The 18th annual pipes|drums New Year’s Honours

2018 Piper of the Year

Alex and Bruce Gandy

Panellists’ comments:

• “A historical feat to play side by side at the Glenfiddich – the pinnacle of solo piping competition, but also dedication to teaching and successfully maintaining a Grade 1 band in Nova Scotia.”
• “It is difficult to look past the Gandys for their joint appearance at the Glenfiddich.”
• “History-making event.”
• “Obvious. The first ever at the Glenfiddich! An easy choice. Exceptional win by Alex in the Inverness Silver Star!”

Also nominated (alphabetical order):

Glenn Brown – several big prizes, like the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban and the Captain John MacLellan Memorial Medal, as well as courageous and meaningful leadership of the Competing Pipers Association, earned Brown another nomination.

Lincoln Hilton – the Australian piper doesn’t compete, but he continues to gain attention for his innovative compositions, product development and video production. Hilton’s “Modern Piping” initiative puts an accent on creativity, seeking out other innovators pushing the envelope in composition.

Jack Lee – the British Columbia piper keeps going at such steadily amazingly productive rate that we run the risk of taking him for granted. That would be a mistake. The pipe-sergeant of Simon Fraser University, a Glenfiddich invitee, a pipe music compiler, a bagpipe and reedmaker . . . just another exceptional year by the greatest North American piper in history.

Stuart Liddell – a machine of solo piping and pipe band excellence, Liddell had another exceptional year. He also travelled the world teaching and inspiring others to excellence, all as a congenial and patient ambassador for the art.

Colin MacLellan – there are those who just get things done. They step up to make a difference. They shrug off the naysayers and the narky jealous, keep their focus and get on with the business of evoking positive change. MacLellan led the UK’s Solo Piping Judges Association, organized the Captain John MacLellan Memorial Medal, and was in demand as one of the most accurate, knowledgeable and ethical judges out there.

Richard Parkes – what more can be said of this pipe band genius? The greatest pipe-major in the history of pipe bands, Parkes keeps his Field Marshal Montgomery at a pinnacle from which he simply refuses to climb down. 2018 was yet another year of incredible quality, driven by Parkes, and culminating with his band’s remarkable twelfth World Championship victory.