Piobaireachd by the Sea/ New England Pipe & Drum Academy Workshop

The organisers of the ‘Pibroch by the Sea’ event have announced a masterclass by Jimmy McIntosh and Herve Le Floc’h. Other details: This will be the 13th year of the popular event held at the Breton seaside. Dates are September 16 and 17. The Saturday Masterclass begins at 9.30 and costs €30. Venue is the Ecole de mer Hériot – Port-Mer (direction camping municipal). Lunch included in fee. Cheques to Christian VILLEJIQUEL…

Review – Grade 2 at the 2017 UK Pipe Band Championships, Belfast

There may have been some turbulent arrivals into both Belfast airports early on, and the young stars of the future in the novice grades probably faced the cloudiest and most inclement elements of the day, writes our Special Correspondent. A brightening sky and warming breeze blew the clouds out of Stormont and the cricket field was at its best as lunchtime arrived. Grade 2 started at 2.30pm in Arena 2,…

PP Ed’s Blog: Old Pipes v New/ Gordon McCready/ Strathallan School/ Drumlough PB

I read the other day that according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences an extensive study has shown that audiences actually prefer the sound of newer violins over those made by master craftsmen such as Antonio Stradivari. Violin acoustics expert Professor Claudia Fritz, of the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, asked seven world famous soloists to play at concert halls in Paris and…

UK Championships Picture Gallery/ Cadet Pipes & Drums Contest Report

We are grateful to photographer John Kelly for these shots from Saturday’s UK Pipe Band Championships held at Stormont, Belfast. In what was a very successful day, local band Field Marshal Montgomery of Lisburn were placed first in Grade 1 – and they also took the drumming title. Leading drummer Keith Orr and P/M Richard Parkes are pictured above.  Scottish bands were to the fore in Grade Two with the…

Ardrossan Games Juniors – Updated with Pix

A successful day of junior piping in damp, blustery conditions with the young pipers coping well with the weather. The pictures are of the prizewinners. 15 & Under MSR 1 Luke Kennedy 2 Ross Connor 3 Hazel Whyte 4 Bobby Allen 15 & Under Piobaireachd Ground 1 Thomas Young 2 Christopher McCarten 3 Callum Norrington 4 Calum Penman 18 & Under Jig 1 Finlay Frame 2 Rebecca Paterson 3 Lewis…