PP Editor’s Blog: Band Majors/ Herald Story/ Letter/ SPA

Calling all band secretaries: a substantial number of pipe band contest entry forms are now available. These include those for all the major championships. You can access the forms via the events calendar on the RSPBA website. Please don’t forget the minor contests. They need your support. Hard to believe that it is only seven weeks or so to the first major, British, at the new venue at Paisley. If…

Skye Gathering and the Silver Chanter 2016

Details have been announced for the 2016 Skye Gathering and Silver Chanter competitions. Convenor Cailean MacLean has intimated the following: ‘Silver Chanter 3rd August 2016: The invitees to this year are: Callum Beaumont , Angus MacColl, Iain Speirs, Stuart Liddell, Roderick MacLeod and Cameron Drummond. It is the 50th SC competition and Iain MacFadyen, who has attended all of them, will adjudicate. ‘Skye Gathering 2nd/3rd August 2016: We have made…

Piobaireachd Society Conference 2016

Anyone who had the idea that the Piobaireachd Society was run by a bunch of old fogeys locked in a time warp of dusty decrepitude would have been quickly disabused of that notion had they attended this year’s conference held last weekend mid the glories of Highland Perthshire. Dr J David Hester had flown in from America to give us an update on his revisionist ideas, Simon Chadwick suggested links…

Duncan Johnstone Memorial Competition Results

The annual Duncan Johnstone competition for B & C grade pipers was held today at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. The competition is run by the Centre and the Competing Pipers’ Association in memory of the great piper, teacher and composer. Duncan is pictured above with the Balvenie Medal he received for Services to Piping. For many years Duncan’s home was a magnet for those wishing to learn from…

PP Editor’s Blog: Coeur d’Alene/ SPA Pro/ CPA Survey/ Inveraray

Tom Johnstone, President of the Scottish Pipers’ Association, has announced the judges for their forthcoming professional contest on April 9. They are P/M Ian McLellan, John Wilson, Willie Morrison and Andrew Wright. Download an entry form here. Still with the solo world, the Competing Pipers’ Association have launched a major survey of their members to try to assess the reasons for the decline in attendance at many Highland games. Secretary…