Ears turn to solo piping majors, starting with Argyllshire Gathering at Oban

The World Pipe Band Championships consumed the attention of the majority of pipers and drummers worldwide, and now it’s solo piping’s turn, with the Argyllshire Gathering at Oban, the Captain John MacLellan Memorial Medal in Edinburgh, and the Northern Meeting in Inverness poised to command interest over the next two weeks.

“Oban and Inverness,” as they’re referred to by pipers, boast the most prestigious prizes in the world among non-invitational competitions. The Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal piobaireachd contests, run at both locations, produce winners who will have their names indelibly added to history and, for many, catapult them into a lifetime of judging and teaching opportunities.

The winners of the Gold Medals, plus those of the Clasp and Senior Piobaireachd at Inverness and Oban, respectively, for previous Gold Medal winners, each gain an invitation to the Glenfiddich Solo Piping Championships in Blair Atholl, Scotland, on October 19th.

The winners of the Silver Star Former Winners MSR at Inverness and the Former Winners MSR at Oban also receive Glenfiddich invitations.

Of note, only two women out of approximately 80 contestants will compete in the most prestigious events. About a third of accepted entrants are not residents of Scotland.

The Wednesday Argyllshire Gathering events are held at indoor venues around Oban’s town centre. The Thursday competitions are held outside at Mossfield Park regardless of the weather. Those competing on Thursday will pray to the high heavens for dry weather since a soaked bagpipe can greatly complicate their instrument for the Northern Meeting at Inverness, August 29-30.

The Captain John A. MacLellan MBE Memorial Medal Recital-Competition is an invitational piping event held on Saturday, August 24th, in Edinburgh. Although relatively new, it has become one of the marquee events on the solo piping calendar. The Eagle Pipers Society organizes the contest at the Caledonian Waldorf Astoria Hotel, honouring the memory and music of the great Captain John MacLellan.

pipes|drums will follow the events and report results as they become available.

Here are orders of play and judges for the major events at the Argyllshire Gathering, August 21-22.

Highland Society of London Gold Medal

Judges: Bruce Hitchings, Ronnie McShannon, Willie Morrison

1. John Mulhearn, Carluke, Scotland
2. Gordon Bruce, Kilwinning, Scotland
3. Sarah Muir, Campbeltown, Scotland
4. Nick Hudson, Houston
5. Angus J. MacColl, Benderloch, Scotland
6. Sandy Cameron, Roy Bridge, Scotland
7. Steven Leask, East Kilbride, Scotland
8. Ben Duncan, Edinburgh
9. Andrew Carlisle, Pittsburgh
10. William Rowe, Fielding, New Zealand
11. Cameron MacDougall, Nigg, Scotland
12. Derek Midgley, Tinton Falls, New Jersey
13. Andrew Donlon, Washington, DC
14. Sean McKeown, Bowmanville, Ontario
15. Glenn Brown, Glasgow
16. Calum Brown, Aberdeen, Scotland
17. Matt Pantaleoni, St. Louis
18. Calum Watson, Bathgate, Scotland
19. Ben McClamrock, Washington, DC
20. Jamie Elder, Auchtermuchty, Scotland
21. Alastair Lee, Surrey, British Columbia
22. Darach Urquhart, Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland
23. Cameron Drummond, Edinburgh
24. Innes Smith, Dunblane, Scotland
25. Brendon Eade, Waikato, New Zealand

Senior Piobaireachd (for winners of at least one of the Gold Medals)

Judges: Murray Henderson, Angus MacDonald, John Wilson

1. Glenn Brown
2. Ian K. MacDonald, Whitby, Ontario
3. Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland
4. Greg Wilson, Christchurch
5. Iain Speirs, Edinburgh
6. Bruce Gandy, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
7. Fred Morrison, Bishopton, Scotland
8. Finlay Johnston, Glasgow
9. Chris Armstrong, Glasgow
10. Jack Lee, Surrey, British Columbia
11. Innes Smith
12. Alan Bevan, Abbotsford, British Columbia
13. Nick Hudson
14. Roddy MacLeod, Glasgow
15. Craig Sutherland
16. Alasdair Henderson, Dunoon, Scotland
17. Willie McCallum, Bearsden, Scotland
18. Angus D. MacColl, Benderloch, Scotland
19. Andrew Hayes, Ottawa
20. Callum Beaumont, St. Andrews, Scotland

Silver Medal

Judges: Euan Anderson, Jimmy Banks, Bill Wotherspoon

1. Ashley McMichael, Antrim, Northern Ireland
2. Anna Kummerlöw, Kladrum, Germany
3. Bradley Parker, Milngavie, Scotland
4. Fraser Allison, Balfron, Scotland
5. Angus MacPhee, Inverness, Scotland
6. Ben Mulhearn, Troon, Scotland
7. John McDonald, Aberdeen, Scotland
8. Cameron May, Lesmahagow, Scotland
9. Zephan Knichel, Surrey, British Columbia
10. Bobby Durning, Carrollton, Texas
11. James McPetrie, Aboyne, Scotland
12. Ruairidh Brown, Dunblane, Scotland
13. Jonathon Simpson, Falkirk, Scotland
14. Dan Lyden, Timonium, Maryland
15. John Dew, Edinburgh
16. Alistair Bevan, Abbotsford, British Columbia
17. Mike Fitzhenry, Paisley, Scotland
18. Andrew Ferguson, Dollar, Scotland
19. Brodie Watson-Massey, Edinburgh
20. Luke Kennedy, Strathaven, Scotland
21. Callum Wynd, Dunblane, Scotland
22. Eireann Iannetta-Mackay, Burrelton, Scotland
23. Jacob Dicker, Maxville, Ontario
24. Steven Gray, Lockerbie, Scotland
25. Greig Canning, Kirkcaldy, Scotland

Former Winners MSR

Judges: Barry Donaldson, Iain MacFadyen, Bob Worrall

1. Alasdair Henderson
2. Iain Speirs, Edinburgh
3. Ben Duncan
4. Cameron MacDougall
5. Neil Smith, Balfron, Scotland
6. Angus D. MacColl
7. Sarah Muir
8. Chris Armstrong
9. Bruce Gandy
10. Stuart Liddell
11. Allan Russell, Kelty, Scotland
12. Alex Gandy
13. Alan Bevan
14. Roddy MacLeod
15. Finlay Johnston
16. Glenn Brown
17. Cameron Drummond
18. Alister Lee
19. Andrew Carlisle
20. Ian K. MacDonald
21. Willie McCallum
22. Craig Sutherland
23. Fred Morrison
24. Callum Beaumont
25. Jack Lee, Surrey, British Columbia
26. Angus J. MacColl