Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba
Covering Manitoba, and Northern Ontario - West of Thunder BayStay Tuned!
News and events are updated regularly!
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NEWS
Get on the Bus!
Released May 2008
The Transcona and Disrict Pipe Band is offering seats on their bus to Moose Jaw & Regina on May Long Weekend. Price per seat is just $125.00.
Contact Dave Stewart at d2reba@shaw.ca for information and details.
PPBAM Summer Scholarships
Released April 2008
The Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba is again offering scholarships for those players that wish to participate in educational experiences abroad.
Members are reminded that the deadline for the receipt of Summer school scholarship applications is June 1st.
The PPBAM Scholarship Application form can be downloaded HERE.
Rene Cusson available after Brandon Highland Festival
Released January 2008
Rene Cusson will be one of the guest judges this year at the Brandon Highland Festival, to be held on April 26th. He has offered to give a workshop on Sunday following the contest to interested parties.
If anyone would like more information they should contact Richard Wilson, the Coordinator of the Brandon Highland Festival. He can be reached via email at rmacwilson@gmail.com.
Hurry! All arrangements have to be made by February 17th.
2007 Champion Supreme Results
Released November 2007
The results are in! Congratulations to all the champions. A complete list of the winners and their point totals can be found HERE.
Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band - 50th Anniversary
Released September 2007
The Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band 50th anniversary took place September 21 - 23. The event was well attended on all three days. The weekend kicked off with a meet and greet at Finn's Pub at the Forks, with 200 people entertained by current band and alumni alike. Photos from years gone by were a highlight of the evening.
The Gala dinner at the Hotel Fort Garry on Saturday evening was spectacular. The Provencher Room was tastefully decorated with Ancient Douglas Tartan and sprigs of Heather. Close to 300 guests enjoyed trips down memory lane found everywhere from the display table, the DVD presentation, as well as conversations throughout the room amongst many who hadn't seen each other for years. Key note speeches from the Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable John Harvard, and alumni Grant McLean and Myles Wilcott were highlights of the evening. Current members of the LSBSPB performed a wide selection of tunes, as well as a surprise performance of a tune written specifically for this occasion by Bob Worrall; 'A Salute to P/M Robert Fraser'. Mr. Fraser was presented with a solid oak framed copy of the tune.
The weekend wrapped up on Sunday at a barbecue at Bairdmore School with well over 200 attending. The weather was ideal, the food was excellent, and the massed bands spectacular. The alumni band sported at least 20 pipers and a drum corps of 8 side drummers, a tenor, and bass.
Old friends and family brought together again, and many new memories created a weekend to remember. Thanks to all that attended, and to the organizers for all their hard work to make this dream a reality.
The Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band is a non-profit youth band made up of boys ranging in age from 8 to 18 years. The band was formed in 1957 by Pipe Major Robert Fraser originally from Arbroath, Scotland. Mr. Fraser dedicates his time and effort, talent, kindness and his patience to producing outstanding pipers and drummers. Mr. Fraser would like to make it possible for any boy to learn piping or drumming, therefore, other than a registration fee, and the purchase of practice instruments, there is no charge for lessons, uniforms or band instruments. Band practice is held every Saturday morning at the Assiniboia Christian Centre, 3390 Portage Ave. at Rouge Road in Winnipeg.
PPBAM Scholarships Awarded
Released June 2007
Congratulations to all those that applied and received the $100 scholarship from the Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba:
| Recipient | Band Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Jamie Kubasiewicz | Lord Selkirk Boy Scouts |
| Chris Gardner | St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg |
| Cassandra Hill | Transcona & District |
| Doug Rennie | Transcona & District |
| Greg Rennie | Transcona & District |
| Megan Ross | Transcona & District |
| Adam Tingskou | Lord Selkirk Boy Scouts |
The PPBAM's scholarship program is open to all members of the Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba. It is funded by band and membership dues, with the intent of encouraging professional development throughout our organization.
