The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of all aspects of solo and band bagpipe and drum music. Generally the focus is on the Great Highland Bagpipes, the Scottish snare drum, the tenor drum, the bass drum and drum major performance. The Southern Branch of the EUSPBA operates on the local level in the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. For more information about EUSPBA or to join our association, please visit www.euspba.org.
News & Information
EUSPBA Certification Program
5/26/2009
EUSPBA Progressive Certification Program Exams were held on May 2, 2009 at the Sarasota Military Academy, in Sarasota, Florida. There were a total of 6 participants. The examiner was Roddy MacDonald. Two EUSPBA Grade I competitors, Kevin Wiegand and Janny Wurts sat the Level I exam and two EUSPBA Grade IV competitors, Seth Kenny and Marvin Luckett sat the Level IV exam. We also had two non-members Sean Boyle and Jonathan De Rosa sit the Level IV exam. All participants passed and were very appreciative of the opportunity.
We hope to offer this program in several other locations around the branch in 2009. Please watch this site as well as the EUSPBA Calendar of Events (www.euspba.org/events.aspx) for locations and dates. Please join us when we come to your area!
Central Florida Highland Games
01/19/2009
You might like to hear about the success of the first EUSPBA sanctioned contest in Florida in recent years. The Central Florida Highland Games were held on January 17, 2009, with record attendance in the thousands. Both solo and band competitors were pleased and excited to be part of such an event. Several solo competitors and a band registered with the EUSPBA that day. Many expressed pleasure that Florida was now part of the Southern Branch of the EUSPBA and look forward to future events. EUSPBA President, Jimmy Bell and Officers-at-Large Kenton Adler and Helen Harlow attended. As always, Helen was a tremendous help in sharing her knowledge, advice, and guidance in regards to the responsibilities of the monitor.
On Sunday, Jimmy and Gordon Bell held a workshop for about 50 pipers and drummers. The new Quick March Medley tune requirements (2/4 Marches for Grade 4 bands, 4/4 Marches for Grade 5 bands) for the 2010 season were reviewed to help familiarize pipers and drummers of these future requirements.
EUSPBA has sanctioned two other contests in Florida to date: a solo piping competition hosted by the Academy of Scottish Arts at the Sarasota Military Academy (Feb 14, 2009); and the Zephyrhills Celtic Festival (March 7, 2009) are hosting an EUSPBA solo piping and drumming as well as bands contest. Find more information regarding these events on the EUSPBA Web site Calendar.
Florida Update
12/12/2008
Recent changes in Florida are good news for EUSPBA Southern Branch members and Florida residents as well. Two Scottish Games, (Central Florida Scottish Highland Games - Winter Springs 01/17/2009, and Zephyrhills Celtic Festival and Highland Games – Zephyrhills 03/07/2009) have requested and received EUSPBA sanctioning for their 2009 contests. Whether these games committees wanted access to our world class judges panel and sanctioning program, or they wanted to entice some of our 650+ Southern Branch members to enjoy some early season Florida sunshine, or some other reason, I don’t know. What I do know is that we now have the opportunity to start our competition season on January 17 in Winter Springs, just outside of Orlando Florida.
The Executive Committee also recently voted in favor of a change that will impact Florida residents. EUSPBA has always welcomed members from anywhere in the world. Members outside our core area, including Florida, have been considered unaffiliated members, meaning they were not members of any EUSPBA Branch. As of 01/01/2009, EUSPBA members living in Florida will be welcomed into the Southern Branch. This offers them some immediate benefits, including eligibility to compete for Branch Championships, to be considered for Branch invitationals, and to take part in Branch activities and governing.
The Southern Branch will benefit by an influx of talented and enthusiastic individuals and bands who will help us take our competitions, our branch and our association to new levels. For example, consider Steve Serneels who as an unaffiliated member ran for a seat on the Executive Committee in the recent elections. Or Roddy MacDonald, a EUSPBA judge and former EUSPBA president, who has worked tirelessly for years to gain increased representation for Florida members. I welcome them both, and all Florida members into the Southern Branch, and challenge all to continue working towards to improvement of the EUSPBA, the Southern Branch and the piping and drumming community.
— Tom Crawford, EUSPBA Southern Branch Chair
2008 EUSPBA Annual General Meeting — 11/08/2008
11/08/2008
Westin Atlanta North
7 Concourse Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30068
Hotel Web site | Book Rooms ($99/night) Book soon, rate ends November 4, 2008
Mark your calendars for November 8, when your EUSPBA Southern Branch hosts the 2008 Annual General Meeting at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter Center North. Rooms will be available for $99. Let's show our Executive Committee and fellow members some classic Southern Hospitality. Saturday's meeting will be followed by a great night of 'beer tent' style entertainment, along with 2008 Season Awards presentation to bands and solo players. More details are available at www.EUSPBA.org. Please plan on attending, and show your support of your association.
2008 Southern Branch EUSPBA Annual Meeting
September 21, 2008
Holiday Inn - Mt. Pleasant
250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Hwy 17
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Map/Directions
Southern Branch members met Sunday morning in Mt Pleasant, SC to prepare for the 2008 EUSPBA AGM. Topics included the new arrangements at the Charleston Games, candidates for the EUSPBA Executive Committee, and the future of the Southern Branch Spring Workshop. This year there were no new topics to bring before the EC at the AGM, so the association is either doing an outstanding job, or the Southern Branch has gotten apathetic. I tend to believe it's the former.
If you have any questions, please contact Tom Crawford, Southern Branch Interim Chair at south@euspba.org.
Read about the disposition of last year's proposals at the EUSPBA Web site.