Three bands were awarded £500 from the RSPBA’s National Juvenile Pipe Band Fund recently. They were Sgoil Lionacleit from the Western Isles, Bucksburn and District from Aberdeenshire and West Lothian Schools. The fund was established a few years ago now to help youth bands with their expenses for travel and teaching and it continues to be in healthy state with 1% of RSPBA revenue added each year. It should be…

A report about Jimmy McIntosh’s annual competition held last Friday evening in Davidson, North Carolina, where there was a high standard in the piobaireachd with all nine players showing good musical understanding.  Firstly the results: Piobaireachd 1. Andrew Carlisle, Battle of Bealach nam Brog2. Derek Midgley, Lord Lovat’s Lament3. Nick Hudson, Rout of Glenfruin MSR1. Nick Hudson2. Derek Midgley 3. Andrew Carlisle  Hornpipe and Jig1. Derek Midgley2. Nick Hudson3. Dan Lyndon  It’s been…

These contest were held over two days at the Scotch College, Adelaide, South Australia, April 12 and 13. There was a strong entry in the lower grades but less so in the Clasp and Gold Medal events. The light music competitions constitute the Australian Solo Piping Championship held over four grades. The piobaireachd prizes do not contribute to the championship but are prestigious awards in their own right. All contests…

Piping Press has just learned of the death at the age of 80 of Lawrie Gillespie, former member of Pipe Major Iain McLeod’s World Championships winning Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band in 1971 and 1972.  Lawrie Gillespie was also a prominent competitor in the solo piping circuit. Following service in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, Lawrie Gillespie joined Edinburgh City Police in 1962 where he served until he retired at…

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