Oldest Piping Society in the US is Reborn plus Chris Armstrong Departure

US professional piper Nick Hudson has sent this: ‘Hi Rab, Wanted to let you know of a potentially newsworthy item: we’re starting a piping society in Pittsburgh, similar to the Eagles. Standard fare, I know, but…it happens to be the oldest society in the USA, dating from 1898.’ Press release: ‘The oldest piping society in the U.S.A. predates such bastions of our age as the Piobaireachd Society, the RSPBA, and…

PP Editor’s Blog 30/1/15

I was struck by the quality of Gordon Walker’s playing on the BBC’s Gaelic piping programme the other day: bright, full of verve, clean, crisp professional technique, a solid, harmonic pipe. It was recorded at the Northern Meeting a couple of years ago and here was a piper going for the first prize. No safety first for him. Yes, he may have lost a tad control in his Cockerel in the…

Lomond & Clyde Seek New P/M & A Look Back at 1823

P/M David Wotherspoon has stepped down as P/M of the Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band after a very successful period in charge, winning many major championships in Grade 2. In a statement the band said: ‘The band would like to announce that Pipe Major David Wotherspoon has this evening stepped down from his position with Lomond and Clyde.  ‘Davie has been instrumental to the band’s progression since being appointed to the position…

Uist & Barra Announcement

U&B Piping Convenor John Angus Smith has sent this: ‘I thought the attached notice for the 2015 Uist & Barra Invitational Piping Competition would be of interest. Fourteen of the best UK-based pipers in the world have been invited to compete in each event, with the invitation list drawn from major prize winners in 2014. The competition will be held at the College of Piping, Glasgow, on 7th March from…

Argyllshire Gathering Announcement

Assistant Piping Steward Torquil Telfer has announced that entries for the MacGregor Memorial competition can now be taken via the Argyllshire Gathering website. Previously they had to be sent to the competition secretary and organiser Angus Nicol in London. Mr Telfer said: ‘This change will make things easier for everyone but I would like to emphasise that Angus Nicol remains in overall charge of the MacGregor on behalf of the…