CPA - Competing Pipers Association
The Joint Committee for Judging (JCJ)
The JCJ is the body which is recognised by the Competing Pipers' Association (CPA) and major competitions as the sole authority for the appointment and regulation of qualified solo piping judges in Scotland. All approved judges are included in the 'Approved Judges List'.
Membership of the JCJ consists of representatives of the Senior Judges, the CPA, the Piobaireachd Society and the major competitions, including the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting. Chairmanship rotates between the Senior Judges, the CPA and the major competitions on a three year basis.
Current Chairman : John Wilson (Senior Judge)
Current Secretary : Tracey Williams (CPA Secretary)
The CPA recommends that all organisers use the Approved Judges' List to select judges at the appropriate level to judge solo piping competitions.
New Approved Judges
Anyone interested in becoming an approved Judge of solo piping should make written application to the Secretary of the JCJ.
Applicants must list their competitive and general piping experience, their qualification to judge and nominate two referees.
The application is scrutinised by the Senior Judges sub-Committee, with further references taken. It is likely that most applicants will be known to some of the members of the Judging community.
The Senior Judges will make their recommendation to the main Committee, who will vote on the acceptability of each proposed new member of the approved list. Majority vote will be enough for successful application.
Status
There are different levels of judging seniority, which are assigned by the JCJ, on recommendation by the Senior Judges. These are :
- Senior : Those who have competed successfully at the highest level and can demonstrate sufficient knowledge and experience in judging. Eligible to judge any competition.
The CPA supports the expansion of the qualification criteria to become a senior judge to include multiple prize winners at Gold Medal and A Light Music level at the AG and NM. - Approved : Those knowledgeable and experienced with notable success in competition (amateur or professional) but not necessarily at the highest level. Eligible to judge any competition, normally with Senior judges, but not major competitions except with a Senior judge or judges.
- Accredited: Those with recognised knowledge and / or experience. Eligible to judge local games / competitions, but not eligible to judge adult events at major competitions.
Performance of each judge is monitored during the year by the Senior Judges, and in consultation with the CPA, revisions of status are recommended annually to the JCJ. Approval is obtained by majority vote.
Complaints
Any complaints regarding performance of a judge should be made, in writing, to the Secretary of the JCJ, who will forward it on to the Senior Judges sub-Committee for review.
All deliberations of applicants and existing members of the Approved Judges' List are confidential.
Communication
All communication should be sent to the Secretary
