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

2015 Piping/Drumming Event of the Year

Piping Live! Glasgow International Festival of Piping

The third time winning the Best Event award in the four years that we’ve included it, Piping Live! is the “go-to” spectacle of the year for any piper or drummer who is interested in more than competition. Taking nearly 50 per cent of the vote, those attending never see the massive work and funding that it takes to execute Piping Live!, with an army of volunteers making things happen over seven packed days.

Panellists’ comments:

“Brings together the full array of international piping.”

“The Piping Live! festival continues to do a wonderful job of showcasing musicians from around the world. Although the event leads up to the largest competition on the calendar, it is refreshing to have the instrument celebrated during this week in a non-competitive environment.”

“So much to do, so much to hear, and it’s truly got that ‘event’ feel to it after so many years of getting it right.

Also considered (alphabetical order):

Glenfiddich Invitational Solo Piping Championship – last year’s recipient of our award, the Glenfiddich is to fans of solo piping what the World’s is to pipe band enthusiasts. And it is run flawlessly and with great care and understanding of audience and competitors alike. “Simply the best, and it was great to see Liz Maxwell get some well-deserved recognition after years of tireless work for piping.”

Glengarry Highland Games (North American Championships) – the biggest piping and drumming event in the world in terms of number of competitors and paying public, and 2015’s version was another home run for this complicated two-day gathering.

Simon Fraser University Pipe Up for Cancer fundraising – The Grade 1 band from Vancouver did something truly meaningful in the wake of bad news, performing for their fans and collecting contributions from all over the world for cancer research. “Real, lasting contribution not just to piping and drumming, but for something far more important. Inspiring.” said a panellist.

Simon Fraser University Pipe Band Pre-World’s Concert – the first band to have two nominations in one category, SFU’s “Nous sommes prêt” performance at a sold-out Glasgow Royal Concert Hall had the crowd on its feet several times in another unforgettable evening.

Winter Storm – the 2015 edition of the competition/recital/workshop was the biggest in its 14-year history, warming up fingers and wrists in the bleak North American midwinter.

World Pipe Band Championships – coming in second in the category with 27 per cent of panellists’ votes, there is no bigger competition spectacle during the year, and the 2015 rendition was bigger than ever, with possibly the greatest Grade 1 final in history. “The World’s is the biggest weekend of the season for pipers and drummers together, and this year included possibly the best-ever final, a mix of varied and hotly contending bands.” “It is the ultimate: numbers of bands, players, spectators, the ‘only’ award that seems to matter.”

And, so, those are our esteemed panel’s picks for our fourteenth annual pipes|drums New . . .