Greetings -
The Pipers’ Gathering, as the name implies, focuses primarily on bagpipes – other-than-Highland bagpipes. For more than 25 years this has been an annual event in August in Vermont, initially in North Hero and currently in Killington. This year’s Gathering is scheduled for 13 – 16 August.
Over the years whistles and flutes have always been around in sessions and concerts but this year the Gathering is adding an additional focus on these instruments. Laura MacKenzie and Andrea Mori will be offering instruction on flutes and whistles for both beginners and advanced students. There will be workshops of interest and lots of music from the traditions of Ireland, Scotland and England. There will also be a number of makers attending as vendors – the initial list includes Jon Swayne, Sweetheart Flutes, Jerry Freeman’s tweaked whistles, and Bryan Byrne’s flutes with more to be announced as the date approaches.
As a complement to the Gathering, Bill Ochs will be offering his “Ornaments Boot Camp” on the afternoon of Friday, 13 August. This is not part of the Gathering itself and requires a separate registration, but it should provide a good lead-in to the events of the weekend. (Brian McNamara an Bill will be the instructors on Uilleann pipes for the weekend.)
For more information on all of the above, see the Flutes and Whistles page on the Gathering web site. While you’re there rummage around the site a bit and get a better feel for the event.
Best wishes.
Steve