The Balmoral School of Piping is pleased to announce the "Balmoral Classic," a major bagpiping event to be held in Pittsburgh from November 9 -11, 2007. With the help of media exposure, we hope to capture national and international attention on Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania as a center of piping excellence. In addition to a full schedule of musical, cultural and social events, the weekend will showcase the establishment of the first-ever U.S. Junior Solo Bagpiping Championship for pipers under 18 years of age. The competition will be followed by a concert at Carnegie Music Hall with the 2007 All-Ireland Champions, the St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band from Dublin. On Sunday morning, the Balmoral Classic will end with a Remembrance Day parade through downtown Pittsburgh to First Presbyterian Church on Sixth Avenue.

This event will be held in the Balmoral School's 29th year, and it marks a milestone in Pittsburgh's musical history. The city has made many hallmarks for American bagpiping in the past century, including college and secondary school programs, organizations and championship winners who have exemplified the culture and celebration that comes with learning this beautiful instrument.

Over the years, the Balmoral School has facilitated continued interest in both contemporary and historical styles of playing, and the school has maintained a mission "to raise the standard and promote the appreciation of bagpipe music by providing world class instruction, fostering tradition and presenting innovative musical events, all with an emphasis on youth." The school has won global renown from their work since 1978: the only 3 Americans to win the Gold Medal in Scotland were taught at the Balmoral School of Piping. In addition, for the last 5 years, the Gold Medal winner of the Scottish Junior National Championship has been awarded an all-expense-paid scholarship to attend 2 weeks of summer sessions at the Balmoral School in order to hone his or her skills through instruction with the Balmoral instructors. As a result, the close relationship the Balmoral school has with the Scottish National Championship has been the catalyst for hosting a junior solo competition in our own country.

We are very excited to have the St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band coming to play at the culminating concert after the championship. Since its founding in 1910, this band has won countless awards and has climbed its way up as one of the top pipe bands in the world. The band's CD, "The Dawning of the Day," was recorded in 2005 during their sell-out performance at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall just before the World Pipe Band Championships. Not only will the band perform with its fabulous pipes and drums, but the concert will also feature traditional musicians, dancers and storytelling.

We hope that you will find the information included below both enlightening and intriguing. With your help, we are certain we can make the tri-state area aware of this special weekend of music, culture and history that evokes Western Pennsylvania's pride. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at the Balmoral School office.

Thank you,

Katherine Pugh
Publicist

The following are some facts regarding the history of bagpiping as well as its impact on Pittsburgh:

• Reed instruments similar to the reeded pipes on a bagpipe have been found in the pyramids of ancient Egypt from 3000 B.C, as well as in several archeological sites that are much older.

• During the late Middle Ages bagpipes were common instruments, with more than 100 varieties throughout Europe.

• During the baroque period, the French bagpipe called the musette de ceour was a favored court instrument, from which were derived the Northumbrian bagpipes.

• Pipes were played by the Scottish to signal the clansman or soldiers and intimidate the enemy on the fields of battle. In 1746 after the Battle of Culloden, Piper Reid was executed for playing the bagpipe, labeled by the English an "instrument of war", when out with the Jacobite army.

• During World War I, more than 1000 Scottish and Irish pipers were killed in battle or as a result of wounds received.

• The bagpipe is an icon of Western Pennsylvania's cultural heritage going back to the service of the Black Watch and the pipers of the 77th Montgomery Highlanders during the French and Indian War.

• Western PA was heavily settled by the Scots and the Irish.

• The first US bagpipe society was formed in Pittsburgh in 1901.

• Pittsburgh and surrounding areas have a long and incredibly rich of history of countless pipe bands formed by local communities, high schools, colleges, fire & police departments, Shriners and even corporations such as Westinghouse in years gone by.

• Ligonier is home to one of the oldest and largest Highland games in the country.

• There are more bagpipers in the USA than ever before---over 10,000.

• The CMU Bagpipe Bachelor of Performing Arts program was the first in the entire world, founded by the Scottish Gold Medalist, James McIntosh, who received the MBE from Queen Elizabeth for his service in piping.

• Alasdair Gillies, Director of Bagpipe Music at Carnegie Mellon University, has won more competitions in Scotland than any piper in history.

• Bagpipes are being learned today by an increasing number of women, some of whom have won top competitions in Scotland.

• Bagpipes have become increasingly popular in non-traditional genres of music, particularly rock and roll as well as heavy metal. Bands and musicians that have incorporated bagpipes into songs and albums include Paul McCartney, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The Darkness, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Enter the Haggis and AC/DC.

For a history of the band from its founding in 1910 to 1992, see the extensive timeline on their website.

2002: The drum corps takes the All-Ireland premier drumming prize - the first Irish band in almost forty years to do so.

2003: The band wins the medley, best bass and tenor, and drum prizes at the All-Ireland Championships.

2004: The St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band gains prizes in all five major championships - the Scottish, British, European, Cowal and World Championships.

2005: The band releases its first album - "The Dawning of the Day" - as a live recording of the concert held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

2006: The band's drum corps wins the Grade One Drumming Trophy at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

2007: The St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band wins the All-Ireland Grade-One Pipe Band Championship.

The following is a schedule of the musical, cultural and social events that will take place throughout the weekend. Every event is open to the public.

Reception: Friday, November 9, 2007, 7pm-11pm
Fans and families will come together in an honorary reception for the competitors and the St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band, direct from Dublin, who will be performing the following night.
Pittsburgh Athletic Association, 4215 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Admission: $20 (both Fri. & Sat. receptions: $35).
Reception tickets available at 412 323-2707 or by email at George@bagpiping.org.

Competition: Saturday, November 10, 2007, 9am-5pm
US Invitational Junior Solo Piping Championship (under 18 years of age)
The very best teenage bagpiping talent in the USA will converge on Mellon Institute in Oakland to compete for the title of US Junior Champion. Three trophies will be presented to the best in each category including the overall champion. The overall winner will also receive a deluxe set of engraved bagpipes donated by McCallum Bagpipes. Other prizes to be announced.
Mellon Institute Auditorium, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. 15213
Admission: Free.

Concert: Saturday, November 10, 2007, 7:30pm
St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band
The 2007 All-Ireland Champion St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band will perform in concert at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. This is one of the best pipe bands in the entire world, and they are bringing their entire complement of 48 musicians and staff. In addition to superlative piping of all genres, the performance will also feature traditional Irish musicians on flute, fiddle, keyboards and percussion, as well as storytelling and world champion dancers.
Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Ticket prices: At Door: $65, $50, $35; In Advance: $55, $40, $25; Group Sales: (10 or more)$47, $35, $20.
Tickets available from: www.proartstickets.org or 412 394-3353.

Reception: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Post-concert reception
A post-concert reception celebrating the event will be held on the mezzanine balcony of the Carnegie Music Hall overlooking the grand foyer.
Mezzanine of Carnegie Music Hall
Admission: $20 (both Fri. & Sat. receptions: $35).
Reception tickets available at 412 323-2707 or by email at George@bagpiping.org.

Remembrance Day Bagpipe Band Parade: Sunday, November 11, 10am
A Remembrance Day Parade of massed pipe bands will march through downtown Pittsburgh as they celebrate the individuals who gave their lives for this country.
Downtown Pittsburgh, cosponsored by The First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, the Balmoral School and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.