The Background of the DRM
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| Barbara and Dan Reid |
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Dan and Barbara
The Dr. Dan Reid Memorial Invitational Piping Competition was initiated in 1992 to honor the memory of Dr. Dan Reid and his wife Barbara who were killed in a climbing accident in Kenya in 1991. Dan was a member of the St. Andrew's Society of San Francisco and had been the initiator of a committee to formulate a plan to promote the history, playing and knowledge of the Great Highland Bagpipe throughout the United States.
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Primary Objective
As a result of the competition, a catalog of the finest compositions of the music has been created in audio format. The DRM committee prides itself on bringing to light traditional pieces of music, long hidden from the piping public by their age and lack of publication. By offering these selections, the music, history and sound can be carried into the next generation of traditionalists.
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| | The Operation Ten individuals comprise the Dr. Dan Reid Memorial Committee. This small committee works for twelve months to produce the world-class event. Each committee member is responsible for a portion of the event: the music, competitors, judges, travel arrangements and accommodations are all coordinated for the event day.Note should be made of the individuals involved at the initiation. The original impetus came from Dr. Dan Reid, P/M Ozzie Reid, and Trustee John Dickson in developing the initial proposal. With the untimely passing of Dr. Reid, P/M Reid and Dickson decided to continue the work in Dr. Reid's memory. The operating committee has been limited by design with P/M Reid serving as Chairman and Mr. Dickson as co-chair.
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Specific tasks were assigned with P/M Reid tending to the design of music, competitors and competition and Mr. Dickson covering the administrative, financial and political aspects. The committee then called old friend, Major A.M. Cairns of London, Ontario, an internationally renowned teacher, judge and piping authority. Major Cairns assisted in formulating the structure of the rules and music and quickly became the third member of the committee. To this was added a group of reliable individual;s who were assigned tasks in which they had very special skills. These tasks are now capably handled by the DRM committee: P/M Ozzie Reid (Chairman), Mr. Colin Breck, Mr. Ned Garrett, Dr. Terry Hunter, Mrs. Andrea Jones, Mrs. Lois Reid, Mrs. Jas. Brown, Mr Aron Buchanan and Mrs. Shaun Rex Buchanan.
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The Music
The music would be selected by means of a series of tune lists in each discipline. These lists would be submitted to the invitees at least six months prior to the contest. The competitors would then submit the required number of tunes from which would be drawn one Piobaireachd and two Marches, two Strathspeys and two Reels. These tunes were the original and defining quality of the DRM since they required a high level of proficiency from each competitor. The compilation of the lists was performed by P/M Ozzie Reid and Major Cairns. They are derived from original lists of tunes that had been accumulated over many years, by these two experienced players, to assist in the instruction of young pipers who were striving to reach the highest levels of solo competitive playing. Using these lists as a base, many hours are devoted each year to compilation of the lists. Every effort is made as to fairness and balance, but the4 overriding theme is to revive and offer an audio recording of all the great tunes of the Great Highland Bagpipe. The desire of the great players to receive an invitation to compete at the DRM is vindication of not only the format but evidence of their personal desire to accept a challenge and to extend their own exceptional talents with their desire to broaden the scope of this rich music.
Tune Selection:
The final tune selection has been altered from it's original concept and is now performed by the DRM music director P/M Reid and a special committee of experienced competitors and judges. The purpose of this method is to not only assure the best possible balance in tune selection for each competitor, but also to see to it that the contest takes full advantage of the extensive tune lists. It also al;lows the organizers to continue to expand the audio library by being able to chart the tunes played and recorded over the years of the event and to prepare the material necessary to present the information to our judges and guests. This is probably one of the more radical changes made in comparison to other competitions, but the acceptance of the selections by the competitor's can only speak for the fairness of this decision.
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| The Support
The St. Andrew's Foundation of San Francisco is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose sole member is the St. Andrew's Society of San Francisco. Support for the DRM is gained through the Foundation's resources, courtesy of The Piping Trust. Funding, through ticket sales to the competition, the award's banquet and the live audio recordings of the event allow the DRM to continue it's current presentation. Private donations are contributed to the St. Andrew's Foundation by individual members of the Society, Clans, Pipe Bands and enthusiasts as a token of their commitment to the success of the DRM. Corporate donations and sponsorships pay for a small percentage of the annual event. All contributions are tax deductible and are gladly received by mailing same to the chairman with funds being designated to: St. Andrew's Foundation DRM. Ozzie Reid, Chairman. P.O Box 2432, Alameda, CA 94501-9998
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| Dr. Terry Hunter,Mrs. Momi Hunter, Mr. Mark Jones and Mr. Angus John MacLellen |
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