Category: Piobaireachd

Germany’s Northern Winter Competition Continues to Grow in Stature

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

One hundred and forty pipers and drummers converged on the German city of Bremen at the weekend for the Northern Winter Competition, writes the Editor. Organised by the Bagpipe Association of Germany, it was a triumph of efficiency and balance: camaraderie, fierce competition in equal measure. Piping judges were myself, Barry Donaldson, Peter Hunt and Allan MacDonald. There were solos at every level and quintets for bands. This last worked…

More Germany’s Northern Winter Competition Continues to Grow in Stature

Editor’s Notebook: Singer Pipe Band/ Solo Judging/ Stirling Recital and Contest/ NZ National Youth Pipe Band

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Thanks to reader David Moore for the above picture of Singer Pipe Band, Clydebank. David was mentioned in last week’s article along with two other ex-members, George McEwan and Murdo MacLean. David writes: I knew both George and Murdo well as we all lived in the same area along with many other Singer employees. George and myself played with Pipe Major Maurice Pert at Duthie Park, Aberdeen, in 1970 winning…

More Editor’s Notebook: Singer Pipe Band/ Solo Judging/ Stirling Recital and Contest/ NZ National Youth Pipe Band

Responses to ‘Judge’s Dilemma at Glenfiddich’ article

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Neil Mulvie: ‘I find it difficult not to be impressed by the approach to judging and scrutiny that Norman [Matheson] describes in his letter to Andrew Wright. And I am certain that Andrew would have totally agreed with Norman’s views. ‘Andrew often quoted Andrew MacNeill, saying that he was more comfortable awarding a prize to the piper, ‘who went off the tune rather than one who was never on it…

More Responses to ‘Judge’s Dilemma at Glenfiddich’ article

History: Judge’s Dilemma at Glenfiddich Competition

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

In 1993 there was a boycott of the main piping competitions by a large tranche of the competing piping community. They had been driven to take such drastic action by what they perceived as the poor standard of judging then extant. The boycott led to the formation of the Joint Committee for Judging representing all interested parties, pipers, promoters, judges. It was to oversee matters of dispute. Andrew Wright was…

More History: Judge’s Dilemma at Glenfiddich Competition

Scottish Schools Entries/ CLASP Results

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships will be held on Sunday, 8th March, 2026. Entries close on January 30th. The venue is the William McIlvaney Campus in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Enter here. No entry fee. There are categories for Quartets, Junior C, Junior B, Junior A, Novice Juvenile B, Novice Juvenile A, Juvenile and Freestyle, plus the Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award, which honours dedication and spirit. Substantial prizes are on offer: Travel grants:…

More Scottish Schools Entries/ CLASP Results