There’s still time for Juvenile and Novice Juvenile bands to apply for grants from the RSPBA’s National Juvenile Pipe Band Fund. The final decision on the 2018 awards will be made at a separate meeting with Finance Convenor Kenny Crothers at the Association’s AGM on March 9. Under fund rules bands which received donations in 2017 are ineligible for one year. But bands in receipt of payments before then can…

North Lanarkshire Schools’ Pipe Bands are taking part in National Tartan Day in New York this April and have launched a fundraising appeal to help towards equipment and travel costs. Pupils, parents and staff have already raised thousands of pounds through a range of activities but are hoping that a wider appeal will add to this amount. Sir Billy Connolly will lead the April 6 parade as Grand Marshal with…

Metro Cup Invitational Solo Piping Competition, Newark, New Jersey, ­ 16 February 2019.  Overall: Callum Beaumont (pictured playing at the Piobaireachd Society’s Edinburgh Fringe concert last August). Piobaireachd1st Derek Midgley, Lord Lovat’s Lament2nd Callum Beaumont, Lament for the Earl of Antrim3rd Andrew Carlisle, The Red Speckled Bull4th Angus D. MacColl, The Battle of the Pass of Crieff5th Alex Gandy, Rory McLoude’s Lament Judges: John Cairns, Michael Cusack Medley1st Callum Beaumont2nd…

The Piobaireachd Society has launched an online shop where customers can buy and download digital versions of their highly acclaimed music collections. Included are books 1 – 16 from the PS series, the Kilberry Book, the most popular book of Ceol Mor in history, and Side Lights on the Kilberry Book. Books are availably singly for only £8 each; books 1 – 8 and 9 – 16 can be had…

The first qualifier for next year’s Silver Medal competitions at Oban and Inverness has been won by Alex Gandy from Nova Scotia. Alex now has automatic entry to both 2020 competitions. The contest was held as part of the annual Metro Cup competition held at Newark, New Jersey, on Friday 15th February with many pipers flying in from around North America and some from Scotland to compete. Alex is pictured…