September 4, 2006
The Smiths Falls Gordon Pipe Band placed 2nd at the North Lanark Highland
Games in Almonte on August 26. The band also placed 2nd in the Eastern Ontario
Championship which is an aggregate scoring of the contests in Eastern Ontario.
We placed in the following contests this year:
- 2nd: Smith Falls Spring Fling.
- 2nd: Winchester Indoor Games.
- 2nd: Kingston Celtfest.
- 2nd North Lanark Highland Games.
2006 also saw the Gordon Pipe Band enter the Maxville Glengarry Highland
Games.
This is our best showing to date and we are proud of our accomplishments.
2006 also marks the 10th anniversary of the band!
April 8, 2006
The Smiths Falls Gordon Pipe Band hosted the first annual Spring Fling.
It was a great success. We've had a lot of positive feedback from participants
and spectators alike. We are encouraged to host another competiton next year
which we hope will be an even bigger event.
Thanks to:
- our judges:
- Brian Williamson
- Hugh Goldie
- Robert Waugh.
- our sponsors
- Piper's and Pipe Band Society of Ontario, Ottawa Branch
- members of the Smiths Falls Gordon Pipeband for their hardwork.
Having a large network of motivated people really made the Spring Fling
possible. Special thanks to:
- Jenny Putinski
- Bob McNichol
- Lou McRae.
September 10, 2005
On September 10th, the band gave a benefit concert for the Canadian Red
Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief.
The concert started Saturday morning at 11:00 at the Smiths Falls Walmart
and concluded at 12:00 at the Lombard St Tim Horton's, with a short parade
between. The Smiths Falls Lion's Club was on hand to help us take donations.
The band collected a total of $740 that day. The Lion's Club also made
a $500 donation. We thank Walmart, Tim Horton's and the Lion's Club for
making this possible.
April 23, 2005
The band started the competition season with a very good result at the
Ottawa Indoor Mini Contest. Our efforts were rewarded with a second place
finish.
The Record News printed a full page story about the band in the March
25, 2005 issue of the EMC. This is the second time that the EMC has featured
our band in an article. Our thanks go out to the EMC and staff writer Stacey
Roy.
Local radio station Jack FM is playing a community bulletin promoting
the band. Community bulletins are played
6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 in the morning and
3:50, 4:50 and 5:50 in the late afternoon on a rotational
basis. Tune to Jack FM at 92.3 to hear our spot. We also have a copy of
the spot in the photo album section. We hope it generates interest in band
membership.
The band played VERY well at the Almonte Indoor competition and we were
very happy with our performance, but our efforts were only rewarded with
a third place result. Also, band members were awarded 6 medals in solo competitions.
Special mention goes to Troy Hamstra who received a 1st place in the Grade
5 drumming.
January 27,
2005
The band had its third Christmas party on December 4th. Dinner was catered
by the "Eastern Star" and musical entertainment was provided by "Baned from
Dunleary". We had about 50 band members and guests enjoying the evening
at our party. It seems that we've been keeping a Christmas party tradition
where no one remembers to bring a camera. Sorry, no photos.
We are pleased to announce the addition of another experienced piper,
Jenny Putinski. Jenny brings with her many years experience as a solo and
band competitor. Welcome, Jenny!
August 24,
2004
The Gordon Pipeband entered the grade 5 band competition at the Almonte
games this year for the first time. While we did not place, our drum corp
was second and our ensemble score was third. We had a good time participating
in the competition. We look forward to competing again next year. Congratulations
also go out to Bruce Chapman who got a second place in the Intermediate
Piobaraechd.
August 7,
2004
We had our band BBQ picnic at Bob McNichol's house. Bob has a beautiful
home on Black Lake. Everyone had a good time with the delicious food, swimming
canoeing, sauna and of course some random piping and drumming. See the pictures
in the photo album. Our thanks to Bob and Betty for hosting the picnic
May 8, 2004
The Smiths Falls Gordon Pipeband places second at the Winchester indoor
games!.
April 17,
2004
The Smiths Falls Gordon Pipeband placed third at the Almonte "Spring
Fling" indoor games. This was our band's first attempt at competition.
