Editor’s Notebook: Grading and the Games/ Glenfiddich Winner/ Northern Winter School/ SPA Juveniles

Reader Ben Greeves from Northern Ireland has commented on the recent rule adopted by the Competing Pipers’ Association whereby they will not consider results for their grading process unless these were achieved before an adjudicator accredited by Solo Piping Judges Association. I think many of the solo competitions in Ireland North and South are before SPJA judges, Ben. Recently Logan Tannock did the Piper of the Year in Ballymena and…

Another Band Folds/ Piobaireachd Society News/ RSPBA Annual Fees

Another pipe band, the Vale of Atholl Grade 2, has folded. However, the name will continue with the organisation’s newly-promoted Grade 3b band. P/M Jamie Falconer has also decided to leave the band organisation. In a statement the Vale said the decision to disband had not been taken lightly. Focus will now be on building up their 3b band with a programme of youth development. The statement read: ‘The decision…

‘Beyond Binneas’  – A New Look at a Famous Piobaireachd Collection

The ground breaking piobaireachd collection ‘Binneas is Boreraig’ (BiB), was published by Dr Roddy Ross some 60 years ago, and aimed to capture the playing of the master piper Malcolm Macpherson.   By Pat Terry It employed notational devices that pipers familiar with the notation used in many other collections of ceòl mòr found strange [colour coded, three-line stave].  In 2022, Chris Terry (a pupil of John MacFadyen) set out…

Glenfiddich 2025 Results

The Glenfiddich Champion for 2025 is Stuart Liddell. He was placed second in MSR and third in Ceòl Mòr. Runner-up was Callum Beaumont, with Alan Bevan in third. There was a large audience in the great hall at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl. Piobaireachd placings:1 Alan Bevan2 Nick Hudson3 Stuart Liddell4 Callum Beaumont5 Brodie Watson-Massey MSR placings:1 Callum Beaumont2 Stuart Liddell3 Finlay Johnston4 Nick Hudson5 Alan Bevan Other playing but not…

Editor’s Notebook: A Cap on G1 Bands/ Donald’s Powder Horn/ Winter School/ Pic ID/ Ross Miller

I’ve heard a suggestion that the RSPBA are about to survey bands to ask their attitude to caps on numbers. I hope this chatter is a matter of fact. It would demonstrate a responsible response by the authorities to the disaster of losing two grade one bands in Closkelt and Johnstone, the root cause of which is a lack of personnel. I hope the bands respond positively but am not…