CALLING PIPERS & DRUMMERS FOR SUMMER 2020 IN PITTSBURGH
Balmoral School of Piping and Drumming’s PGH Summer Music Program
Just five minutes north of Pittsburgh at Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel, PA, the Balmoral School of Piping and Drumming will run an intensive summer program for pipers and drummers of all ages, from July 5-10, 2020.
Pittsburgh school guest instructor, Terry Tully, is one of the most influential composers of bagpipe music in Ireland and a former Pipe Major of the Grade 1 St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band. Under Tully’s leadership, SLOTs was the first pipe band from the Republic of Ireland to win the Grade One World Championship, winning prizes in Ireland, as well as the Scottish and British 2008 Championships. Tully has performed with the Chieftains at Carnegie Hall and has appeared on three of the band’s albums.
Instructor Robert Mathieson served as Pipe Major of the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band of North Lanarkshire, Scotland, from 1986 to 2010. The band won 30 major championships under Mathieson’s leadership and was a 5-time winner of the World Pipe Band Championships. Mathieson is the only Pipe Major to have won the worlds 5 times, essentially playing his own compositions and arrangements, opening each winning medley with one of his own tunes.
According to Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Balmoral School, George Balderose, “The cream of competitive pipe majors from Ireland and Scotland will be instructing at the Balmoral Pittsburgh session, creatively complemented by the top American Snare Drummer, Gordon Bell.”
Summer drumming instructor and head of Balmoral’s drumming program, Gordon Bell, a EUSPBA Overall Champion from 1979-1987, has over 30 years experience instructing drummers. Bell is a veteran of many top Grade One Pipe Bands.
“For drummers, we’ll have classes, band work and even a fanfare to expand your skills!” says drumming instructor Gordon Bell. “So, join us for an exciting week of learning and hard work. Chances are, we’ll even convince a few pipers to join our ranks!”
Both individual students and pipe bands, in classes of five or fewer, will receive instruction on the Great Highland pipes, Scottish smallpipes, snare, tenor drum and bass drum, while making friendships that last a lifetime. There will be a free instructors’ concert on Thursday evening.