Champion of Champions in Music Education
Released May 2007
Marlene Stephen: P.P.B.A.M. President
The Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba Executive would like to share a congratulatory announcement regarding Marlene Stephen’s retirement from the teaching profession. Marlene will be retiring from the Louis Riel School Division located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the end of the 2006/07 school year.
It is truly a great honor and privilege to be able to share with you a glimpse into Marlene’s amazing career. Marlene is one of Canada’s leading music educators and is loved and admired by her students and colleagues. I hesitate to list the many accomplishments that Marlene has achieved throughout her career as the list would cover several pages, but because it is so impressive, I could not resist listing a portion of them:
| Music Education | |
|---|---|
| 1966 - 2007 | Public School Teacher and Music Educator Elmwood High School, George McDowell School, Victor H. l. Wyatt School, Dakota Collegiate |
| 1991 - 2006 | Coordinator of Manitoba Band Association Winnipeg South Band Camp |
| 1999 | Optimist Band Festival Commendation Award |
| 1997 | Optimist Band Festival Chairman’s Award |
| 1988 | 20 year service award with Winnipeg School Division for Outstanding Contributions to Extra-Curricular Programs |
| 1968 - 1989 | Pipe Major Heather Belle Ladies Pipe Band |
| 1996 - Present | Piping Adjudicator |
| 1968 - Present | Piping Instructor |
| Music Educator Professional Development | |
| 1989 - Present | Coordinator of Provincial Music Conference Tempo |
| 1998 | Manitoba Band Association Award of Distinction recipient |
| 2003 | Alex Boyes Award for contributions in professional development |
| Executives and Service | |
| 1990 - 1992 | Manitoba Band Association Secretary |
| Approx 10 yrs | International Music Camp Board of Directors |
| Approx 10 yrs | Rainbow Stage Board of Directors and Volunteer |
| 1992 - 1995 | Manitoba Highland Dancers Association President |
| 1997 - Present | Manitoba Highland Dancers Association Honorary Life Member |
| Approx 10 yrs | Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba Executive Member and current President |
| Pipe Band Contests | |
| 1994 - Present | Winnipeg Scottish Festival Founding Member and Executive |
| 2001 - Present | Bands on the Boardwalk Founding Member and Executive |
All of these events, committees, boards and bands represent thousands and thousands of long working hours outside of the regular teaching day. Marlene accomplished these monumental tasks while working full time, raising a Champion Highland Dancer, Marnie Wilson, and continuing to further her own education by earning a Bachelor of Education Degree and a Masters Degree in Music Education. It is abundantly clear that her work ethic is second to none in the education industry.
Although her list of achievements is long and impressive, it does not capture some of the most important gifts that Marlene contributes to our musical community and youth here in Manitoba. I have had the good fortune to work with Marlene for the past 13 years at an MBA Summer Band Camp and with her band students at Dakota Collegiate. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see her work with students up close. This is the environment where Marlene’s most important gifts shine through. She cares very deeply about the welfare of all her students. She puts enormous amounts of time and energy into each individual student as their teacher, cheerleader, motivator, and friend. As a result, all of her students admire and respect her and will work their hearts out in the pursuit of music excellence. Her abilities to organize and motivate people, teach and mentor her students, and impart her leadership skills to all of us, are truly special gifts.
As Marlene ends one journey, she will surely begin a new journey that I know will rival her past 41 years as a public school teacher. I am certain that things are going to heat up around here now that Marlene is free from the responsibility of nurturing the musical and leadership skills of 160 High School band students, 200 days of the year.
On behalf of the Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba Executive, I would like to extend our most sincere congratulations to Marlene on her retirement. Marlene is truly a champion among champions in the field of music education, and we are very grateful for her service to our youth and proud that she is both our leader and mentor. Most of all we are proud that she is our friend.
Sincerely,
Rob Gardner
PPBAM Member at Large
Congratulations Dave Bowman
Released March 2007
The Annual Agnew-Harrison Drumming Invitational was held at the James Street Armouries in Hamilton, Ontario on Saturday, March 10th, 2007. Dave Bowman, a member of the Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba, placed third in the professional drumming class. Dave competed against a strong field of top professional snare drummers from around the country. Bravo Dave!
