Severe Weather Forces American Pipe Band Championships Indoors

Please find attached the results for the American Pipe Band Championships, held yesterday in Norfolk, Virginia, writes Andrew Carlisle. We unfortunately had to hold the event indoors, inside Scope Arena due to unsafe weather conditions – very high winds, so strong that bike rack / barriers and metal bleachers (seating) were blowing over and tents were taking flight. Later in the day, around the time of the massed bands and results,…

P/M Iain Robertson 1976-2023: A Tribute

It was with great sadness I heard of the passing of my friend Pipe Major Iain Mitchell Robertson. Iain died peacefully at his home in Palmerston North, New Zealand, on Saturday, 14th December, after a long battle with cancer. He was 46. Affectionally known as ‘Robbo’ by most, he was one of New Zealand’s top solo pipers, judges, teachers, and a long-time member and Pipe Major of the Grade 1 New…

Carnegie Mellon University Virtual Solo Piping Championships 2020

All in all, the event went very well. Last year CMU held its first competition which was confined to students at the University. This virtual competition was opened up to all. Being a virtual event, I include video links of the prizewinners in Grade One and Open. We had a waiver on the entry form that gave the University permission to post the prizewinning performances online. By Andrew Carlisle, Professor…

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US University Holds First Solo Piping Contest

By Andrew Carlisle Carnegie Mellon University hosted its first ever solo piping competition on Friday, March 8th 2019. Adjudicators for all events were Jimmy McIntosh MBE, founder of the world’s first degree in piping and his good wife Joyce McIntosh. The competition was confined to students at the university. The nine competitors had to submit three piobaireachd, three march, strathspeys and reels and 6/8 marches. In the morning, competitors played…

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