PP Ed’s Blog: South Florida/ Duncan Jonstone Contest/ RSPBA AGM/ Steven’s Drum/ SSPDT Easter School

Splendid school; splendid weather. Never more than 80 degrees, a cool breeze hovered around all week in Boca Raton. The 48 students were mostly local though some had travelled from as far as Connecticut to be there, drawn as much by our reputation for excellence in teaching as for the weather. The South Florida Pipe & Drum Academy is housed in the HQ of the Boca Fire Department and at…

The Piping Centre’s Triumph is Complete and the College of Piping is No More

Dispel any notion, if you will, that yesterday’s momentous news concerning the National Piping Centre and the College of Piping is any sort of merger, some coming together of like-minded individuals who will hereafter share responsibilities, join arms in common cause, and operate as a union of equals. Be in no doubt; this is a crushing victory for the Centre. It is all over at Otago Street. The statement yesterday…

National Piping Centre Takeover of the College of Piping (further updated)

The following statement has just been received  by Piping Press…. The Boards of the College of Piping and The National Piping are pleased to announce that they have agreed, in principle, that The College of Piping will transfer its charitable and commercial activities to The National Piping Centre.   This will create one single national centre of excellence for the study and performance of Scotland’s national instrument. The two charities have…

Donald MacKillop/ Sandy Hain/ Lexy MacAskill/ Tommy Shearer

There is so much history all freely available to those prepared to search through the pages of Piping Press. Today we add to that fund of knowledge with this from reader Iain MacKillop… Dear Piping Press, I hope this message finds you in good health as it leaves me. I write in connection with what is admittedly old news. I refer to an article dated 7 January 2016 ‘Sandy Hain/ Donella…

Juvenile Indoor Season Preview

Our special correspondent reports on the forthcoming juvenile band contests….Following the cancellation of this weekend’s George Watson’s College (GWC) contest in Edinburgh we look ahead to the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Competition with its now traditional ‘second Sunday in March’,on the 11th, at Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston, West Lothian. The event, now in its 6th year, is presented by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust, doing much to…