PP Editor’s Blog: Band Formation Poll Results/Grampian League/ / Festival of Juvenile Solo Piping etc.

A couple of weeks ago I ran a piece lauding the organisers of the Chicago Highland Games for instituting concert formation for their band competition. The accompanying poll results can now be revealed. We asked the question ‘What do you think of the circle formation for band competition’. The results show an overwhelming majority in favour of change – a huge 88%. The response ‘Couldn’t be better; leave well alone’…

PP Editor’s Blog: Games Attendance/Bands at Bridge of Allan

There are some pretty simple solutions the Competing Pipers’ Association could enact to solve the poor turnouts at our Highland games. I hope I am not overstating the problem, but when only handfuls of pipers are turning up at the likes of Taynuilt, Lochearnhead, Markinch, Luss, Tobermory, we need to do something. Inveraray, by contrast, can attract 35 for its B grade events, 27 for the C and a healthy entry for…

A Day at the Games in the West Highlands

I know I keep harping on about how enjoyable the games are, but last week at Tobermory was a blast. We met up on the Wednesday night and went for a meal, we being my fellow judges, P/Ms Ian Duncan and Ian McLellan, Andrew Frater, and piping convenor Torquil Telfer and our respective ladies.  Ian Mc is involved in the compiling of the new Argylls book of pipe tunes (Ian…

Hallkirk Games, Pacific North West Results, AP Campbell on the Games, WW1 Tunes, Tom Peterkin

Results for Hallkirk Games and in the US the Pacific Northwest band and solo competitions, have been posted on the Results pages. The picture above shows Colin Campbell, Aberlour, the Champion Piper at Hallkirk. Colin is playing at Tobermory Games in beautiful conditions under the famous piobaireachd tree. Writer, poet, broadcaster and actor Angus Peter Campbell, father of noted young player Brighde Chaimbeul, had an interesting article on the games…

PP Editor’s Blog: New England Academy/ Scottish PB Champs/ Jack in the US/ RSPS Dates etc

Following the considerable success of the first New England Piping Academy, dates for 2016 have been announced early – with an enhanced programme. The Academy will run from June 14 -19, 2016, inclusive at the Adelynrood Retreat, Byfield MA, the same venue as this year’s camp. Responding to requests from attendees, the camp has been extended to five days from the afternoon of the 14th till before lunch on the 19th….