The promoters of Saturday’s Uist & Barra Professional contest have issued this list of competitors and their tunes: 1 Connor Sinclair, Rory MacLoude’s Lament2 Glenn Brown, Beloved Scotland3 Alasdair Henderson, Blind Piper’s Obstinacy4 Finlay Johnston,  Battle of Auldearn No. 15 Sandy Cameron, Old Men of the Shells No. 16 Niall Stewart, Lament for the Iolaire7 Roderick MacLeod, Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay 8 Cameron Drummond, Earl of Seaforth’s Salute9 Iain Speirs, I Got a Kiss of the…

By the Editor Pipe Major Iain Morrison, the founder and main organiser of the Donald MacLeod Memorial competition, has stepped down from his role after 25 years at the helm. His decision to stand aside came as a surprise to many in the solo piping community. The competition is held each year in Stornoway on the island of Lewis in the Western Isles. This year’s event takes place on Friday,…

We now have recordings all three prize-winning tunes from our John Cruickshank VC composing competition. In first place was Dave Mason, Cincinnati, Ohio: In second place we had a tune from P/M Gordon Walker: In third place was a composition from young professional piper John Dew: The competition drew a wide entry from around the world. A distinguished panel of experts narrowed dozens of tunes down to three and came…

Dr Peter McCalister reports: Twenty-six pipers played at this ever-popular amateur piobaireachd contest, including pipers who travelled from Singapore, North America, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, England and of course Scotland. The judges were Patricia Henderson and Donald MacPhee.  The winner (for the 4th time) was Tom Peterkin playing Melbank’s Salute.  2nd prize: Andrew Park playing Battle of Auldearn No. 2 3rd prize: John Forbes playing The Lament for Sir James…

The rescheduled Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia’s Annual Junior Piping and Drumming competition was held yesterday, February 23, in the town’s Calderhead High School. There was a strong entry partiucularly in the Under 15 category. Judges reported a high standard in all events with good instruments and strong technique to the fore in the piping competitions. In a nod to the environment the organisers chose not to print their competition programme…