Delight at securing of renown piping judge for Gathering
All 32 of South Africa's pipe bands have confirmed their attendance.
Amanzimtoti Lions are over the moon at the confirmation of an international judge at this year’s 52nd annual Highland Gathering that takes place at Hutchison Park fields on Saturday, 30 April.
“Initially it looked like we wouldn’t have an international judge for this year’s competition, but we are pleased to anounce Bob Worrall will be attending,” said Amanzimtoti Lions president, Carol Botha.
“All 32 of South Africa’s pipe bands have also confirmed their attendance, so with a full complement of pipers, this is awesome news and so much more exciting for the bands.”
Worrall is one of North America’s leading teachers, adjudicators and performers.
He is a respected composer, having published two collections of bagpipe music. Both collections are being republished this year, along with a new third book which will be released during Piping Live in Glasgow.
Worrall is featured on three solo piping recordings and was a member of the folk group ‘Scantily Plaid’.
After a piping career with a number of Ontario’s leading pipe bands, including the City of Toronto Pipe Band and the General Motors Pipe Band, Worrall retired from competitive piping in 1983.
His solo accomplishments were extensive, both in North America and Scotland. He won the North American Professional Championship an unprecedented seven times and the Ontario Professional Championship Supreme title for 12 of his 13 years in the professional class.
He was also the 1977 winner of the March, Strathspey and Reel events in Inverness.
He was a pupil of Bill Millar, Willie Connell and the late John Wilson.
A member of North American and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s judging panels, Worrall has been selected to judge the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on 13 occasions.
For the last 10 years he has been the colour commentator for the BBC’s broadcast of the World Pipe Band Championships.
He is a member of the Piobaireachd Society’s Senior Judges list and has adjudicated major competitions in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Brittany and South Africa. Worrall’s recent overseas piping ventures have included teaching and performing in Zimbabwe, Australia and Italy.
He was the senior instructor at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton for 15 years. More recent piping camps have included Kingston (Ontario), the Ohio Scottish Arts School, Lake Diefenbaker (Saskatchewan), Washington State and Oregon, Vancouver Island, Uruguay, Australia and South Africa.
Weekend workshops, adjudicating and recitals have taken him to virtually all of the Canadian provinces and 36 US states.
With Swiss dancers arriving for the national dance competition and the inclusion of the third Lifestyle Expo, this year’s Highland Gathering is set to be bigger and better than ever before.
One of the highlights of last year’s event was Keely Crocker singing with the pipers and the 13-year-old has been invited back, along with another 13-year-old Toti singing sensation, Sornia Kanfer. Keely and Sornia will perform solo items, as well as a duet.
Entrance to the Highland Gathering is R40 per adult, R20 for pensioners and students, and R10 for children. Children under six pay no cover charge.
To keep updated on the event, check out the Facebook page ‘The Highland Gathering and Lifestyle Expo Amanzimtoti’ and Amanzimtoti Lions Club website www.amanzimtoti-lions.org.
To book a stand for the flea, food or craft market, contact John West on 082-771-1108 or email john.d.k.west@gmail.com. To book a stand for the expo, contact Monique on 082-304-2803 or email admin@bigevents365.co.za.
