Results from the 2011 Competition
Grade 4 Pipe Bands
1st- Scotia Glenville Pipe Band
2nd- City of Albany Pipe Band
3rd- Caledonian Pipes & Drums
4th- Carnegie Mellon Pipes & Drums
5th- MacMillan Britles Pipe Band
6th- Cameron Highlanders Pipe Band
Grade 3 Pipe Bands
1st- NY Metro Pipe Band
2nd- Ulster Scottish Pipe Band
3rd- MacMilan Pipe Band
4th- Roisin Dubh Pipe Band
5th- AOH Saffron Kilts Pipe Band
6th- North Carolina University Pipe & Drums
ABOUT THE PIPE BAND COMPETITIONS
Bands at the Celtic Classic enjoy a unique opportunity. At most events they play only once; at major championships they play twice. Here they get to play four separate events, allowing them to show their skills in a wide variety of formats. It's a challenge the bands relish as the culmination of the competitive season. You'll hear the classic competition set of March, Strathspey, and Reel that bands have played since the beginning of time, and you will also hear modern medleys of tunes where the content is limited only by the creativity of the band.
We have some of the very top pipe bands in the United States here, from as far away as Oklahoma, all vying for one of three trophies.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE PIPE BAND COMPETITIONS
Pipe bands are famous for their style; swinging kilts and all. However, that is not what the judges will be listening for. In a contest, it's all about the music. Does the band start all together with a solid wall of sound? Are they well-tuned? Are they playing musically and expressively? These are the questions the judges ask, and armed with those questions, you can do your own judging, then see how you did when the prizes are announced Sunday!
This years competing bands are:
Grade 3 (Sunday)
- MacMillan Pipe Band
- New York Metro Pipe Band
- NC State University Pipes and Drums
- Roisin Dubh Pipe Band
- Saffron United Pipe Band
- Ulster Scottish Pipe Band
Grade 4 (Saturday)
- Caledonian Pipes & Drums
- Cameron Washington Memorial United Pipe Band
- Carnegie Mellon Pipes & Drums
- City of Albany Pipe Band
- FDNY Emerald Society Pipes & Drums
- MacMillan Birtles Memorial Pipe Band
- NYPD Emerald Society
- Scotia-Glenville Pipe Band
- Stuart Highlanders