This competition was held last weekend in Pittsburgh, PA. under the auspices of the Balmoral Classic, writes Elaine Lee. The Balmoral Classic Overall winner, Kayleigh Johnstone, is the younger sister of Colin Johnstone, who won the George Sherriff Amateur Invitational Solo Piping Competition on the same day! In the photographs Kayleigh is holding her prize – a set of MacRae pipes donated by McCallum Bagpipes, and drumming champion Nicholas Moore is pictured…

Katie Mackenzie, publicist for the Festival, has sent this… This year’s Blas Festival will feature a special piping event in Inverness. ‘Càirdeas nam Pìobairean’ will take place at Inverness Town House on 29th November. The lineup includes Angus MacColl, Angus MacKenzie, Dr Angus MacDonald, Fin Moore with Sarah Hoy, Gary West and Brighde Chaimbeul.  ‘Blas, which means ‘taste’ or ‘sample’, is organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with The Highland Council and will take place from…

Don’t struggle with your tunes this winter. Don’t suffer in silence! Avail yourself of expert tuition from Piping Press. Get lessons in Piobaireachd and MSR from our editor Robert Wallace, an internationally renowned tutor. For example, there are dozens of tunes to choose from in our Classic Piobaireachd lessons catalogue. You can play along with the recording and get all the required linking of phrase and variation so important to…

This top amateur piping event was held yesterday in St Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ontario. Judges were James MacGillivray, Michael Grey and Glenn Brown. Promoter is the Music Board of the Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario. This was the 24th running of ‘the Sherriff’. 6/8 Marches:1. Colin Johnstone, Ellenorr & Mrs. MacDonald of Uig2. Alistair Bevan, Major John MacLennan & Cameron MacFadyen3. Kevin Darmadi, Jean Mauchline & Kenneth…

Restrictions on bagpipemakers which require them to certify each shipment of African Blackwood pipes they send abroad are due to end on November 26. However, as this letter to one of the UK’s leading manufacturers makes clear it may be a while yet before they are completely free of red tape: ‘I have been seeking official answers to your query but I am yet to hear back from the relevant…