Famous Pipers/ Duncan Johnstone Contest

A new addition this week to our Famous Pipers series is a feature on the legendary John MacDonald of Inverness. As author Norman Matheson says, John MacDonald continues to have a profound effect on piping to this day. Read Mr Matheson’s article here. Tomorrow sees the annual Duncan Johnstone Memorial competition. Held at the National Piping Centre, this contest is run by the Competing Pipers’ Association and the Centre. It…

Scottish Pipers’ Association Secures Sponsorship

One of Scotland’s oldest piping societies, the Scottish Pipers’ Association, has secured funding for its annual professional competition. The sponsor is McCallum Bagpipes who have agreed to donate a substantial sum of cash to the competition. SPA President Tom Johnstone said he was delighted to secure the money which guarantees the competition’s future: ‘I cannot thank this company enough. We are determined to restore the SPA Professional to status it…

Florida Academy/ Pipe Band Association History/ Piobaireachd Comment/ RSPS

Only a week to go until the first South Florida Pipe and Drum Academy and the registrar reports a total of 31 full-time students plus others on a part-time basis. Principal Robert Wallace said: ‘This is a very gratifying figure considering this is the first ever academy and reflects on the hard work of our organising staff in Fort Lauderdale and is recognition of the quality of instruction that will…

Brighde Chaimbeul/ MacKenzie Cal./ History

Talented young piper Brighde Chaimbeul emerged victorious from last weekend’s National Piping Centre Junior solo competition, picking up first in Piobaireachd and March, Strathspey and Reel and second in Jigs and thus the overall prize. Brigdhe is continuing her well-deserved run of success which included the Scots Guards Junior Solos last autumn (see pic).[wds id=”3″] Dundee’s MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band have issued a new CD on the KRL label (see main…

Donald Maclean/Gary Nimmo/Guards KO/Peter Bain/Metro Cup

A visit to Mrs Fiona Johnston last week yielded some interesting and important additional information and memorabilia on the life and times of her uncle P/M Donald Maclean of Lewis, and this has been added to our Famous Pipers column. We are grateful to Mrs Johnston for her assistance. Congratulations to Gary Nimmo, Ullapool schools instructor, who has taken over the Bagpipe Specialists Highland supply company from Alison Sinclair. We…