2005 Press Release:
A 19 year old university student from Canberra has triumphed in a hard-fought competition to become the Australasian Young Bagpiper of the Year, 2005
Sean Hodgman - who studies physics and must know all about the science of vibrating air - emerged the winner from a talented field of 17 young musicians who delighted the audience that filled the Sutton Forest Village Hall on Sunday 23 October, 2005 for the prestigious Silver Tassie solo piping competition.
This is the second year that the competition has been promoted by Sutton Forest's A Little Piece of Scotland.
Proprietor Mrs Nerida Barnsley, spoke about the contests objectives "While it is easy to join a pipe band and learn the pipe., this is a musical instrument that is very difficult to play well - and that takes a lot of dedicated practice" she said.
"The Silver Tassie is really about raising public awareness and appreciation of the music of the pipes.
All the young pipers were keen to play at their very best, with family and friends looking on. Everyone supports them enthusiastically - there are no losers here - everyone is a winner - even if they don't take home a trophy" she said.
Sean, who plays for the Canberra Burns Club Pipe Band described how he'd come to take up the pipes: "My grandfather played the pipes for a while, and when I was 9 my parents suggested I learn a musical instrument: How about the clarinet? But I told them I wanted to learn the bagpipes. Now Sean has set his sights on excelling in competition piping both in Australia and overseas, as well as a career as a research scientist.
Meanwhile he was full of praise for the Silver Tassie. "Its got the best atmosphere of any piping contest in NSW" he said.
"I love the setting, the acoustics, the friendly rivalry - and especially the way the audience was involved. Between recitals, both judgers used the time to talk to the audience about pipe music - the instrument, the different styles of music, and what they were looking for in a quality performance. That gave a huge lift to everyone's appreciation of the work that goes into preparing for competition pricing."
This year's judges were Robert Pearce OAM and Ainslie Hart, while Pipe Major Barry Gray acted as MC. He introduced each piper to the audience when they stepped onto the candle- lit stage. The village Hall was transformed, with colourful ceiling swags, wall hangings and national flags.
Later in the day, pipers of all ages competed for the Bill Green OAM Memorial Trophy. named for the former Exeter man who gained national honour for his services to bag piping in the Southern Highlands, this competition is now the NSW heat to select state representatives to compete in the Australian Finals in Brisbane next year. The winner there goes on to compete at Laurient in France at the world piping contest.
The open section was won against strong competition by 13 year old Lincoln Hilton, playing to a standard well beyond his years, with local piper Maree Poole a close runner-up.
The Silver Tassie is the latest enhancement for the Southern Highlands reputation for hosting Scottish events of national significance.
"We really have cornered the market" Mrs Barnsley says.
"We have the Bundanoon Highland Gathering - Brigadoon- in April, drawing upwards of 20,000 visitors; our famous Winter's Evening with Robert Burns at the Bundanoon Hotel in June; and Moss Vale's pipe band competition in February.
No other region in Australia has such a concentration of Scottish cultural activities, and that is a very proud achievement."
More information: A Little Piece of Scotland
Exeter Road
Telephone & fax: 4868-3492
email: barnowl@acenet.com.au