Review: Archie Kenneth Quaich 2023

The ever-popular amateur piobaireachd contest for the Archie Kenneth Quaich and Piobaireachd Society Banner was held on 25th February. This was our 31st contest – and in honour of that anniversary a list of the last 30 years winners, their tunes, and the judges for each year, was posted in every room.  For 28 of those 30 years we have been the fortunate guests of the Royal Scottish Pipers Society…

Uist & Barra Draw and Tune Selections

The Uist and Barra is the first major professional solo piping event of the year. It takes place on Saturday (March 4) in the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. Thirteen pipers have been invited to take part. For what is probably the first time at the U&B, a father and son will compete in the same competition: Angus J and Angus D MacColl. Here is the order in which competitors…

History: Solo Piping in 1985 and the Day the Gold Medal was Paused for Communion

The following is taken from the Oban Times piping column written by Alfred Morrison in late August 1985. He begins in characteristically trenchant fashion with a comment on the Silver Chanter: On Wednesday evening this piping recital was held in Dunvegan Castle. This event in piping used to be a competition for pipers who had already won the Gold Medal at Oban or Inverness, but this year it was demoted…

Editor’s Notebook: JAX School/ North Lanarkshire Job/ Donald, Willie/ Letters/ USPF

We had 40+ students at this year’s Florida Pipes & Drums Academy in Jacksonville. The intake represents a good bounce back after covid. We introduced a new grading system for the pupils this year. It placed them on an attainment ladder which we hope will encourage them to advance upwards. June, one of our students and herself a teacher, said she was impressed with the care and concern the tutors…

AKQ and Ardmore Cup Results (Updated with Pictures)

The winner of the 2023 Archie Kenneth Quaich for amateur piobaireachd was Matthew Kirkwood playing the Battle of Auldearn No. 1, writes Peter McCalister. The competition was held today (Sat Feb 25) in the rooms of the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society in Edinburgh. The prize winning pipers and Mr Derek Fraser (left), Secretary of the Piobaireachd Society, are pictured above. Result: 1 Matthew Kirkwood 2 Ben Hall 3 Leslie Barrett…