Archive
After all of the entries were painstakingly reviewed, Cameron Ely of Croydon North, Australia, emerged as the winner of the 2023 pipes|drums Pick The Six contest! Cameron’s entry was one of only two that got the top six aggregate placings in the Grade 1 competition at the 2023 World Pipe […]
The Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Solo Piping Competition was started in 1982, and the 2023 rendition of the event will see the fortieth time that the prestigious contest will be held, this year on October 7th at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville, Maryland. The event, which sees 10 of the […]
At the closing ceremonies of the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, Prince Harry gave an impassioned, moving speech that paid tribute to Master-Corporal James Gendron, a member of the Canadian team competing in the sporting events for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. Both […]
With the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association not publishing or responding to requests to provide further information on its decision to nullify Friday MSR judge Nat Russell’s 2023 Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship results, a source who requested their name not be divulged provided us with the outcome of […]
When the results were distilled, the winner of the 2023 Springbank Invitational Solo Piping Championship was Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland. The overall champion is determined only by the results from the Piobaireachd and MSR events. The competition is sponsored by the local Springbank Distillery and run by the Kintyre Pipers Society. It was once again held at the Argyll Arms Hotel.
Competing pipe bands, like just about any other public-facing group, are delicate things, chock-a-block with sensitive egos and strong personalities that are ironically part of the generally shy and introverted personnel who populate them. So, when a band makes a significant change, it’s crucial for things to go smoothly. Personnel […]
William “Bill” or “Wullie” Smillie was born in 1931 in Annbank, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was raised in Scotland with his nine siblings. At the age of 18, he joined the Royal Scottish Fusiliers as a soldier and piper. He had the honour of being the lone piper playing at the […]
The Grade 2 Peel Regional Police have revealed that the band will implement two thirds of its succession plan following the 2024 competition season, with Leading-Drummer Harvey Dawson and bass drummer Reagan Jones voluntarily stepping aside to allow their designated successors to take over. Cameron McKail will become the band’s […]
Jeremy White is the new leading-drummer of Grade 2 North Stratton of Edmonton, Alberta, taking over from Tim Boan, who had held the post for the last six years. It was Boan’s decision to step down, and he will stay with the band. “We would like to thank Tim Boan […]
Grade 2 Cascadia of Seattle has appointed Steven Wheeler as the band’s leading-drummer following the decision by Amber Stone to step down from the role after two years as the band’s first percussion section leader. Wheeler joins Cascadia after two years playing with Florida’s Grade 1 City of Dunedin. Before […]
The Grade 1 78th Fraser Highlanders have appointed the prolific composer Michael Grey as their new pipe-major, succeeding Doug MacRae, who recently announced his retirement after 13 years in the role. Also joining the band is double Gold Medallist and former Grade 1 Toronto Police pipe-major Ian K. MacDonald, who […]
I’ve spent 50 years now trying to figure out piping and drumming – the music and the culture. And both are fascinating, endless pursuits. The younger competing years seemed to have unlimited wonder and time, so much so that you didn’t have to ponder things much. I think back and […]
For a piper, winning the Springbank Invitational is about as precious as finding a bottle of the distillery’s coveted and rare product is for a malt whisky-lover. That said, one of eight pipers is certain to gain the title at the 2023 Springbank Invitational Solo Piping Competition on September 16th […]
It was a warm 28°C with mostly sunny skies for the Calgary Highland Games, held at the Calgary Rugby Union. A good crowd was on hand for the day, and the only glitch was the public address system was not working for massed bands, and members of the bands and public could not hear many of the results announced.
Results were mixed, with a different competitor winning every event at the annual Blairgowrie & Rattray Highland Games, which saw a strong turnout from solo pipers.
Hot on the heels of winning both the Clasp and the Silver Star MSR at the Northern Meeting, Callum Beaumont of Sat. Andrews, Scotland, had the most successful day of the 16 pipers who competed at the annual solo piping competitions on the grounds of the extraordinary Chatsworth House in the Derbyshire Dales. The event offers more than £3,500 in total prize money, making it one of the world’s most lucrative contests for those who do well. The weather was warm and bright. Beaumont received an additional £100 for being the overall champion.