Category: Comment

PP Ed's Blog: SPJA Withdrawal/ Uist & Barra/ Scottish Schools/ Lisnamulligan

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I shouldn’t have thought my withdrawal from the Solo Piping Judges Association of any great interest, far less newsworthy. However the new SPJA chairman decided to make the matter public. He sent a circular to all members telling them about it then a press notice to the Competing Pipers’ Association, pipes/drums, Piping Press and the Piping Times. He did so without agreement with myself. I was subsequently contacted by Andrew…

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My Tune for P/M Richard Parkes of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band

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A couple of weeks ago the editor mentioned on his blog a new piobaireachd that had been composed by piper, adjudicator and professional reedmaker Donald MacPhee. The tune commemorates the remarkable achievements of P/M Richard Parkes of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band and here Donald gives us the background to his composition….. Many thanks for your kind thoughts on the tune. The story behind it: I was a piper in Field…

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PP Ed's Blog: Inveraray PB/ BB Exhibition/ Pipers' Persuasion/ Judges Poll/ Jubilee March

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I hear Inveraray Pipe Band are to pipe in the New Year on BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay television show. It caps off a great year for the band after they were crowned World Champions on Glasgow Green last August. Add to that the fact that P/Sgt Alasdair Henderson won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting and Leading Drummer Steven McWhirter the World Solos and you can see that the band…

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Alistair Bevan, British Columbia, Wins Top Canadian Amateur Contest

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Bob Worrall reports: The 22nd George Sherriff Memorial Invitational wrapped up on Saturday night (Nov 18).  A great day all round with terrific performances from the 10 competitors.  Further details are on the contest website:  www.georgesherriffinvitational.com . The Overall Champion was Alistair Bevan. Alistair [main picture above] is the son of SFU P/M Alan Bevan, the noted double Gold Medallist. There were three different winners in the individual events so prizes…

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Americans Claim US Junior Solo Piping and Drumming Titles 

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George Balderose reports: The Eleventh Annual Balmoral Classic US Junior Solo Junior Bagpiping and Solo Snare Drumming Championships were won by piper Joseph Horwath of Saginaw, Michigan, and drummer Matthew Darmadi of Houston, Texas. Fifteen pipers from six states plus Ontario and Scotland, and three drummers from Massachusetts, Ohio, and Texas competed in the double event contest. The above picture shows, left to right: Liam MacDonald, Piobaireachd winner, Joseph Horvath, Overall…

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