The 37th Nicol-Brown invitational solo piping competition for amateurs will be held on Saturday, October 12. The venue is , as usual, the First Reformed Church of Scotia in Scotia, New York.
On the night before, a fundraising-concert will take place in Troy Music Hall with proceeds going towards funding the digitising of a library of recordings of Bob Brown and Bob Nicol as well as other piping authorities. The recordings are from the library of well known North American piper, Donald F. Lindsay.
The contest itself will be judged this year by Callum Beaumont, Faye Henderson, and Matt MacIsaac.
Competitors play in the 6/8 March event first followed by the Piobaireachd. The MSR contest takes place in the afternoon. Admission is free.
The contest is dedicated to the memory of master pipers, Robert U. Brown and Robert B. Nicol. Prizes are the Nicol-Brown are generous with the overall winner receiving travel expenses to compete at an important solo event of their choice the following year, as well as a custom-engraved McCallum pipe chanter. Last year’s winner, Filemon Tan from Texas, used his prize to compete in the SPSL’s London Competition.
The weekend ends on the Sunday (13th) when the committee hosts a morning masterclass. Nicol-Brown competitors will receive instruction from all three judges.
Invitations to the Nicol-Brown Competition are based on the year’s overall rankings and competitive results in the pipers’ home associations, as well as in national and international contests.
