The most important stories of ’17

NOVEMBER

#MeToo: A collective call to members of our community

Megan Canning’s courageous discussion of the problems of discrimination, harassment and even abuse of women in the piping and drumming world showed that our world is not exempt from these problems. Only by discussing the issues and asking questions will we get answers and be able to improve.

PBASA elects 23-year-old president

Twenty-three-year-old tenor drummer Tarryn Mocke was elected president of the Pipe Band Association of South Africa, perhaps the youngest leader ever for a major piping and drumming association. The South African scene has been controlled mainly by far older men, and for such a young female to be elected is perhaps a statement on the times.

MacLellan elected SPJA leader

The aforementioned Solo Piping Judges Association voted in Colin MacLellan as chair, succeeding Andrew Wright after the completion of the latter’s three-year term. MacLellan has been an outspoken proponent of the anti-nepotism policy adopted by the SPJA, which in September was argued against by a small vocal minority.

Wallace no longer SPJA judge

The resignation of one of the critics of the SPJA’s anti-nepotism rule resigned from the organization, relinquishing his status as a Senior Judge at competitions that work with the SPJA, which in 2017 included the Northern Meeting, Argyllshire Gathering, and Scottish Piping Society of London – the three biggest solo events in the UK.