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

2015 Solo Competition Piper of the Year

Angus MacColl

Panellists’ comments:

“Winning the Silver Star MSR at Oban, second in Clasp and third in Former Winners MSR for Northern Meetings Quaich Overall winner, and winner of the Glenfiddich.”

“Beat the best of an incredible lot at the Glenfiddich. It’s the pinnacle of solo piping, and he’s on top.”

“It is very difficult to look past the winner of the Glenfiddich. The best of the best and his playing on the day was outstanding.”

Also considered (alphabetical order):

Callum Beaumont – another Northern Meeting Clasp and the overall winner at the Scottish Piping Society of London competitions, Beaumont at age 25 had a great year and has a massive future at his feet.

Cameron Drummond – the Edinburgh-based piper continues to quietly make his mark, though he did so loudly at Skye, winning the Dunvegan Medal, Clasp and overall trophy on the same day, and capped his year with the Captain John MacLellan Memorial trophy.

Bruce Gandy – a terrific solo year for Gandy, starting with another Livingstone, then winning the Clan Donald Quaich, and culminating with a Silver Star at Inverness.

Alasdair Henderson – the Dunoon, Scotland, pipe-sergeant of Inveraray & District continued his rise to the elite tier of soloists by taking the A-Grade light music double at the Argyllshire Gathering, and being consistently in the prizes everywhere else.

Nick Hudson – perhaps a surprise inclusion, but Pittsburgh’s Hudson showed young pipers exactly how to gain a toe-hold on the international stage, winning the Maxville Gold Medal and raking in prizes (e.g., Dornoch, Strathpeffer, Glen Isla . . .) all around the Scottish games in August.

Finlay Johnston – the Gold Medal and A-Grade MSR at the Northern Meeting gained Johnston a nomination as his portfolio of prizes expands.

Stuart Liddell – for the aforementioned achievements and then some, Liddell took 33 per cent of the vote, just missing the pipes|drums piping double.

Roddy MacLeod – another solid season of prizes for MacLeod, who continues to amaze with his music and quality of instrument.

Willie McCallum – a resurgence of sorts for the popular piper from Campbeltown, Scotland, regaining his own personal best standard throughout the year. His astonishing 29th straight invitation to the Glenfiddich Championship is testament to his historic consistency, and 2015 was no exception.

Sean McKeown – while fitting in the pipe-majorship of the Grade 1 Toronto Police, McKeown had an excellent year around his own games, and a tremendous Northern Meeting, winning the Silver Medal and the A-Grade Hornpipe & Jig.