Katie Mackenzie of the Blas Festival has sent the following…. This year’s Blas Festival, a showcase of the best of Highland culture, features a healthy and impressive line-up of pipers as well as celebrating some of the great pipers of the past. A name synonymous with all things related to Highland bagpipes will be the centre of attraction on the first day of this September’s Blas festival. The music of the…

Winning the Clasp competition at the Northern Meeting or the Senior Piobaireachd event at the Argyllshire Gathering is the height of achievement for any piper. To win one is defining – to win three of either before your are aged 30 is remarkable. Only a very special piper is capable of such a feat – which brings us neatly to the Editor’s chat with 2018 Clasp winner Callum Beaumont…… Callum…

The Scottish Schools Pipes & Drums Trust have sent this: Youngsters in Lossiemouth and district schools are to be given the chance to learn the pipes and drums thanks to a funding boost from a national music charity. It is expected that enough pupils will take up the challenge to allow a schools pipe band to be formed. Youngsters will have the chance to try out the practice chanter and…

‘I’ve been playing pipes since I was nine and started competing as an amateur in 1994. I’m a classical pianist first and foremost, though my piano has taken a back seat in the last 10 years since I took the plunge, leaving the amateur ranks. I was lucky enough to win the Silver Medal in 2012 at Oban. By coincidence I could only get a limited time off work that…

Good attendance on a warm sunny day. Over £2000 in prize money across the events. Good standard of playing across all grades. Pictured above is confined piobaireachd winner Roger Huth. Confined events – Pipers Graded B&C by the CPA Piobaireachd 1. Roger Huth – Lament for Mary MacLeod 2. Joe Davies – The Desperate Battle 3. Kyle Shead – A Flame of Wrath for Squinting Patrick 4. Peter Candy –…