Archive
In Part 1 of the exclusive pipes|drums Interview with Jim Sim, the 40-year drumming leader and president of the Midwest Pipe Band Association for the last dozen years talked about his pipe band origins and influences. Now, in Part 2, he takes us through the genesis of the influential, regionally iconic Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band […]
At a gala event at Caird Hall in Dundee, Scotland, Grade 1 Inveraray & District of Inveraray, Scotland, was named Scottish Pipe Band of the Year in a public vote in the 20th annual Scots Trad Music Awards. The band beat out fellow nominees Kilchoman Distillery Isle of Islay, the […]
About 50 of the approximately 1,100 members of the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario met online for the organization’s 2022 annual general meeting on December 3rd. Association president Michael Grey reported on the activities of the society as it returned to in-person events after two years of making […]
Bill Caudill of North Carolina was elected to a two-year term president of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association at the world’s largest piping and drumming organization’s annual general meeting on the morning of December 3rd. Caudill ran against Derek Cooper of Pennsylvania in a vote that was reportedly […]
In Part 1, Liz Sheridan discussed her symptoms and her road to diagnosis. In Part 2, she takes us through her treatment and makes suggestions for learning more about similar difficulties if you also suspect you might suffer from more complicated dexterity problems. The complexity and risks of playing the […]
Editor’s note: Ten years ago, Liz Sheridan of Oakville, Ontario, was on a rapid ascent as one of the world’s most promising solo pipers. After promotion to Professional by the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario, she was scooping up prizes in the top grade until she encountered difficulties […]
By Jim McGillivray Duncan and Gavin MacDougall are two of our most iconic pipemaking names. Now, photo evidence shows that the workshop in which they made many of their legendary pipes stood in the backyard of Duncan MacDougall’s former home in Aberfeldy until well into the 1980s. Lorne Cottage is a beautiful home on Kenmore […]
The Grade 2 Rocky Mountain Pipe Band of Alberta, Calgary, was facing an uncertain future only a few weeks ago after their lead-drummer resigned, leaving a critical void for any band. But after reading the pipes|drums story on the band’s situation, Ian Aastrom reached out to Pipe-Major Sean Somers with […]
The Grade 1 Glasgow Skye Association has returned to its roots after a two-year search to find new leadership with the return of Kenny MacLeod as pipe-major and the appointment of Les Galbraith as lead-drummer. It’s the third time that MacLeod has taken on the role, leading the band for […]
The Eliza Ross Collection – Original Highland Airs Collected on Raasay in 1812 Volume VII in the Musica Scotica series, edited by Peter Cooke, Angus MacDonald, Morag MacLeod and Colm Ó Baoill Taigh na Teud Music Publishers Available from many dealers, £25 Reviewed by Iain MacInnes At last! Eliza Ross’s superb collection of Highland music, […]
A few weeks after Donald Mackay replaced Keith Bowes Jr. as pipe-major, Grade 1 Johnstone has made a change at the lead-drummer position with Les Galbraith giving way to Gavin Orr. Orr takes the role after many years as a corps drummer with Grade 1 Inveraray & District, while Galbraith […]
Skye Richendrfer, the accomplished piper, organizer, and elected official, died on November 20, 2022, at the age of 64, following a struggle with leukemia that was diagnosed only in July 2022. A native of Bellingham, Washington, he was known by most today as the Executive Director of the visionary Celtic […]
Hamilton, Ontario – November 19, 2022 – After aggregate results over the three events were tabulated, Callum Bevan of Abbotsford, British Columbia, emerged the obvious overall winner of the 2022 George Sherriff Memorial Amateur Invitational Solo Piping Competition, held at St. Paul’s United Church. The 18-year-old Bevan won persuasively, with […]
Pittsburgh – November 12-13, 2022 – After a few days to retabulate results, Paul Mackay of Redmond, Washington, was announced the 2022 Balmoral Classic Champion, taking two second prizes to gain the award. Abby Long of Houston won the piobaireachd event and Leland Reid, Germantown, Maryland, took the MSR. Mackay […]
The George Sherriff Memorial Amateur Invitational Solo Piping Competition is set to return to an in-person event for the first time since 2019, with 10 of North America’s most successful non-Professional/Open pipers vying for prizes across three events. The competition returns to its familiar venue of St. Paul’s United Church […]
A quick look at his back-story, and you will realize that Jim Sim is a person of commitment: A member of only two Chicago-based bands in his lifetime. Thirty-four years as lead-drummer of Chicago’s Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band, going from Grade 4 to Grade 1 over that time. Declined numerous invitations to join top-grade bands […]