The New Silver Medal Qualification System – 20/20 Vision or a Severe Case of Myopia?

The Competing Pipers’ Association, in co-operation with the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting, have agreed a new qualification process for the Silver Medal. In summary those getting a place in 2020 would be: 1) Silver Medal placed competitors from the previous year 2) All A- (minus) players 3) Winners of B graded piobaireachd contests in the current year 4) B grade league table placings Whilst additional clarity and transparency on…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Composing Competition/ Pibroch by the Sea/ Broughshane Pipe Band/ Music Show Scotland

We received 42 entries for the John Cruickshank VC composing competition and the judges are now wading through some impressive submissions. Each has been sent under anonymous cover to judges P/M Ian McLellan (Strathclyde Police Pipe Band), P/M Stuart Liddell (Inveraray & District) and P/M Richard Parkes (Field Marshal Montgomery). We hope to have completed our deliberations before Christmas and the winner of the £1,000 first prize will be announced…

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National Recognition for World Pipe Band Championships

The World Pipe Band Championship has been named ‘Outdoor Event of the Year’ at the Scottish  Music Awards, held last Saturday in Glasgow. Receiving the award on behalf of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association were Chief Executive Ian Embelton, Chairman John Hughes and Chief Steward Alex Dalziel. They are pictured above. The prestigious award was presented before hundreds of guests at the city’s Scottish Exhibition Centre. Lomond and Clyde…

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Thoughts on Vale and the Worlds Qualifier/ Entries for Inverness Music Festival

The Editor writes: Following yesterday’s Vale news I wonder if there will be sufficient Grade 1 bands at the Worlds to justify the Friday Qualifier? Possibly not.  We’ve recently had three bands downgraded from Grade 1: Denny & Dunipace Gleneagles, Buchan Peterson and Cap Caval. I understand that no New Zealand bands will be coming over next year nor will Toronto Police – and we have already had the sad news of…

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Adrian Cramb Resigns from the Vale/ Minor Contests – Reaction to Yesterday’s Story

Adrian Cramb has announced his resignation from the position of Pipe Major of the Vale of Atholl’s Grade 1 Pipe Band. The band will not be competing next summer whilst the band ‘takes this period to develop its way forward’. Adrian brought recent success to the band when they made the final of the 2018 Worlds. They are pictured above on their way to the circle. Last week it was…

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