Piping Society Honoured to be Part of Visit by His Majesty The King to Gordons Museum

The Aberdeen Piping Society (TAPS), established 2023, has a simple aim – to encourage and nurture the playing of the Great Highland Bagpipe. Our 35+ members of all ages and experience, meet up regularly to play pipes, and share stories, writes Fraser Maitland. Despite being a young organisation, we’ve provided two new trophies for local events, including the creation of a new junior Piobaireachd competition at the Aberdeen Highland Games (the…

History: A Tribute to General CS Thomason

Major General CS Thomason was one of the great figures in piping at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. His monumental 400-page work ‘Ceol Mor’ paved the way for the formation of the Piobaireachd Society and its seminal collection of Books 1-16. The Oban Times of July 10, 1909, reported on a dinner held that month in his honour in the Union Hotel, Edinburgh….. The…

Canadian Gold Medallist Bill Livingstone’s New Piobaireachd Release

Renowned Canadian piper, composer, and author William (Bill) Livingstone has released the fifth volume of his celebrated series, A Piobaireachd Diary. The album continues his dedication to exploring and interpreting the classical music of the great Highland bagpipe, a journey that has spanned decades and earned him international acclaim. By Andrew B Giles Bill, a notable figure in the world of piping, was the founding Pipe Major of the 78th…

Editor’s Notebook: Concert Formation/ Col Sutherland Award/ Scots Guards KO/ Florida Games

Not for the first time the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association is showing the way. They have enshrined into ‘law’ that bands competing indoors must do so in concert formation. Their rules now state: ‘When approved by the Executive Committee, a band may form on a stage or field in a semi-circle formation facing the audience. ‘If at all possible, this contest will be held on a stage with…

CLASP ‘In Person’ Results

The first in-person Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) competition of the year was held last Saturday, 11th January 2025, at the National Piping Centre, Otago Street, writes Margaret Houlihan. Overall winners are pictured above, l-r: Donald Morrison (Grade 2), Craig Turnbull (Grade 1), Anthony MacLachlan (Grade 3). G1 Piob.: 1 Donald Morrison 2 Graham Farr 3 John Nevans 4 Craig Turnbull 5 Dugald MacLeod G2 Piob: 1 Adam Aitchison…