The Australian Pipe Band Championships will set the pace for Australian Competition in November this year, when bands will be judged on ensemble as well as the traditional piping and drumming elements.

In an arena where bands have always been expected to perform to the highest level of piping and drumming, a judge will now be appointed for ensemble adding in a new and exciting element to local competition.

According to the Championship Newsletter: "This will be the first contest held in Australia in which Ensemble adjudication will be part of the aggregate result of the Championships. In all contest elements adjudication panels will consist of 2 piping, 1 ensemble and 1 drumming adjudicator. The adjudicators will be using the placing’s method to determine the results i.e. listing the bands in order from 1 to whatever is the total of competing bands in the element, the band with the lowest aggregate total will be the winning band."

This is a standard that has been accepted at World Championship level for many years and DUTK.com's own John McFarland has been a great advocate for the introduction of ensemble judging here in Australia.

Mr McFarland, an experienced drumming and dress and drill judge for many years, believes that ensemble presents the character of a band performance and pulls together the technical elements of the pipe and drum corps. He also feels it important for Australia to keep up with the world wide standard of Pipe Band competition: "We should be judging here as they are at Glasgow Green in August, our own Victoria Police Pipe Band set the standard in the late nineties and the bands of today should be given the chance to see a judges comments on how they are bringing the pipe and drum corps together. I have been lobbying here for years for ensemble judging to be implemented, I whole heartedly support the organisers as they create a world stage here in Australia."

Recently we ran an article regarding Mr McFarland's receipt of Life Membership of the NSWPBA, the committee behind the 2008 Australian and South Pacific Pipe Band Championships. It is clear to see his continued interest in the organisation.

The Australian Pipe Band Championships will be held in NSW, Australia on 2nd November 2008.