Piping events at the popular Highlands & Islands Festival are now open. The contest takes place on May 2 and entries close on March 9. The festival blurb reads: ‘The 37th Festival 2020 is going to be our biggest year yet with new venues, over 1100 participants, 125 competition classes in eleven disiplines and fringe events to be announced. ‘The Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival has developed into…

By Our Special Correspondent Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Bagpipe Performance exams will be commencing at schools and test centres across Scotland from the 10th of February to the 20th of March for National 5 and Higher. Advanced Higher will follow on 27th April to 15th May. It is worthwhile candidates and tutors looking at the newly updated repertoire list. Click on this link to download the list. Candidates are required to…

Pipers have until January 31 to get their entries in for the Argyllshire Gathering at Oban and the Northern Meeting, Inverness, the two top events in world solo piping. After that date names will go forward to the joint selection committee late next month when the final places will be allocated. The committee comprises representatives from both contests, the Competing Pipers Association, judges and the Piobaireachd Society. There are likely…

World Champion Leading Drummer Stephen Creighton has joined the teaching faculty at the Florida Pipe and Drum Academy to be held next month in Jacksonville. Stephen is the leading drummer of St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band, Dublin, holders of the 2019 World Drum Corps title. His solo honours include World Junior Champion, multiple World Solo Finals, Senior All Ireland Championships, Ulster Senior Championships. With his corps, Stephen has won Grade 1 All…

Margaret Dunn reports: Here are yesterday’s results from the CLASP competition at NPC, Otago St., on Saturday January 11. A very healthy entry and overall winners are pictured below. They are (l-r) Dugald MacLeod (Grade 2), Stuart Robinson (Grade 1) and John Hunt (Grade 3). Next CLASP competition is on 28th March at NPC Cowcaddens, Glasgow.  Grade 1 Piobaireachd 1st Stuart Robinson2nd David MacKenzie3rd John Frater Grade 2 Piobaireachd1st Dugald MacLeod2nd Dagmar…