Category: Piobaireachd

Piping & Drumming Upsurge in South West Scotland Thanks to Local Academy

Posted on      by     

There is great work being done for piping and drumming by the South West Scotland Piping and Drumming Academy. Building on a tradition established by John Cowan, Walter Cowan (pictured instructing above), Alfie Geddes, Ian Clowe, Jim McConnachie and the late Tony MacDonald, the South West Scotland Piping & Drumming Academy is forging ahead with a programme of tuition which is sure to produce many top-level players if not champions in…

More Piping & Drumming Upsurge in South West Scotland Thanks to Local Academy

North America’s 35th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition

Posted on      by     

One of North America’s leading amateur competitions, the 35th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition, was held on Saturday, October 7, 2017 in the First Reformed Church of Scotia, Scotia, NY. Judges: Ian K. MacDonald, Whitby, Ontario, Andrew Lee, Surrey, British Columbia and Ben McClamrock, Baltimore, Maryland. Master of Ceremonies: Donald F. Lindsay and Daniel Cole. Overall Nicol-Brown Championship 1. ALISTAIR BEVAN (21 points) Prizes: air fare to compete in London in November 2018, sponsored by the…

More North America’s 35th Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition

Captain John MacLellan Memorial Results (pictures added)

Posted on      by     

More than 50 pipers took part in what was a very well run series of competitions at the Army School of Piping and Highland Drumming at Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh. There were nine competitions over four grades with everything completed by 4.30pm. Pictures courtesy Major Gordon Rowan, Director of Army Bagpipe Music. P Grade Overall Champion: Iain Speirs P Grade Piobaireachd: 1st: Iain Speirs 2nd: Callum Beaumont 3rd: Glenn Brown 4th: Faye…

More Captain John MacLellan Memorial Results (pictures added)

PP Ed’s Blog: Captain John MacLellan Contest/ Danish Pipers in WW1 Initiative

Posted on      by     

The discrepancies in our lists of competitors for tomorrow’s Captain John MacLellan Memorial Competition are explained: there is a ‘P’ grade. Here is the draw: Good to see these leading pipers supporting this contest, particularly the big piobaireachd winners at this year’s Oban and Inverness gatherings, Glenn Brown (Senior Piobaireachd) and Iain Speirs (Clasp). However, with only a handful of entries I’m not sure how this grade is going to…

More PP Ed’s Blog: Captain John MacLellan Contest/ Danish Pipers in WW1 Initiative

PP Ed’s Blog: Northern Meeting Names/ Capt. John Contest Draw/ Worlds Pictures/ Tom Knobel, South Africa

Posted on      by     

Thanks to Greig Canning for supplying the missing names and awards from in Tuesday’s picture from the 2004 Northern Meeting at Inverness rerun above. Names and prizes are (standing l – r):  James Beaumont (‘B’ S&R), Alastair Dunn (Silver Medal), Ian K MacDonald (‘A’ H&J), Richard Hawke (‘A’ MSR), Simon McKerral (2nd ‘A’ MSR), P/M Michael Gray (Dress & Deportment?), and Donald MacPhee (2nd Gold Medal). Seated from the left…

More PP Ed’s Blog: Northern Meeting Names/ Capt. John Contest Draw/ Worlds Pictures/ Tom Knobel, South Africa