PP Editor’s Blog 16/3/15: Florida Academy, 1844 Piping, Scots Guards KO etc.

Bands and drum majors can now enter by paper and online for all RSPBA Major Championships. The process has been improved from last year.


New History feature added today on piping in 1844; check it out here.


South Florida Pipe and Drum Academy concluded last weekend. Successful week; report and pix to follow.


Lorient-2015-logoTom Johnstone has been in touch re this year’s Lorient Festival. ‘The three pipers from Scotland competing in the 2015 MacCrimmon Contest at Festival Interceltique Lorient are: Callum Moffat, David Shedden and Ali Levack. They will also be competing in the Piobaireachd contest. The judges this year are John Wilson and Bob Worrall. I have attached a copy of the rules as you may want to outline them to the readers.’


P/M Duncan Nicholson, Strathclyde Police: ‘Just to let you know we have done a re mix of the ‘Belfast Child’ track which we performed at the [World’s Week] concert. There is a short trailer on Mick McNeil’s Facebook page, and my own regarding it. It is available for download as well.’


Jimmy Banks: The Scots Guards Club held another excellent round of the KO competition yesterday Sunday 1th March when we had one of our biggest audiences so far in the competition and some superb piping, Craig Sutherland won through to the semi finals against Angus MacColl Jnr. The draw for the semi finals is:
Sunday 29 March Steven Gray/Greig Wilson
Sunday 12 April Sarah Muir/ Greig Sutherland
Sunday 03 May is the Final and will be recorded for BBC Radio Scotland Pipeline.


Naill Pipe Chanter:


Nathan Mitchell: Dear friends, family and fellow musicians, here is an update on the Winnipeg Collection. Since the December 1 launch of the book, the project has raised over $2700 for the CMHA Winnipeg.  Not only that, but the website and social media buzz have created much awareness for Mental Health associations (over 100,000 views).  To give you an idea of the reach this project has had, copies have been ordered through the website from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and Hong Kong. I would like to thank the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band and the Midwest Shrine Pipe Bands for their support of this project.  As always, a big thank-you goes out to all of the musical contributors and their families, their names are listed on the website. Copies will be available at the upcoming Winnipeg Scottish Festival (March 28), and of course online at www.winnipegcollection.com