Activists have launched a petition to save music services in North Lanarkshire’s schools. It follows an announcement yesterday that the cash-strapped council must find £30m in cuts to their non-statutory budget this year alone. Music teachers and administrators were called to a meeting on Monday afternoon to be given the grim news. Under threat are the local authority’s school orchestras, wind and North Lanarkshire Schools Novice and North Lanarkshire School…

One of the world’s top juvenile bands, North Lanarkshire Schools, has been threatened with the axe following the announcement of stringent cuts by their sponsoring local authority North Lanarkshire Council. Music teachers and parents have been stunned by the announcement. One parent said: ‘Ultimately this all down to cuts to local authorities from the Scottish Government. ‘Who would have believed that an SNP administration could threaten a kid’s pipe band…

A very strong entry today at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow for their Annual Junior Solo competition. JuniorChampion was Luke Kennedy and the Novice Champion Euan Lindsay. Winners and their trophies are pictured above in front of the sponsors’ banners. Results: 15-17 Piob1 Luke Kennedy2 Gregor MacDonald3 Hazel Whyte4 Liam McElhinney5 Jamie Brownlie6 Jack McGowan 15 -17 MSR1 Gregor MacDonald 2 Christopher Happs3 Luke Kennedy4 Cameron May5 Hazel Whyte6…

A new piobaireachd has been composed in memory of the late P/M Alasdair Gillies. It is by Niall Mathieson, for 10 years a colleague of Alasdair’s in the Queen Own Highlanders. Listen to the ground of Salute to Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies played by Niall here: Here is a score of the full tune courtesy of Niall: If you would like to download it you can do so here: Niall,…

By Chris Earl, President, Pipe Bands Australia Entries are now closed for Diamond Jubilee year Australian Pipe Band Championships. Bands from every state and Singapore have entered championships to be held in Maryborough, Victoria, on 4 and 5 April.  The championships are being hosted by Maryborough Highland Society for the second time. The society also hosted the first Australian titles in January 1961 following formation of the Australian Federation of…