Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Society Conference/ Uist & Barra/ Tribute Band/ Scottish Pipers

One of the highlights at tomorrow’s Piobaireachd Society Conference will be a tune from Duncan MacGillivray. Duncan will be playing on John Macdonald, Inverness’s bagpipe (as above). It will help illustrate my talk on John Shone’s new book on Macdonald entitled ‘Life, Times and Music’. (Available this weekend on the PS webshop.) Duncan got the pipes from his father Donald. Donald was a student of Macdonald’s and the maestro gifted…

Editor’s Notebook: Concern Over Worlds Juvenile Contests/ Senior Piobaireachd/ Pitlochry Band/ Brodie Picture

I received this anonymous message earlier this week: ‘This segregation of the Worlds is all kinds of wrong. My son plays in the Juvenile grade and says the kids now feel like second class musicians, not worthy of sharing the big day with their adult heroes. ‘It does not happen at other majors and there is no good reason for it to happen at the Worlds (RSPBA ineptitude aside). My…

Scottish Pipers Professional 2025 Entries Open

President Logan Tannock: We are delighted to be able to run the Scottish Pipers Association Professional Competition for 2025 on the 12th of April, and once again held in the National Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. The various contests are as follows: P/A Piobaireachd: Donald MacLeod Trophy: 5 places, 3 prizes £100, £70, £40; submit 4 tunes.B Piobaireachd: 5 places, 3 prizes £80, £50, £30; submit 3 tunes C Piobaireachd:…

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Editor’s Notebook: Atholl Gathering/ RT Shepherd/ SPA Professional/ William Kennedy Festival/ Florida School

Atholl Gathering Piping Convenor Jack TayIor: ‘Solo piping entries at the Gathering open today, Friday 14th March. The entry form is here on the Atholl Gathering website. ‘Held on Sunday, May 25th, it is the first outdoor competition of the season and is always busy, so pipers are encouraged to put entries in early.  ‘We will try and give everyone the chance to play, but if categories are too big we will have to restrict them on…

Editor’s Notebook: RT Shepherd & Co./ Entries at UKs/ Clan Fraser PB/ Correspondence/ Iowa Highlanders/ Scottish Schools

I am sure that we are not the only people who are have failed in our attempts to get in touch with bagpipe manufacturer RT Shepherd & Co. On a visit to Fife this week I called in to their premises in Cardenden to find the place locked up with curtains closed and blinds down. Local enquiries yielded scant information other than that around a month ago the premises had…