Archive
The Internet – May 6-26, 2023 – Scotland’s Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) enjoyed a strong entry to its latest “Live Online” contest, pipers playing and submitting their proctored performances by video on May 6th, and judges taking a few weeks to assess them. It was another chance […]
In sync with the launch of John Dew’s new digital collection, ‘Pipe Suites,’ we check in with the prolific young composer on the possibilities of this now 35-year-old musical category
Victoria, British Columbia – May 20-21, 2023 – The 160th Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival saw clean sweeps of the Open and Grade 1 solo piping by Alistair Lee and Cameron Bonar, while Blair Brown took both Open solo snare drumming events. The competition brought in Paul Turner from […]
The David M. Bailiff Memorial Trophy was presented to Nick Hudson in honour of the long-time Piping & Drumming Director of the games who passed away in September 2022. Bailiff was an accomplished piper, a judge with the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association, a member of the EUSPBA’s Music Board, and a loyal fan of the Baltimore Orioles.
This piping and drumming success story is one of vision, perseverance and dedication, resulting in a consistent stream of young players helping to sustain a regional scene. By Rob Tighe The Lord Selkirk Robert Fraser Memorial Pipe Band, or Lord Selkirk RFM (LSRFMPB) as they are better known, is from […]
If enough investors can be assembled to cover an estimated £2.5-million to purchase the Husabost Estate and renovate the derelict laird’s house at Borreraig, the 2,500-acre hallowed ground on the Isle of Skye could come under the ownership of pipers for pipers. The coalition project is being spearheaded by Eric […]
Despite a hard rain shower and some drizzle around 9 am, the weather proved friendly for a great day the Saskatchewan Highland Gathering & Celtic Festival. There was a full slate of amateur solo entries from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and 11 bands played in the afternoon events. Calgary’s Rocky Mountain prevailed in the three-band Grade 2 event, playing for the first time with their new lead-drummer, Ian Aastrom, who was recruited after seeing the pipes|drums story about the band’s search
Inveraray & District took the Grade 1 competition against seven other Grade 1 and Grade 2 bands at the inaugural Pipe Band & Drum Majors competition at Dollar Academy, hosted and organized by the RSPBA’s Dundee, Perth & Angus Branch. Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia won the drumming for the second straight 2023 competition under new Lead-Drummer Kerr McQuillan.
Palmerston North, New Zealand – May 19, 2023 – By winning the Targe Piobaireachd and placing second in the Claidhmor March, Strathspey, Reel, Hornpipe & Jig, Greg Wilson of Tai Tapu, New Zealand, came away as the big winner at the annual Palmerston North contest for top solo pipers. Wellington’s […]
Regina, Saskatchewan – May 19, 2023 – After many years of hosting a competition for professional players, the Saskatchewan Highland Gathering & Celtic Festival ran an own-choice medley event for amateur pipers, with pipers invited from across three provinces. It was the largest audience ever for this event, with people enjoying […]
Many have called G.S. McLennan the greatest piper of all time. As a composer and competitor, he ranks with the best. His fame as a piper is well documented; his pipemaking career is less well known. G.S.’s firm operated in Aberdeen from 1922 until his death in 1929. There are few known examples of his instruments, despite his being in business for a little more than seven years.
The first Sun Belt Invitational Piping Championship (“An Crios Gréine”), held last November in Maitland, Florida, quickly established itself as one of the world’s preeminent contests and, with the addition of the Sandy Jones Memorial Amateur Championship and 10 elite-level professional pipers already invited the second edition looks to take […]
A few lean pandemic years notwithstanding, two decades have flown by since the debut of Piping Hot! a fledgling festival run what was known simply as simply the Piping Centre in Glasgow, and now the National Piping Centre and its partners will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Roddy MacLeod’s brainchild […]
A novel digital collection of 11 original full-length suites for Highland pipes will be launched by the Edinburgh-based piper John Dew on May 19th, thanks to funding via the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s “Make It Happen” project for Scottish music creators. The collection will available on a USB sick through […]
Inveraray & District was the winner of their first contest of 2023 at the annual Gourock Highland Games on Scotland’s west coast against a field of three other Grade 1 bands. Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia, under new Leading-Drummer Kerr McQuillan won the drumming and finished second as a band.
Sean McKeown of Bowmanville, Ontario, earned the 2023 Livingstone Invitational Solo Piping Championship overall prize with a second in the piobaireachd and a second in the MSRHP&J against a field of 10 other contestants. Of note, McKeown gained his piobaireachd prize playing “For Ranald,” probably the first time Bill Livingstone’s piece composed in honour of his late brother was performed in competition.