Callum Beaumont came out on top at the semi final of the Scottish Pipers’ Association Knock Out competition held last night in the Otago Street premises of the National Piping Centre. His opponent was Stuart Liddell. There was a substantial crowd and each member of the audience had a vote in who went forward to the final on May 2 where Callum will play against John Patrick. The Irish Pipe…

Dr Peter McCalister: A very successful AKQ again today, with 23 players on the day. The competition is sponsored and promoted by the Piobaireachd Society in memory of its former Music Committee Editor Archie Kenneth. The winner was Andrew Park with a bold rendition of the Rout of Glenfruin from Donald MacDonald’s book. Judges were Donald MacPhee and Patricia Henderson. Full results:1 Andrew Park2 Stuart Gaudin (The Groat) 3 Gill…

By Iagan MacNeil A new tune has been composed to support the work of the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust. It will be premiered live at a special fundraising event in Glasgow next month. ‘A Tune for the Trust’ is by music student and award winning pipe band drummer Fergus Bryce. 14-year-old piper Eilidh, from the Isle of Barra was a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.   Fergus’s starting point…

Almost fifty years ago an Army pipe major approached his regimental music director and asked him to make an arrangement for a spiritual hymn that went well on the pipes. The Pipe Major was Tony Crease, the tune was Amazing Grace and The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards were about to take the popular music world by storm. P/M Crease and members of the Pipes & Drums and RSDG Military band…

Today (Feb 24) is crunch day for North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Bands when their sponsoring local authority meets to decide on £30m proposed cuts to non-statutory expenditure. This morning’s special council meeting in Motherwell will be covered by all local media and national television, such is the interest in the outcome. There is a webcam facility for council meetings. Check it out here. There are signs of support for the…