Piobaireachd Society Conference/ RSPBA Graeme Johnston Juvenile Contest

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The Piobaireachd Society has formally announced details of its 2026 Annual Conference. It will be held in the Royal George Hotel, Perth, from March 27-29. The conference features four presentations: ‘The Life and Music of Bill Livingstone’ by Michael Grey, Ontario, the ‘Origins of Piobaireachd’ by Dr Hugh Cheape and Dr Peter McCalister, ‘Let Piobaireachd Flourish’, a look at ceòl mòr from a Glasgow perspective by John Mulhearn, and ‘100…

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Editor’s Notebook: Solo Judging/ Ian’s Funeral/ Fifth Major Secured/ Diary Dates

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Following our report from the Solo Judges Association last week we received this anonymous comment: ‘In your report on the judging of solo piping there is a reference that judges must not judge their pupils and I understand this has been extended to include genres of pipe music the judge may in fact not teach that individual. ‘It would appear that if she/he teaches him solely ceòl beag, she/he may not…

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A Look Back at the Northern Meeting 1978

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We are grateful to the reader who forwarded the complete programme from Inverness 1978. We are sure it will jog the memories of all the pipers who were there. Prizes of note include the Gold Medal going to Dr Bill Wotherspoon (Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon), the Clasp going to John MacDougall (MacLean’s March) and the Former Winners going to P/M Angus MacDonald. John was looking to complete the ‘big…

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UKs Return to Northern Ireland/ Jimmy McIntosh MBE Workshop Weekend

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The United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships will be held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday, 13 June 2026. Securing the fifth major is a significant success for the RSPBA and its Chief Executive Colin Mulhearn and his team. They had come under criticism for not fulfilling the statutory number of championships in 2025, and until now only four had been announced for 2026. These are: British Championships, Ingliston, May 30;…

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NZ Pipe Band Championship Entries – Judges from Scotland and N Ireland

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New Zealand will host fifty-six pipe bands at the 2026 NZ Championships in March, making it one of the largest pipe band competitions outside Europe. Bands will compete over two days at Inglewood on the North Island on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2026. We are delighted with the entries to the ‘Nationals’ – they show the depth and breadth of our teaching and development programmes across the country. By Liam Kernaghan, President NZPBA…

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