The 14th annual pipes|drums New Year’s Honours

2015 Piper of the Year

Stuart Liddell

Panellists’ comments:

“Stuart continues to show that it is possible to be a top tier soloist and at the same time lead an innovative and very successful Grade 1 band.”

“For continuing to compete successfully, teach, tune pianos, raise the entertainment level of the bagpipe all while keeping a band in the top six.”

“Probably currently the all-round most talented piper in the world.”

“Continued unbelievable levels of solo performance, coupled with pipe-majoring a contending band, and launching his own make of pipes.”

“Phenomenal consistency. He is always there or there about in major competition and of course is at the helm of a top-three pipe band.”

Also considered (alphabetical order):

Ryan Canning – last year’s Piper of the Year, the Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia pipe-major won the World’s, launched a popular collection of his own music, and was at the fulcrum of controversy in the latter part of the year. “Shotts’ success would never have happened without this man’s leadership. We will never fully appreciate the challenges he must have endured all year,” said one panellist.

Bruce Gandy – perhaps his best competing year ever (including his first Northern Meeting Silver Star), the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based piper continued to commit himself to teaching professionally with his many pupils getting their own results.

Angus MacColl – the Benderloch, Scotland-based MacColl resumed his greatness as a solo piper, enjoying one of his best seasons in several years, culminating in a win at the 2015 Glenfiddich.

Roddy MacLeod – his leadership of the National Piping Centre, management of Piping Live! and perennial success in solo piping consistently put Roddy MacLeod in this list of nominees.

Richard Parkes – we all know Parkes’s leadership of Field Marshal Montgomery, and 2015 was another great year for the band. He also travels the globe imparting his knowledge through teaching and adjudicating competitions.

Alen Tully – he won his first major championship as pipe-major of St. Laurence O’Toole and, together with Leading-Drummer Stephen Creighton, has returned the band to consistent contention for any competition while delivering adventurous and seemingly effortless musicality.