Entries Open for New Junior Piobaireachd Contest/ Callum Beaumont Western Isles Recital

Entries are now open for a new junior piobaireachd competition being run by George Watson’s College in Edinburgh. The inaugural ‘Caritas Banner’ Competition is on Sunday 26 November. Sponsors are Kintail Bagpipes and the Piobaireachd Society. The school, founded in 1741, has as its motto ‘Ex Corde Caritas’ (Love from the Heart). It has a worldwide wide reputation for promoting piping and drumming through its championship winning bands. Ross Harvey,…

Glengarry Cup, Ottawa, Results

On Saturday, September 23, the Ottawa Branch of the Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario held the Glengarry Cup, writes Karine Mayers, President. The overall winner by piobaireachd preference was Ian K. MacDonald. New this year, a Piobaireachd contest was held in the afternoon followed by an MSR contestin the evening. The contest drew a crowd of 100, filling the room at the Army Officers’ Mess, in Ottawa. Piob:1…

Editor’s Notebook: Worlds and Nat/ Old Boggies Celebrate/ Bill’s New Job/ MacKay Cairn/ Angus’s Winning Jig

There has been quite a lot of overheated speculation about the Worlds and Nat Russell, most of it rather wide of the mark. I have gathered considerable information on what actually happened and what Mr Russell’s placings were but cannot in all honesty share it with you. Nothing would be gained by such exposure. Nat Russell is a Worlds-winning Pipe Major. He is a senior adjudicator with 60 years dedication…

My Father, Double Gold Medallist William M. MacDonald

A new book has been published featuring the compositions of the late William M. MacDonald, Inverness, and his son Brian. In his Foreword, Brian gives illuminating insight into his father’s life and career…. My father was born in Kingussie on 6th August 1918 and inherited his musical talent from his mother who was a Munro from Sutherland. As a boy he was first taught piping in Kingussie by Captain Norman…

All Ireland Solo Piping & Drumming: News, Results and Comment

This competition was held last Saturday (Sept.16) in a school in Lusk, north of Dublin. It was very well attended by pipers and drummers from both the north and south of Ireland, writes the Editor. Hosts were the Irish Pipe Band Association. They share responsibility for the contest with the RSPBA Northern Ireland. IPBA President Con O’Conaill announced at the prize-giving that he was standing down after 47 years service….