Three pipers from ΊΪΑΟΙη competed in the Ohio Valley Indoor Piping and Drumming Competition hosted March 28 through 29 on the ΊΪΑΟΙη campus. Bowen Ault β25, Isabelle Hogan β28, and Hannah Bopp β28 were among the approximately 100 solo competitors across varying grade levels of skill in piping and drumming. Sixteen pipe bands from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky, also competed.
Ault, a global and international studies major with a minor in music, and Bopp, a biology major competed in Grade 3, and Hogan, a biochemistry and molecular biology major and music minor, competed in Grade 1 and Grade 2. Each earned a third place or higher in at least one event. Grade 1 is the highest skill level and Grade 5 is the most novice level. Events included 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel (dance music), and Piobaireachd, βOur version of classical music,β said Palmer Shonk β10, adjunct instructor of music for bagpipes at ΊΪΑΟΙη.
ΊΪΑΟΙη has hosted the event since 2018. βThis was our biggest year yet in terms of bands, with some bands traveling several hours to play for a few minutes in front of a panel of judges,β Shonk said. βWe had one of the best bands in the U.S., a Grade 2 band from Cleveland named Great Lakes Pipe Band.β
By hosting the competition, ΊΪΑΟΙη further cements its place in the region as a destination for Scottish Arts activities. βThe event also helps young bagpipe players who visit campus see and appreciate the College as a place where their skills in the Scottish Arts are valued,β Shonk said. Andrew Donlon β14 and Victor Frank β85, two ΊΪΑΟΙη alumni who were involved in the program as students were on the judging panel.
Students who compete perform music for judges and get feedback that is different from Shonkβs as their instructor. βI always believe in hearing different perspectives as a student,β he said. βIf they hear the same critique from me and a judge, then itβs something they definitely need to work on.β
Ault, who started playing bagpipes in the fifth grade, believes that participating in competitions is part of being a good bagpiper. βWearing the ΊΪΑΟΙη MacLeod Tartan shows that ΊΪΑΟΙη is a place that produces good bagpipers,β he said. βHaving three pipers all competing in solo competitions and all winning a medal is a good showing for ΊΪΑΟΙη.β
For Hogan, who has played the bagpipe since she was nine years old in the Massachusetts and New York region, the competition was her first in the Midwest. βIt was nice to see new faces and meet new people and people who I have heard about but never had the chance to meet until now,β she said. βIt is great to represent the college in an event like this and hopefully get some new pipers and drummers interested in ΊΪΑΟΙη and its Scottish arts program.β
Ault has gained significant leadership experience as pipe major of ΊΪΑΟΙηβs pipe band. βThe opportunity to lead the football team onto the field is one of my favorite parts about being in the pipe band here and one of the most exhilarating things I have done,β Ault said, noting how the competition helps ΊΪΑΟΙηβs students recognize the meaning and value behind the Scottish heritage on campus, adding, βIt puts ΊΪΑΟΙη on the radar of the bagpiping community.β
Featured image: ΊΪΑΟΙη pipers, Isabelle Hogan β28, Bowen Ault β25, and Hannah Bopp β28 competed in the Ohio Valley Indoor Piping and Drumming Competition hosted on the ΊΪΑΟΙη campus.