Competition Music Requirements and Contest Dates 2025

Competitions

  • New! Tintern Grammar – Sunday April 6th 2025 TBC
  • Competition 2 – Ballarat Grammar May 10th 2025 
  • Competition 3 -Scotch College  May 31st 2025
  • Competition 4 – Camperdown June 14th 2025 
  • Competition 5 – Scots Albury July 5th 2025 
  • Vic Champs Recital Friday July 25th 2025
  • Competition 6- 2024 Victorian Championships – PLC July 26th AND 27th 2025

The following tune requirements are for the 2025 VPA competition season.

Tuning Time

A, B & C Grade, 3-5 minutes of tuning is permitted on arrival to Element 1. Thereafter, up to 1 minute tuning is permitted between elements.

Novice and D grade are permitted to have outside assistance for tuning before each Element whilst in the competing room.

Please note C grade is now allowed tuning assistance as well commencing 2024.

Tune Requirements For All Contests

Light Music

A Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 tunes)
Element 2  –  1 x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 of each tune)
Element 3  –  1 x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1 x jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 of each tune)

B Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 tunes)
Element 2 –  1 x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 of each tune, judge will pick which tunes to be played)
Element 3  – 1 x Hornpipe of 4 or more parts into 1 x jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 of each tune, judge will pick which tunes to be played).

C Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 parts (own choice)
Element 2 –  1 x Strathspey of 4 parts into 1 x Reel of 4 parts (own choice)
Element 3  –  1 x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1 x jig of 4 parts (own choice)

D Grade

Element 1  –  1 x 2/4 March of 4 parts (Own choice)
Element 2  –  1 x Strathspey of 2 parts into 1 x Reel of 2 parts (Own choice)

Novice

Element 1  –  2 parts of 2/4 March (Own choice)
Element 2  –  2 parts of Slow air/Slow march (i.e. 2 parts with repeats or 32 bars of music)

Piobaireachd

A Grade

Submit 3 full tunes from the A grade set list below.

A grade Piobaireachd Set list 2025

The Prince’s Salute (#), PS1, K.
Lament for the Departure of King James, PS3, K.
Lady Margaret Macdonald’s Salute, PS3, K.
The Stewart’s White Banner, PS7.
Ronald Macdonald of Morar’s Lament, PS8.
The Young Laird of Dungallon’s Salute (#), PS10
The Maclean’s March (#), PS10
A Son’s Salute to his Parents, Donald Macleod Piob.

(#) denotes that a crunluath a’mach must be played

 

B Grade

Submit 2 full tunes from the B grade set list below

Lament for the Viscount of Dundee, PS1, K.
You’re Welcome, Ewen Lochiel, PS2, K.
The Rout of the MacPhees (#), PS4
Macdonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament No. 1, PS6, K
The Desperate Battle (#), PS7, K.
The MacFarlane’s Gathering, PS7, K.
The Piper’s Warning to his Master, PS12, K.
Chisholm’s Salute (#), PS14, K.

(#) denotes that a crunluath a’mach must be played

C Grade

Submit 1 full tune from the VPA set list including crunluath variation and crunluath a’mach where applicable.

D Grade

Competitor to play Ground and next variation only of a tune from the VPA set list

Note: If the tune has a ground followed by thumb variation or ground doubling then this is all that needs to be played. If the tune has ground then Variation 1, then this is all that needs to be played.

Novice

Competitor to play Ground only of a tune from the VPA set list