The 12th annual pipes|drums New Year’s Honours

2013 Solo Competition Piper of the Year

Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland

Another magnificent year of solo success from the Argyllshire’s musical genius. He won the Clasp, Silver Star MSR and the Hornpipe & Jig at the Northern Meeting (possibly the first time that has ever been achieved), the Silver Star MSR at the Argyllshire Gathering and closed his year with a second in the Piobaireachd at the Glenfiddich. While it’s not factored in the decision, one can’t help but be astounded that Liddell was able to do that while managing one of the world’s great pipe bands while gearing up for the world’s most high-pressure concerts. While close in the voting, Stuart Liddell is a worthy recipient of our award in 2013.

Panelists’ comments:

• “Awesome.”
• “He is simply so good on so many levels, and such a genuinely nice guy.”
• “His day at the Northern Meeting was one for the ages. He quietly collected all three firsts in all three events he was in – which just so happened to be the three most prestigious events of their kind in the solo piping world.”/em>

Also considered (in alphabetical order):

Callum Beaumont, Bo’ness, Scotland – at only 23 years old, many say that Callum Beaumont is the future of solo piping in Scotland. In just a few years he plays with maturity and consistency that has already produced enough prizes to satisfy even the greatest. In 2013 he added the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting to his achievements, and rounded up a second in the Clasp, along with a bevy of other awards.

Jack Lee – a prodigious solo year for Jack Lee who, at an age when most pipers have long since hung them up, keeps on sucking up the awards, which in 2013 included the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban, the Masters Invitational and the Glenfiddich MSR.

Iain Speirs, Edinburgh – he finished 2013 with a win of the Gillies Cup Open Piobaireachd at London, and that followed his second consecutive overall win at the Glenfiddich Invitational.