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2006 Proves to be Successful Year for Feadán Ór Soloists

December 08, 2006 — This year’s competition season has officially ended. Feadán Ór is proud to have several members and students completing the season with solo performance honors in their respective piping and drumming grades. It is no small feat to perform as a soloist and be critiqued by seasoned experts in order to gain insight, validation and assessment. Congratulations to everyone listed on your achievements!

Grade 2 Piper
Eric Albert: 9th in the EUSPBA (of 114 solo pipers)

Grade 3 Pipers
Wayne Fenton, Van Jackman & Matt Weasner: Honorable Mention

Grade 4 Sr. Pipers
Jeff Quartley: Top 25 in the EUSPBA (of 799 solo pipers)
Mary Taylor: Top 30 in the EUSPBA (of 799 solo pipers)
Debra Baldwin & Charlie Zettek: Top 75 in the EUSPBA (of 799 solo pipers)

Grade 4 Jr. Piper
Tom Janus (student): Honorable Mention

Professional Snare Drummer
Tom Foote: 3rd in the EUSPBA (of 32 solo snare drummers)

Grade 4 Sr. Snare Drummers
Ben Ford: 6th in the EUSPBA (of 72 solo snare drummers)
Dan Sherman: 10th in the EUSPBA (of 72 solo snare drummers)

Grade 4 Jr. Snare Drummer
Danielle Sherman: Honorable Mention

Christmas Ceilidh Concert in Caledonia

December 08, 2006 — Kick off your Holiday season with a Christmas Ceilidh concert featuring Carols, Songs, Wassails & Dance from the Celtic lands of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Brittany, Cornwall and Galicia. This free concert starts at 7:30pm and will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Caledonia, NY (3080 W. Main St - Rt 5) (http://www.cal-mum.com/church/fpchurch.htm). This year’s program includes the Christmas Ceilidh Band (Chuck Boda, Peter Watson, Kevin Angus, Bevin MacRae Coggeshall, Joel Hume, & Dick Bolt) along with dancers from the Kintail School of Scottish Highland Dance. This ceilidh concert is FREE and open to the General Public.

Read more about this and other events on the Calendar page!

Quartley Earns “Piper of the Day” in NH

September 23, 2006 — Congratulations to Jeff Quartley who earned “Piper of the Day” honors at the New Hampshire Highland Games held at the Loon Mtn Ski Resort in Lincoln, NH. Jeff garnered the top prize in both his Piobaireachd and March contests. Jeff says he attributes his winning performances to the Hairy Haggis! (We are not sure just what that means.)

Drummer Ben Ford earned a first prize in his March contest while pipers Eric Albert and Wayne Fenton also finished in the solo prizes with a 2nd/4th/4th and a 4th/honorable mention respectively.

August Performances (and they are Free)

September 03, 2006 — Join us in Pumpkin Hook, NY (Farmington Fire Dept on Hook Rd near Allen Padgham Rd) at the “biggest little carnival and parade east of the Mississippi” for the annual Pumpkin Hook Fireman’s Carnival and Parade. Free Performance on Thursday night at 7:00pm and Parade on Friday night at 6:45pm.

Capital District Scottish Games Produces Prizes

September 02, 2006 — Six players finished in the solo prizes playing amidst some the top talent in the northeast on a humid and windy day at the Altamont Fairgrounds. Congratulations to Mary Taylor and Charlie Zettek taking first place in their respective March contests, Deb Baldwin and Ben Ford sporting second place in their respective March events, third place to Jeff Quartley in his Piobaireachd event, and honorable mention to Eric Albert in his March/Strathspey & Reel event.

The Grade 5 ensemble finishes their competitive year ranked 13th of 120 bands in the Eastern United State Pipe Band Association – a great accomplishment!

August Performances (and they are Free)

August 17, 2006 — Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and coolers and enjoy our Summer Concert at the Silver Lake Institute (Chapman Ave off Rt 39 near the Silver Lake Drive-In just south of Perry, NY) The concert features the pipe band, soloists and highland dancers. The concert begins at 7:30pm and is Free to all.

Soloists Shine (and Sweat) at Glasgowlands, MA

July 15, 2006 — With temperatures in the 90s and humidity making it feel like 100, soloists kept their cool and brought home several awards from the Glasgowlands Scottish Festival held at the lush Look Park in Florence, MA.

Father and daughter team, Dan and Danielle Sherman took first and second in their respective debut drumming contests, while Ben Ford completed the triad with 3rd. Dan also walked away with the Sr. Drummer of the Day award. Jeff Quartley lead the piping honors including a first in the Piobaireachd Ground. Other pipers in the prizes included Eric Albert, Mary Taylor, Matt Weasner, & Charlie Zettek.

The Grade 5 ensemble finished fourth of 12 bands competing at the event.

Congratulations to all!

Two Opportunities to Cheer On the Competitors

June 24, 2006 — Join the Feadán Ór’s new Grade 3 ensemble Saturday, June 24th as they kick off their competitive season at the Ohio Scottish Games (Lorain County Fairgrounds in Wellington, OH.) In their first outing, they will be led onto the field by Pipe Major Eric Albert and Lead Drummer Ben Ford. The ensemble is excited about playing their brand new March/Strathspey/Reel. Come cheer them on!

The Grade 5 Ensemble is also competing on June 24th and going after yet another prize, this time at the Western Massachusetts Games (Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield, MA.) Good luck to both ensembles.

Prizes abound at Edinboro, PA

May 20, 2006 — Congratulations to Pipe Major Charlie Zettek, Lead Drummer Dan Sherman and all of the members of the Grade 5 Ensemble. They took the 3rd place overall prize including a 2nd place in Ensemble in their debut outing. There were eight bands in the contest. “We had a great day competing against bands from NY, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Canada. We are looking forward to the Western Massachusetts Games next month.”

Individual piping honors also went to Jeff Quartley and Mary Taylor taking 1st and 2nd respectively in their Piobaireachd event. Prizes were also taken by Charlie Zettek, Deb Baldwin and Eric Albert.

Cheer on the Grade 5 ensemble in their next contest on June 24th at the Western Mass Games.

Charlie Zettek named as Grade 5 Ensemble Pipe Major

March 13, 2006 — Feadán Ór is pleased to announced that Charlie Zettek has been named as the Pipe Major for the Grade 5 Ensemble for the 2006 competition season. Charlie is a life long musician and has been a member of Feadan Or since 1999 playing the pipes and writing original music for the band. 2002 saw the world premier of three of his works at Feadán Ór’s “Bagpipes and Latin Sounds” concert - “Summer’s End” (a triumphal fanfare celebrating the dynamic change of season from summer to autumn), “Feadán Ór Fanfare” (an intricate signature tune for the pipe band), and “Bevin’s Samba” (commissioned for performance with marimba player Bevin Coggeshall and Scottish smallpipes ensemble.) Charlie has also written several competitive marches as well as a tribute to 9/11 entitled “Twin Towers Fanfare”. Charlie also teaches beginner students of the Great Highland Bagpipe.

Congratulations to Charlie and good luck to the Grade 5 ensemble in their competitive season.

Trivia... Charlie also plays pipe organ and piano, having first played a Hayden concerto with the Boston Pops Orchestra when he was twelve.