We had very positive comments from the judges and are looking forward to
competing again. Band members also did well as solists with a total of
8 medals awarded. It was a very good day for the Gordon Pipeband.
December
6, 2003
We held our 2nd annual band hosted Christmas dinner at the Masonic Hall.
The evening started at 6:00 pm with a social hour and then a roast beef
diner catered by the Eastern Star. Afterwards, entertainment was provided
by band members: Ron Gain on fiddle, John Atkinson on electronic bagpipes
and Judy Atkinson on harp.
September
10, 2003
The fall-out from the story printed in the EMC on August 15, 2003 has
been astounding. We now boast 15 students on the pipes and drums. Thanks
again to Dianne Pinder-Moss.
August 15,
2003
The Record News printed a full page story about the band in the August
15, 2003 issue of the EMC. The story was very complimentary and clearly
stated the band's near term goals. Our thanks go out to Dianne Pinder-Moss
who wrote the story and the Record News for printing the story. We are expecting
increased awareness and interest in the band.
July 19,
2003
We held our 1st annual band hosted BBQ picnic at P/M Steve Brooke's house.
The picnic started at 12:30 pm with a social hour and then a BBQ with lots
of hamburgers, hotdogs salads and refreshments. Entertainment was provided
by all band members with an informal session. Ron Gain on fiddle and John
Atkinson on electronic bagpipes entertained us with some of their own sets.
Also, guests who attended were our good friends from the MacEoin Ramsay
Pipeband, David Clyde and Cindy McDermid.
July 12,
2003
Congratulations go out to our new drummer Nicki Phillips who played at
her first parade today. Nicki has been taking lesson for only two months
and had only tried playing a real snare drum the previous practice. To
add to the significance of her accomplishment, Nicki was also the only
side drummer who was able to make it to the parade.
The band notes her ability as a quick student and the teaching ability
of our drum instructor John Shaw.
May 25, 2003
What a thrill and honour it was for the band to open the RCMP Musical
Ride for the Alzheimer Society of Lanark fund-raiser. According to the Record
News, the band "gave the crowd an impressive 25 minute concert". With the
march on and off, it felt more like 35 minutes. The crowd was about 2000.
Fortunately for us and the spectators, the rain cleared just before we
started.
This was our first event of the season and it was great to have the band
playing so well. Since October, we've been increasing the number tunes in
our repertoire and its nice to be able to show-case them in a concert environment.
Special thanks go out to Jim Ferguson on bass drum and Gus Nelson on
side drum for helping us out.
May 5, 2003
The band is pleased to anounce that it has retained the services of drum
intructor John Shaw. John has years of experience instructing and building
drum corps for other bands. We know he'll do a great job for us here.
December
1, 2002
We held our 1st annual band hosted dinner at Lam's in Smiths Falls. A
special invitation was extended to our spouses and parents. We thank them
for their understanding as we pursue our avocation. We've had some very
positive feedback about the dinner and we look forward to hosting another.
Next year, the pipe major promises to keep his welcoming speech shorter.
"What's everyone waiting for? Let's eat!" was deemed too long winded.
November
24, 2002
Press Release
The Gordon Pipeband of Smiths Falls announced that it has re-organized
under a new pipe major, Steven Brooke.
As part of the re-organization, efforts will be made to raise the profile
of the band within the community. Band members will be contacting community
leaders and organizers to let them know that Smiths Falls has its own bagpipe
band and look forward to participating in more local events.
The band is also looking for growth in its membership this coming winter
by providing free classes for novices in both pipes and drums. Youngsters
looking for an opportunity to learn how to play a musical instrument in
a marching band are especially invited, while experienced players are always
welcome. The band meets every Tuesday evening at 7:00pm, at the Masonic
Hall, 46 Russel St. West in Smiths Falls.
In the past year, the Gordon Pipeband of Smiths Falls participated in a
number of parades including the "Chocolate Railroad" in Smiths Falls. The
band also achieved a fourth place finish in the Grade 5 Band Competition
at the Maxville Highland Games.
For more information about the Gordon Pipeband of Smiths Falls, contact
Bill Orr at 283-7247 or see the
band website at www.gordonpipeband.com
