2025 Nicol-Brown Chalice Results

This important invitational amateur competition, now in its 42nd year, was held in St Mark’s Presbyterian Church, Rockville, Maryland, USA, on October 11. Competitors are pictured above. Overall Championship: 1 Alex Pavlovic, $1,000 (to be spent on travel to compete at an event approved by the Nicol-Brown Committee) 2 Colin Richdale, $500 3 Jean-Sébastien Gamache, $400 4 Liam Horne, $300 5 Abby Long, $200. Invitations are based on results in…

Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship Results

This prestigious contest for solo pipers aged under 22 was held on October 10th, at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll, courtesy the Earl of Dundonald. The overall champion at the 5th annual competition was Magnus Stone from Massachusetts, USA. He became the first overseas winner of the coveted title. He is 17 years old. He qualified for Lochnell by placing third in the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd at this year’s Argyllshire Gathering….

National Mòd Piping Results

A busy day of competition at the National Mòd held at Lochaber High School, Fort William, on Saturday, 10th October. There were very good numbers for B grades and the children’s competitions. P/A Piobaireachd 1 Cameron May, Lament for the Children2 Darach Urquhart, Lament for the Earl of Antrim 3 Angus MacPhee, Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck P/A MSR1 John Dew2 Sandy Cameron3 Calum Watson B Piobaireachd 1 Jonathon Simpson, Lament for…

Editor’s Notebook: 2026 Majors/ RSPBA Fundraising/ Mod Piping/ Lochnell Championship/ Letters

I wonder how the RSPBA are getting on with the planning for next year’s major championships? Will it be five or the three and a half we had this year? Looking back it seems there was confirmation of the Worlds, the Euros, the Scottish and the UKs for 2026. The latter was a bit of a non-event given the date on which it was held (July 12) but the Association…

News from Canada

St Andrew’s College in Ontario, Canada, are looking for a new Director of Piping & Drumming. The full time job begins in August next year. The prospectus reads: Our Pipes & Drums program has been in existence since 1915. With the help of world-renowned piping and drumming teachers, aspiring pipers and drummers can begin their journey at St Andrew’s and graduate with a lifelong hobby of piping or drumming, with…