Bagpipe Competition

Competition Details

GAIF Pipe Band Competition, once again, attracts America's No. 1 Band.
Bagpipes were once outlawed as an "Instrument of War." Once again, the Mohawk Valley will be filled with the electrifying sound of outlawed tunes being played on outlawed pipes during our third annual GAIF Pipe Band Competition. Festival attendees will be able to watch some of the best pipe bands in the Northeast compete for prize money. The tension will be palpable as the bands line up on the starting line before marching into the competition circle. The competition will begin at noon on Saturday with grade 5, and every ten minutes another pipe band will be on the firing line. The Oran Mor Grade One Pipe Band will once again be playing for EUSPBA judge comments. There are only three grade one pipe bands in the United States; Oran Mor, LA Scots and the City of Washington Pipe Band. Last year, Oran Mor beat the LA Scots at the Queen Mary Festival in California and recently beat the City of Washington Pipe Band at the Bonnie Brae Competition in New Jersey, solidifying their claim as the best pipe band in the US. Oran Mor's reputation for musical excellence is unmatched in the United States. Oran Mor will be using the GAIF competition as preparation for the August 7th Ulster Championships in Northern Ireland and the August 14th World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Festival attendees will have the pleasure of listening to the best pipe band in the United States compete on Saturday and perform at both stages on Sunday. Saturday's competition will conclude with a pipe band parade and massed band performance. The parade will begin at 4:30 PM at the main entrance to the fairgrounds and conclude at the performance field. Drum Major and EUSPBA Judge Jim Engle will direct the field of more than 300 in an astounding massed band performance. This is a world class event, not to be missed.

The EUSPBA Sanctioned Grade 5, 4 and 3 Pipe Band Competition will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2010

Grade 5

Mohawk Valley Frasers
Galloway Gaelic
Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band
Finger Lakes Pipe Band
Albany Police Pipes and Drums
NYS Corrections Emerald Society Pipe Band
Scotia Glenville Pipe Band
St. Anne's of the Hampton's Pipe Band
Ceol Gleann Pipe Band

Grade 4

Mohawk Valley Frasers
Caledonian Pipe Band
Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band
Schenectady Pipe Band
Capital Region Celtic Pipe Band

Grade 3

Mohawk Valley Frasers
Capital Region Celtic Pipe Band

Grade 1

Oran Mor

Pipe Band Parade steps off at 4:30 PM. Massed band performance will be held following the parade.

Pipe Band Prize Money
Prize money will be awarded at the conclusion of the massed band performance. Bands must participate in the massed band performance to receive prize money.

Pipe Band Travel Allowance
Travel allowance will be based upon Map Quest one-way mileage. To receive travel allowance, bands must participate in the massed band performance.

Over 200 miles $400
100 - 200 miles $250
Under 100 miles $150

Massed Band Performance
There will be ONLY ONE massed performance, which will take place at the CONCLUSION of the pipe band competition.

Free Admission
Pipe band members competing in the pipe band competition or participating in the massed band performance will receive free weekend passes.

Parking
Parking is free, however pipe band members will receive a special parking permit to allow them to park in a reserved pipe band parking lot.

General Rules and Information

Admission: All bands must submit a roster of competing members and those members participating in the massed band performance. The number of weekend festival tickets provided to each band will be based upon this roster. If a roster is not submitted, only 10 festival weekend tickets will be provided.

EUSPBA Rules and Regulations: The competition is sanctioned by the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) and will conform to the Association's Rules and Regulations for sanctioned events. Bands are required to be members of the EUSPBA or other organizations with reciprocal agreements. Please see http://www.euspba.org.

Draw for Order of Play: The draw for order of play will be held at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the competition. The contest committee will conduct the draw and bands should have a representative in attendance.

Cancellation Policy: The GAIF reserves the right to cancel any competition in which insufficient entries are received. Refunds of entry fees will be made to the registered bands. In the event of GAIF cancellation on the day of competition, entry fees and travel allowances will be paid to all registered bands. The GAIF reserves the right to award one less prize than the number of competitors in any contest with three or less competitors.

Accommodations: On-site camping and discount rooms are available. Contact pipeband@gaif.us for details

For additional information, contact Patrick O'Hara at
607-286-9405 or pipeband@gaif.us.