Winners of Original Piobaireachd Composing Competition Announced

Jori Chisholm, Seattle, is the winner of the Original Piobaireachd Composing Competition sponsored by the California-based Shasta Piping Society and the Burley Bagpipe Company, British Columbia. Under anonymous cover, Jori’s tune was the unanimous choice of the judges Mike Cusack, Texas, Bill Livingstone, Ontario, and Robert Wallace, Glasgow (Chairman). Jori receives £500 ($650). He is pictured above. Runner up was Dave Mason of South Africa who receives £250 ($325) with John Bottomley, Director…

More Details of New England Pipe & Drum Academy

New England Pipe & Drum Academy committee member Bruce Landay has sent this from Massachusetts:  As in past years, I want to remind everyone that the New England Piping & Drumming Academy will be held at the Adelynrood Retreat in Byfield, MA, June 16-21. On the piping side, faculty will include Rob Wallace, Matt Pantaleoni and Donald McBride.  On the drumming side, we are fortunate to have Tommy Johnston for the…

Review of the ‘Pipers Meeting’ by Dr Jack Taylor and Patrick Molard

The launch of this book has had an impressive impact: inclusion in the Piobaireachd Society (PS) conference programme isn’t surprising, though nonetheless very welcome, but it was great to have significant coverage on the BBC’s ‘Pipeline’ programme. The Campbell Canntaireachd manuscript (CC) is the oldest known collection of piobaireachd, written in vocables, a system for presenting the music in words (not in staff notation), reflecting the teaching of ceol mor…

PP Ed’s Blog: New England/ HIMDF Results/ Colin Thomson/ Gransha

Just to clarify things and avoid any confusion, the dates of next month’s New England Pipe & Drum Academy are June 16 -21. Publicity material with anything other than these dates is incorrect and apologies for any confusion. Everything is shaping up well for another fine week at the superb Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Centre. We are delighted to have drumming expert Tommy Johnston with us this year as our percussion…

Two Days at Oban and the Highlands & Islands Festival

Despite the best endeavours of the architects and town planners, Oban still retains a picturesque character, a town in keeping with the beauty of its bay and surrounding hills. It is a shock, therefore, when the first thing one sees on descending the A85 from Connel is the most grotesquely garish paint job this side of Jackson Pollock. Anyone who lets their eyes rest for more than a few moments on…