Piobaireachd Society Announce Conference 2019 Details

The 2019 Annual Conference of the Piobaireachd Society will be held in the National Piping Centre on Saturday 23rd March. There will be an informal ceilidh in the Pipers Tryst on Friday evening 22nd March.

The conference will conclude with a dinner and ceilidh in the Centre on the Saturday evening. The conference rate including dinner is £55; day rate including lunch, teas and coffees £35.


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A  preferential rate for room booking per night of  £109 per room single occupancy £119 per room double occupancy for the nights of 22nd and 23rd March has been obtained at the Holiday Inn, Glasgow Theatreland, 161 West Nile Street, Glasgow G1 2RL www.higlasgow.com.

By Dr Jack Taylor, President

This hotel is just across the road from the Piping Centre. Delegates should book directly with the hotel, quoting DOCTORS, Reservation Office working hours, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Telephone 0141 352 8300 / Email reservations@higlasgow.com.

The programme:

• New Evidence from the Old Competitions –  a talk by myself with tunes by top pipers Iain Speirs and John Dew. These musical illustrations will feature tunes selected from the 1844 Highland Society list and a replica Donald MacDonald bagpipe from that era. My talk it will include a look at the actual notes the judges made in the early competitions, and a judging dispute which involved royalty!

The 1806 Donald MacDonald replica pipe by Pierre-Blanchet that will feature in the talk

• ‘My Piping Life and Times’ – panel discussion led by Gary West of the BBC. This will feature a group of senior pipers including James Burnet, Tom Speirs and Andrew Wright in an open discussion.

• ‘The Golden MacCrimmons’ – a film premier of a high quality production by a Breton company featuring renowned piper Patrick Molard. I’ve been given a look at the film. It is really very good indeed, and deserves a to be widely viewed.

This still from the film shows the the curator of Dunvegan Castle, Cailean Maclean of the Skye Piping Association, and Patrick Molard in the castle examining the speckled pipes of the MacCrimmons

It covers the story of Patrick’s involvement with piobaireachd from the start, and especially his Campbell Canntaireachd work. The producer has put it all together very well. 

It should be compulsory viewing for all serious pipers, especially those studying for the traditional music degree, and it serves to open piobaireachd to a much wider audience in an entertaining and informative way.

The conference dinner and piping ceilidh will complete the day. The Society’s Annual General Meeting will be accommodated after lunch on the Saturday.

• Book your place at this must-attend event here.


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