Archive
The new Sun Belt Invitational Solo Piping Competition (“An Crios Gréine”) on November 12th at the Orlando Sheraton North in Maitland, Florida, is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded contests ever held in North America, with 10 of the world’s top pipers from Scotland, Canada and the […]
It was October 19, 2019, at Glasgow Caledonian University when Steven McWhirter brought down his ninth straight World Solo Drumming Championship and his tenth overall. Now, after an interminable three-year wait due to the global pandemic, McWhirter and the world’s greatest pipe band snare and tenor drummers will compete for […]
The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association is the world’s largest piping and drumming organization by the vast geography it covers and the total number of band and individual memberships it lists, and the association will elect a new leader at its online annual general meeting on December 3rd. Running […]
After only two years in the role, Alisdair McLaren has decided to leave as pipe-major of the Grade 1 Western Australia Police Pipe Band in favour of a new role as the Head of Pipe Band and Piping instruction at Presbyterian Ladies College in Perth, Australia. Applications for the full-time […]
At the Solo Piping Judges Association’s online annual general meeting on October 16th the UK-based group reappointed Chair Colin MacLellan, Treasurer Euan Anderson, and Secretary Roddy Livingstone by acclamation. Jim McGillivray and Logan Tannock were elected to replace Bruce Hitchings and Dr. Angus MacDonald as committee representatives, each serving a […]
While virtually every band on earth is recruiting for more members and drummers in particular, Grade 4A Coupar Angus of Scotland has actually seen major success by landing Scott Campbell as lead-drummer, along with additional new players to enable the band to compete in 2022-’23 for the first time since […]
Perth, Scotland – October 15, 2022 – Hometown piper Craig Sutherland won both of the Premier/A-Grade events to take the overall trophy at the Royal National Mòd’s annual solo piping competition, held this year at the Perth Theatre. Brodie Watson-Massey of Edinburgh was the aggregate winner of the B-Grade events. […]
The Chicago Highland Games has rapidly become the largest pipe band competition in North America based on the number of entrants, and the 2023 edition will see the addition of a Grade 1 competition. The Midwest Pipe Band Association said that the games organizers have found more funding with the […]
Explaining that “the Association will need to cover the costs it will incur as it undertakes administration and financial tasks as well as preparing the various schedules and allocations for next seasons Competitions (both Major and Minor),” the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has increased registration fees for bands by […]
After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, the Winter Storm series of long-weekend piping and drumming events will return again January 11-15, 2023, to the Kansas City Marriott – Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, for twentieth anniversary competitions, workshops, performances and parties. The success and popularity […]
The Grade 1 Vale of Atholl of Pitlochry, Scotland, was from about 1984 to its demise in 2018 one of the world’s most creative and innovative bands, particularly under its most successful years under the leadership of Pipe-Major Ian Duncan. On February 4, 2023, at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, […]
15.5 pounds. That’s the weight of typical “Highland dress” – when it’s not soaked in sweat. We know because we weighed it. (And that wasn’t while carrying a five-pound bagpipe or 10-pound drum.) The facts show that the world is getting hotter, and this summer in the northern hemisphere, we’re […]
Keith Bowes Jr. has stepped down as pipe-major of Grade 1 Johnstone of Scotland, and Donald Mackay has taken over the position. Bowes announced his decision to leave the role, along with his intention to remain with the band as pipe-sergeant. Mackay moves over from Grade 1 ScottishPower, where he […]
In Part 1 of our exclusive conversation with 2022 Highland Society of London Gold Medallists Jamie Forrester and Nick Hudson, the two piping history-makers discussed the impact of winning the coveted prizes and, now, in Part 2, they look to what the near and longer-term future might bring. Less than […]
Edinburgh – September 30, 2022 – The annual Captain John A. MacLellan Memorial Solo Piping Competition returned and saw Finlay Johnston of Glasgow win the Premier Grade Piobaireachd Medal and, along with it, an invitation to the separately run Captain John MacLellan Medal Competition-Recital. The overall champion was Iain Speirs […]
Narreeben, New South Wales, Australia – October 1-2, 2022 – The Australian Pipe Band Championships returned after several years hiatus, and Hawthorn was the big winner in the top Grade 2 events, taking firsts in both the Medley and the MSR. The Western Australia Police, the only Grade 1 band […]