The 37th annual United States Piping Foundation Amateur and Professional Piping Championships, held in memory of founder Maclean Macleod, took place on 21st June 2025, in the Roselle Center for the Arts at the University of Delaware, Newark, DE, writes Mike Rogers.
There were 17 pipers from throughout North America in the amateur events, and 14 in the professional.
Donald MacPherson Silver Quaich Amateur Piobaireachd (four tunes):
1 Abigail Long (Houston, Texas), Park Piobaireachd No.2
2 Andrew Zhao (Sugarland, Texas), Phantom Piper of Corrieyairick
3 Magnus Stone (Natick, Massachusetts), Rory MacLeod’s Lament
4 Liam Horne (Bristol, Virginia), Unjust Incarceration
5 Jennifer Piccione (Bronx, New York), Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House
Seumas MacNeill Silver Quaich Amateur MSR (four tunes of each):
1 Ian Minnear (Spring, Texas), David Ross of Rosehall, Bob o’ Fettercairn, Neil Angus MacDonald
2 Abigail Long, Dr Allan MacDonald, Shepherd’s Crook, Jacky Latin
3 Olivia Corcoran (Gaithersburg, Maryland), John MacDonald of Glencoe, Duncan Lamont, Sound of Sleat
4 Alex Pavlovic (Houston, Texas), Verna Leith’s Wedding March, Glentruim, Fiona MacLeod
5 Liam Horne, Dugald MacColl’s Farewell to France, Catlodge, Broadford Bay
Champion Amateur: Abigail Long. She receives the USPF Silver Buckle and $1,000 for tuition or competition-related travel.
St Andrew’s Society of Philadelphia Silver Quaich Professional Piobaireachd (six tunes); prizes – 1 $1000, 2 $800, 3 $600, 4 $400, 5 $200.
1 Bruce Gandy, Lament for the Children
2 Nick Hudson, Patrick Og MacCrimmon’s Lament
3 Cameron Macdougall, Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay
4 Ursa Beckford, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart
5 Derek Midgley, MacLeod of Colbeck’s Lament
St Andrew’s Society of Baltimore Silver Charger Professional MSR (size tunes, twice through); prize money as piob.
1 Nick Hudson, Invergordon’s Welcome to HM Queen Elizabeth II, P/M Hector MacLean, Sandy Cameron
2 Bruce Gandy, P/M Karen MacLean, Caledonian Society of London, John Garroway
3 Cameron Macdougall, Clan MacColl, Cabar Feidh, Lt. Col. DJS Murray
4 Andrew Carlisle, Mrs John MacColl, Inveraray Castle, Dr MacPhail
5 Derek Midgley, MacLean of Pennycross, Mrs Donald MacPherson, Arnish Light
Champion Professional: Bruce Gandy. He receives the USPF Silver Buckle plus trans-Atlantic airfare to UK to compete at eligible senior competitions and is the North American qualifier for the MacCrimmon Trophy at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient.
Adjudicators for amateur piobaireachd: C MacDonald, S Walker; amateur MSR: V Frank, J Wilson; professional piobaireachd: I Duncan, J McIntosh; professional MSR: I Donaldson, E Krintz.
The organisers are deeply indebted to the University of Delaware and to the gracious sponsors that make this event possible, including: The Piobaireachd Society, Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming, Dunvegan Foundation, EUSPBA, Lorient Festival, Lyon College, St Andrew’s Society of Baltimore, St Andrew’s Society of Philadelphia, Scottish Games Association of Delaware.
Classic Piobaireachd (Vol.3 M-Y): Lessons on Great Tunes
Another batch of the great tunes from the ceol mor canon. As before, each tune is played in full, without interruption, on the practice chanter by piobaireachd Gold Medallist Robert Wallace. This means that the student can play along whilst following the music and learn the subtle phrasing and expression so important in this music. There is no assertion that this is the only way to play these t…