FARMINGTON – The Arts Institute of Western Maine will host a concert by local bagpiper Scott Walmer, and other musicians, including Will Sytsma and Jason Ramsey, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 24, in Nordica Auditorium at the University of Maine at Farmington.

The concert will help Walmer fund his travels to the North American Pipe Band Championship competition in Canada. He said he’ll be competing July 31 in Maxville, Ontario.

Walmer, who’s been playing the pipes since 1999, is one of Maine’s premier bagpipers. He travels extensively as a competition soloist and as a performer with the North American Champion Tulach Ard Pipe Band from Boston, one of the highest ranked pipe bands in the United States. Walmer’s compositions are being played by bands around the globe. He also is the principal bagpipe instructor at a school of piping and drumming in Boston.

Sytsma comes from a musical family that is well-known in the Farmington community. He’s been playing the guitar since he was 8 and, ever since middle school, has been in various fiddle and rock groups.

Sytsma currently spends a majority of his time songwriting and recording as well as jamming in musical sessions with his friends.

Ramsey, now a student at Cornell University, is an accomplished violinist and fiddler.

In this sendoff concert for the 2004 North American Championship, Walmer will demonstrate mastery of the Highland pipes, as well as a set on the small pipes. His improvisational skills will be put to the test as he arranges artful accompaniment that includes guitar, bass, drum set and techno.

Admission to the concert is by donation.

which will help Walmer fund his travels to the championship competition.