The Argyllshire Gathering have announced the following pipers for their prestigious Gold and Silver Medal competitions to take place in Oban on August 21. The names were selected following a meeting of the Eligibility Committee which involves the promoters, the Competing Pipers’ Association and judges. The picture above shows last year’s Oban Silver Medallist Darach Urquhart, Kyle of Lochalsh, and Gold Medallist Stuart Easton, New Zealand. Gold Medal 12 Glenn…

We now have recordings all three prize-winning tunes from our John Cruickshank VC composing competition. In first place was Dave Mason, Cincinnati, Ohio: In second place we had a tune from P/M Gordon Walker: In third place was a composition from young professional piper John Dew: The competition drew a wide entry from around the world. A distinguished panel of experts narrowed dozens of tunes down to three and came…

Dr Peter McCalister reports: Twenty-six pipers played at this ever-popular amateur piobaireachd contest, including pipers who travelled from Singapore, North America, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, England and of course Scotland. The judges were Patricia Henderson and Donald MacPhee.  The winner (for the 4th time) was Tom Peterkin playing Melbank’s Salute.  2nd prize: Andrew Park playing Battle of Auldearn No. 2 3rd prize: John Forbes playing The Lament for Sir James…

The rescheduled Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia’s Annual Junior Piping and Drumming competition was held yesterday, February 23, in the town’s Calderhead High School. There was a strong entry partiucularly in the Under 15 category. Judges reported a high standard in all events with good instruments and strong technique to the fore in the piping competitions. In a nod to the environment the organisers chose not to print their competition programme…