The Historical Newsletters page has been updated with the release of archival B.C. Pipers’ Newsletters from 1983.
Besides the regular news of competitions and results, BCPA Life Member Bill Elder has compiled the following interesting news of that year:
- Judging Seminar, discussion surrounding standardized judging sheets.
- The 51st Annual Gathering to be held at Vancouver Technical School. Andrew Wright and Ed Neigh as chief piping adjudicators with chief drumming adjudicator Blair Brown (Winnipeg). Blair also to conduct a drumming workshop (first drumming workshop at the Annual Gathering)
- Article on the January Knock Out.
- Neil Dickie conducts morning and afternoon workshops as part of the Mini-Gatherings aggregate presentations in March
- Andrew Wright to conduct B C Pipers’ Winter School. Article in a subsequent issue discusses the success of the school.
- Western Academy of Pipe Music Summer School held in Vernon, instructors include PM James Watt, James Barrie and Neil Dickie.
- BCPA Membership Fees: $10 Active Member, $5 Junior Member
- Results and article about the 51st Annual Gathering. Ian Whitelaw wins the MacCrimmon Memorial Cairn for Open Piobaireachd for the first time.
- Five pipers in the finals of the Knockout Competition. Competitors were Peter Aumonier, Robbie MacNeil, Angus MacPherson, Rob Menzies and Jack Lee. Winners were 1st Jack Lee, 2nd Peter Aumonier, 3rd Angus MacPherson.
- John Fisher (now BCPA Adjudicator) attends the Percussion Institute of Technology in Los Angeles
- Gordon Highlanders release comprehensive collection of pipe music.
- Neil Dickie produces “First Book”, a serious book of fun piping tunes.
- Glentrium Summer School of Piping in Nelson, BC continues following the death of chief instructor PM Donald MacLeod in 1982
- Article by Skye Richendrfer on respect for judges by competitors
- Article on the recent formation of the Sir John A. MacDonald Society Pipe Band (Grade 2) under PM Jim Penner
- Band Chatter reappears in the Newsletter.
- Announcement on a Las Vegas Conference on Piping, Drumming and Pipe Bands.
- 22 players enter the 1983/84 Knockout competition.
- Editorial from the President challenging the Board’s decision not to mandatory promote any players following the 1983 season, and to leave the promotion decision with the players (and their instructors). Several letters from other Directors ensue in subsequent Newsletters
- White Spot PB forms association with the SFU Pipe Band for instruction and musical direction
- Article on the SFU Pipe Band’s first trip to Scotland, that included 6th place at Cowal, and announcement of an “Audio-Visual Show Night” of performances from the 1983 Worlds Grade 1 events
- Results of The Northern Meeting.
- Rules and Regulations for Competitions adopted by the BC Pipers Association 1983.
- An interesting article by Doug Grant about hearing Pipe Bands in some unusual places.
- Davey Bruce retires as Lead Drummer of the SFU Pipe Band and Hal Senyk steps down as PM of the Triumph Street Pipe Band
- Andrew Bonar competes in his first formal professional competition, the November Knockout.
