Category: Blog

2022 Archie Kenneth Quaich Results

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The 2022 competition organised by the Music Committee of the Piobaireachd Society was held in the Scots Guards Club, Haymarket, Edinburgh, today. Nineteen pipers competed for the much sought after trophy for amateur piobaireachd players. There were a handful if call-offs for a variety of reasons. The winner was journalist Tom Peterkin (pictured) playing Corrienessan’s Salute. This was Tom’s fifth win in this event. In second place came John Nevans…

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Callum Beaumont Recital (updated)

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Ipswich Piping Society continue to lead the way in the south of England with regard to inviting top solo pipers along for their annual recital nights, writes Roger Huth. Close to one hundred came to Ipswich yesterday evening to sit and listen to Callum Beaumont’s stunning bagpipe and performances. Fittingly one of his sets was dedicated to the late Rod Caird and former President of the Society. Programme note: ‘Building…

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Editor’s Notebook: Jim Butler/ Weekend Contests/ Patricia Grant/ Captain John Contest

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It is with sadness I report the passing of piper and artist Jim Butler, North Ayrshire. Jim was a head art teacher and a painter of renown, so much so that he was able to hold successful exhibitions of his work. He also taught pipes in North Ayrshire schools for seven years and was a staunch member of Irvine Burns Club. He was a regular visitor to the College of…

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Inaugural James Campbell Medal Contest Considered an Outstanding Success

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The cobbled courts of Pembroke College, Cambridge, resounded to the sound of the pipes last Saturday as the inaugural James Campbell Medal competition was held in the College Chapel. Founded as a memorial to James Campbell (1916-2003), the renowned piobaireachd judge and player and son of Archibald Campbell of Kilberry Book fame, and who was also a Law Fellow at Pembroke for many years, the competition was attended by an…

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Pipe Band Judging: Time for a New, More Hi-Tech Approach

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I read with interest the good article by Alistair Aitken from 2010 on pipe band adjudication. I suspect that the debate about the effectiveness or ‘fairness’ of judges has gone on since contests began. Our current approach is just the most recent iteration of the traditional hands-on manual method; in which we ask trained adjudicators to use their senses and judgement to come to a ranking of the competing bands….

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