2022 Jimmy McIntosh Challenge / Ulster Solos

The 2022 Jimmy McIntosh Challenge Competition was held on Friday evening, April 8, at the Davidson United Methodist Church in Davidson, North Carolina.  After a two-year hiatus due to the ongoing pandemic, this in-person evening of professional piping marked the resumption of one of the premier events of the eastern United States piping scene. By Ed Krintz Begun in 2013, with generous sponsorship from the Charlotte Stephenson family, the competition…

Scottish Pipers’ Association Professional Contest 2022 Entry Deadline Nears

This weekend is the last chance to enter one of the first in-person solo contests for 2022, the Scottish Pipers’ Association Professional, writes SPA President Logan Tannock. Entries close at 1300hrs on Sunday 17th April 2022. Entries for each event will be strictly limited to 20 competitors so we recommend prompt registration to guarantee a place. All entrants will need to create a membership on the SPA website, and Life…

Draw For British Pipe Band Championships Announced

The first major championship of the pipe band season takes place at Greenock, Inverclyde on May 21. The RSPBA today announced the full list of entrants and judges. Here is the playing order for grade 1 and 2: Grade Two 1  13:30 City of Edinburgh 2  13:39 Portlethen and District 3  13:48 St Joseph’s – Eire 4  13:57 Oban 5  14:06 Bucksburn and District 6  14:15 Uddingston 7  14:24 Royal…

Editor’s Notebook: Band Numbers/ Tune for Norman/ Film Request/ Henderson Pipes/ Inverness 1990

I noticed this story in one of the national papers the other day, bandmasters lamenting the lack of trumpets and tubas in our nation’s brass bands. I wonder if pipe bands will be similarly afflicted? I think so. This is why the wise men at the RSPBA have instructed stewards to turn a blind eye to the odd numerical indiscretion they may spot at the flags or in final tuning….

Skye Gathering Entries Open/ Piping Live Searching for New Talent for 2022 festival

Skye Gathering Convenor Piping Cameron MacFadyen reports that they are ‘quietly optimistic’ about returning to normal this summer and running the full programme of piping events at this year’s Skye Games. They will be held on August 2 & 3. Mr MacFadyen has forwarded the information sheet and entry form (see below) for those intending to compete at Portree. The information is also available by clicking the picture above. Skye…