Month: November 2016

PP Ed’s Blog: Northern Meeting Prices/ Judge’s Decision/ Letters

Posted on      by     

Pipebagmaker James Begg has criticised the Northern Meeting solo piping competition for the prices they charge pipers for entry. In his regular newsletter Mr Begg writes: ‘I travelled up to Inverness for the annual Northern Meeting solo piping competition. It was a well run occasion yet again but I must say a £50 competitor entry payment is a bit Scrooge-like. An event of this quality should be able to finance itself without…

More PP Ed’s Blog: Northern Meeting Prices/ Judge’s Decision/ Letters

PP Ed’s Blog: Judge’s Decision/ SPA Recital/ Shotts Contest/ Poll Outcome/ QOH Names

Posted on      by     

Sunday’s decision by the Joint Committee (a committee representing judges, promoters and pipers) to ‘fully endorse’ the no pupil/judge benches dictat from the Solo Piping Judges Association really does not change a great deal in the short term. Long term it is worrying. Though the promoters state that they ‘fully endorse’ the rule change they do not say that they will maintain an absolute ban under all circumstances. I believe…

More PP Ed’s Blog: Judge’s Decision/ SPA Recital/ Shotts Contest/ Poll Outcome/ QOH Names

City of Whitehorse Band Call it Quits

Posted on      by     

Following the controversy surrounding the City of Whitehorse Pipe Band in Australia the band management have decided to cease operations with immediate effect. In a statement the band say: ‘Without prejudice: Whitehorse Band Management to Cease Operations of Pipe Band. It is with regret that band management has chosen to cease the operations of the band. Band management met on the weekend and has just made an internal announcement to the players within…

More City of Whitehorse Band Call it Quits

Joint Committee Endorses Judging Principle

Posted on      by     

The Joint Committee for Solo Piping Competitions (JCSPC) has issued the following: ‘The JCSPC agreed at its AGM on Sunday 27th November to support the Solo Piping Judges’ Association’s (SPJA) recent change to its Code of Conduct. ‘The matter was debated at length and in detail at the meeting. It was ultimately agreed that The Argyllshire Gathering, The Northern Meeting, The Scottish Piping Society of London and Competing Pipers’ Association…

More Joint Committee Endorses Judging Principle

Famous Pipers – P/M Willie Lawrie, Ballachulish

Posted on      by     

Reader Eric MacIntrye reminds us today that it is exactly 100 years since the death of the great Willie Lawrie (see Letters). Many pipers are fortunate to  excel in one branch of our art either as a teacher, player or composer. Some are fortunate to master two; seldom three. But for Willie Lawrie this trinity of achievement came as naturally as mother’s milk. Genial, warm, humourous, articulate was how his contemporaries…

More Famous Pipers – P/M Willie Lawrie, Ballachulish