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Post date: Nov 12, 2019 10:29:12 PM
“G8, Patagonia, Argentina…” was the provoking closing statement of the promotional video that went viral about 6 months prior to the 8th South American Pipe Band Gathering. This set the Continent’s excitement to unprecedented levels, and so did the Bariloche Highlanders deliver the unanimously acclaimed best Gathering so far!
Official G8 group photo, on the banks of the Nahuel Huapi lake - Credit: Jeannine Facht
Bariloche Highlanders Pipe Band first conceived this dream in 2015, and later embraced the project in 2017 at the end of the 7th Pipe Band Gathering in Santiago de Chile. This pipe band is the newest member of the Association, one of the smallest and most geographically isolated pipe bands in the Continent yet courageously navigated through a 70% currency devaluation in Argentina throughout the past two years of planning and hard work behind producing this Gathering. Their vision of hosting the greatest Gathering became a reality as from 15th of October, when the guest adjudicators and instructors started their Southbound journey from Scotland, Canada and the USA; and the pipe bands followed soon after from Mendoza, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, São Paulo and Rio do Janeiro! The town of Bariloche coincidentally witnessed that day the last snowfall of the season, to be followed by majestic clear skies and temperature highs of over 20 °C throughout the weekend!
Friday morning was entirely dedicated to piping, drumming and highland dancing workshops, one of many cornerstones to augmenting the region’s collective knowledge of these Highland arts.
Highland Dancing Competitions - Photo credit: Jeannine Facht
The G8’s agenda started on Thursday 17th of October, with an afternoon of soloist competitions: mini-MSR and Hornpipe & Jig piping competitions, a snare and tenor drumming drumming competitions, and the first highland dancing competitions to ever be held at a Gathering.
Click on the image for the brief video on the workshops
The traditional Massed Bands parade, downtown Bariloche on Friday afternoon, was accompanied by the Argentine’s Army Band from the Regimiento de Montaña (the Army’s regiment based in Bariloche). Both bands met at the endpoint of the parade, and played together symbolizing music’s ability to connect countries and cultures.
Drone-view of the Massed Bands Highland Fling (center rows of dancers, flanked by pipers and drummers). Far left, the band of the Regimiento de Montaña (in white uniforms)
Craig Munro’s processional at the Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi Cathedral
Photo courtesy of Patricia Izuibejeres
Saturday 19th were the pipe band competitions, held at Pehuenes Rugby Club, and attended by an audience of approximately 2000 residents and out-of-town visitors. The competitions were divided into two sections, where each pipe band would compete in a Quick March Medley and Dance Corps competitions in the morning, and a Medley competition followed by a freestyle show in the afternoon.
That same evening, we had the Bariloche Highlanders and the Association’s official welcome cocktail party, and adjudicators’ most inspiring and entertaining concert.
The guest adjudicators and Bariloche Highlanders then played at a fundraising ceremony at Bariloche’s Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi Cathedral, alongside the Bariloche-based Russian Likui Choir. This event raised AR$ 39,270 (equivalent to US$ 650) in just 45 minutes!
Highland Thistle Pipe Band, during their Dance Corps Competition
The pipe band competition results are as follows:
Quick March Medley
Highland Thistle
South American Piping Association
Banda Brazil Caledonia
Medley
Highland Thistle
South American Piping Association
St. Andrew's Society of the River Plate
March and Deportment
Highland Thistle
St. Andrew's Society of the River Plate
Santiago Metropolitan
Dance Corps
Highland Thistle
South American Piping Association
Santiago Metropolitan
Piping
Highland Thistle
South American Piping Association
St. Andrew's Society of the River Plate
Drumming
Highland Thistle
South American Piping Association
St. Andrew's Society of the River Plate
SPBASA Cup (Overall Pipe Band)
Highland Thistle
South American Piping Association
St. Andrew's Society of the River Plate
Congratulations to Highland Thistle Pipe Band for winning the SPBASA Cup, and we once again thank the Bariloche Highlanders, the adjudicators/instructors, all the participating pipe bands and soloists, the numerous sponsors and the Argentine-British Community Council for their support in making this happen.
Click on the image for the closing video
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