Editor’s Notebook: The Demise of G1 Pipe Bands/ SPA Juveniles/ Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn/ Keith Sanger

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

To lose two Grade 1 pipe bands in one week is dispiriting news. Closkelt and Johnstone have gone to the wall both victims of a lack of numbers. Will those in authority wake up? How long has this column, and significant cadre of our readers, been banging on about the need to restrict sizes in Grade One? Don’t the bigwigs at the RSPBA realise that if you allow unlimited numbers…

More Editor’s Notebook: The Demise of G1 Pipe Bands/ SPA Juveniles/ Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn/ Keith Sanger

The Demise of Closkelt Pipe Band is a Blow to the Worldwide Pipe Band Community

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The loss of the Closkelt Grade 1 Pipe Band is a great blow to the RSPBANI Branch, the local pipe band community and, judging by the worldwide response to the announcement that they had folded, a wider community as well.  More importantly it is a major blow to the band’s leadership and committee who worked tirelessly to follow their dream to create a Grade 1 band. They achieved this in less…

More The Demise of Closkelt Pipe Band is a Blow to the Worldwide Pipe Band Community

New Jack Lee Contest Announced in Canada

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The British Columbia Pipers’ Association (BCPA) is thrilled to announce the launch of the Jack Lee Amateur Invitational Piping Competition, writes David Hilder, President. This exciting new annual event will celebrate the art of piobaireachd and showcase the top piping talent in the amateur grades of the Association. The inaugural competition will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Seaforth Armoury in Vancouver. This new invitational honours the remarkable…

More New Jack Lee Contest Announced in Canada

2025 Nicol-Brown Chalice Results

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

This important invitational amateur competition, now in its 42nd year, was held in St Mark’s Presbyterian Church, Rockville, Maryland, USA, on October 11. Competitors are pictured above. Overall Championship: 1 Alex Pavlovic, $1,000 (to be spent on travel to compete at an event approved by the Nicol-Brown Committee) 2 Colin Richdale, $500 3 Jean-Sébastien Gamache, $400 4 Liam Horne, $300 5 Abby Long, $200. Invitations are based on results in…

More 2025 Nicol-Brown Chalice Results

Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship Results

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

This prestigious contest for solo pipers aged under 22 was held on October 10th, at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll, courtesy the Earl of Dundonald. The overall champion at the 5th annual competition was Magnus Stone from Massachusetts, USA. He became the first overseas winner of the coveted title. He is 17 years old. He qualified for Lochnell by placing third in the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd at this year’s Argyllshire Gathering….

More Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship Results