All congratulations to P/M Ross Cowan and his North Lanarkshire Schools pipe bands on their successful visit to New York for Tartan Week. By all accounts they were very well received and it was reported in the Scottish press that they ‘brought Grand Central Station to a halt’ with an impromptu performance on the concourse. You can see the band in action on Facebook (875,000+ views!). Such was their impact…

Skye Gathering may have suffered from the depressing loss of the Silver Chanter contest last year but the organisers are hitting back in the best way possible. They are pushing the kids. This year will see a new emphasis on Under 18 Piobaireachd and MSR competitions at Portree. These will take place on the Tuesday of the gathering and will be an important feature of a day which sees top…

The dust has now settled on the decision by the RSPBA to continue with the Worlds as a two-day event. Personally I feel it is inevitable that it will return to one-day and if the Directors of the RSPBA are so minded I think they should begin planning now. Irrespective of how many bands enter, I am sure that with some serious thought all Grade 1 entrants can be accommodated…

A report on the Piobaireachd Society conference will follow on the Society website soon. For now I want to thank everyone for their kind wishes not just on social media but privately. Turning to the conference itself, held for the first time in Glasgow at the National Piping Centre, I don’t think it could be classed as anything other than a success. The numbers for the conference proper were up…

I understand that this year both Oban and Inverness will have first prizes in excess of £1,000 for their senior ceol mor events, the Senior Piobaireachd and the Clasp, with a pro-rata for the other placings. Well done to the promoters and sponsors. Professional piping should be just that – well rewarded and at a level commensurate with the effort required to take these top awards. In return the pipers…