderson. Then I went to my very first Scottish Games in Altamont. I was in my glory amidst the pipers and it started from there. My Grandparents came from Ireland and were of Scottish descent. My Grandfather loved the pipes and my father would take him to the Games so he could listen to the bands. So I guess that my Scots/Irish heritage has something to do with my love of the pipes. Too bad I didn’t pursue it when I was younger.

How did you go about learning/finding – private teacher, class, band, parent or relative? The night I came home from the games I looked up bagpipe in the phone book and saw Bagpiper Maureen and called her. I started lessons with Maureen Connor a month later.

Teachers that had a big influence: Maureen Connor, Tom McCartney, instruction by Donald Lindsay and all of the CRC pipe majors and pipers who have helped me in the 7 years that I have been a member.

How long did you take lessons? About 10 years

How long did you play practice chanter/pad before moving to pipes/drum? 1 year on the practice chanter before I started on the pipes.

How long from start to marching with the band? About 2 years. My very 1^st time marching was with Maureen’s band Scotia Glenville Pipe Band in the NYC Tartan Day Parade in April of 2002, 7 months after 911. It was awesome. Sean Connery was the Grand Marshall. I watched Scottish Power warm up. It was an experience I will never forget. There was actually a picture of Carole Doody, Mary Houghton, and myself in The Voice! I have to mention that Tom McCartney taught me how to march and play at the same time. I joined CRC Pipeband in October of 2002.

How long does it take you to get to practice? 45 – 50 minutes

Favorite bagpipe player or drummer? Jack Lee, Alasdair Gillies

Favorite bagpipe band? Victoria Police, SFU

What other music do you like? Traditional Irish, Scottish, Folk, Cajun, Classic Rock, U-2, Some Classical especially violin concertos.

What other instruments do/did you play? None. Never read music until I started learning the pipes

Just starting to get ready to compete at Round Hill

What is the hardest thing about playing? Finding the time to practice

Do you compete? Yes. I have competed as a Grade 5 player and have been competing with Grade 4 for 4 years. I competed solo twice.

What is the one thing you would tell a beginner about learning? Find a good teacher and practice a lot.

Do you play solo events like weddings and funerals? Yes. I have also been playing at Carneys Pub in Ballston Lake since I started playing the pipes for St Patrick’s Day and other special occasions that they have. Carney’s is the first place I ever played in front of an audience (other than Maureen’s recitals as a beginner) good experience, great place!

Check out this great documentary and if you have $10 to spare why not make a donation?

On the Day Movie

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. It’s the World Pipe Band Championships — 8000 musicians from 16 countries. All on one day.

This year a new group joins the battle of the bands. Calling themselves The Spirit of Scotland, the world’s top solo players have come together for the first time to attempt the impossible: compete against legendary bands that have been around for decades. What are their chances after just six days of practice? Will they even qualify?
In the end, all that matters is what happens on the day.