Review: USPF Annual Solo Piping Competition

Piping trips to the US are invariably characterised by superb hospitality, friendship and good music. Last weekend, at the United States Piping Foundation Maclean Macleod Memorial, was no exception. The contest was held at the University of Delaware. The organising committee led by Arthur McAra, Mike Rogers and Peter Kent, could not have been more accommodating. Visiting adjudicators, as I was, are given the kind of warm welcome that quickly banishes the…

Aberdeen Games/ BC Games (updated)

Aberdeen Games 20/6/15 Dry to begin with; rain in afternoon. Gordon McCready continued his impressive run at the games with another ‘Champion Piper’ title. Piob 1 Edward Gaul, Lament for Viscount of Dundee 2 Ben Duncan, MacDougall’s Gathering 3 Gordon McCready, Big Spree 4 Allan Russell 5 Jonathan Simpson Judges: Norman Matheson, Duncan Watson March 1 Gordon McCready 2 Ben Duncan 3 Allan Russell 4 John MacDonald 5 Jonathan Simpson…

USPF Maclean Macleod Memorial Results (updated)

The United States Piping Foundation Maclean Macleod Memorial Piping Champion for 2015 is Northern Ireland’s Andrew Carlisle. Andrew, a member of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, and currently Professor of Piping at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, placed second in the Piobaireachd competition and first in the MSR to take the title. In addition to his prize of $1,800, Andrew receives a transatlantic air fare to compete in Scotland…

Forres Prepared/ USPF Solos/ New England Piping Academy/ New CD

Preparations for next weekend’s European Pipe Band Championships are well in hand. The promoters, ‘Piping @ Forres’, have sent this:  ‘Final Piping At Forres preparations are in place for the European Pipe Band Championships, sponsored by Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, being held in Forres on Saturday 27 June. 105 bands, including eleven Grade 1 bands and the current European and World Champions, will play in Grant Park in…

Draw for the Scottish PB Champs./ John MacDougall Gillies MS (updated)

The RSPBA website is back up after a few hours down for essential maintenance. The new draw for the Scottish Championships to be held at Dumbarton on July 25 is announced as: Grade 1 – Final 01 14:15 Peoples Ford – Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia 02 14:25 Cullybackey 03 14:35 Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles 04 14:45 Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia 05 14:55 Inveraray and District 06 15:05 Scottish Power 07 15:15…