Category: Pipe Music

Editor’s Notebook: RSPBA Chief Exec/ Toronto CNE/ College Summer School/ World Solo Drumming/ Con Houlihan

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

All the indications are that the RSPBA has made an inspired choice in appointing Meaghan Lyons as its new Chief Executive. From what I’ve read, Meaghan has a wide business experience (especially in fund raising). We also know she is very good with people and has a thorough knowledge of the pipe band world in Canada, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Of course this last is not a pre-requisite of the…

More Editor’s Notebook: RSPBA Chief Exec/ Toronto CNE/ College Summer School/ World Solo Drumming/ Con Houlihan

My First Trip to Canada for the Scottish Tattoo at the CNE Toronto

Posted on      by      1 Comment

The Scottish Tattoo at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) was held in the early 1970s in Toronto. It featured the leading Grade 1 bands from Scotland and Northern Ireland and a few from Grade 2, plus all the top local bands and others. Here Eddie Gorman, then a piper with Muirhead & Sons, reminisces… a Glasgow boy on his first trip to North America. The Toronto he describes may seem…

More My First Trip to Canada for the Scottish Tattoo at the CNE Toronto

Northern Ireland: Major Sinclair/ Irvine/ Banbridge/ Tullintrain/ Jack Seaton

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Major Sinclair Memorial have announced that Glenn Cupples (pictured above) will lead the band as Pipe Major for the 2027 season.  This follows an announcement from P/M Nigel O’Neill that he is stepping down from the role. In a statement the band expressed their gratitude to Nigel for his commitment and expertise over the last five years which has seen the band go from strength to strength. He ends his…

More Northern Ireland: Major Sinclair/ Irvine/ Banbridge/ Tullintrain/ Jack Seaton

Success of Long List of Senior Tunes for Oban and Inverness Being Assessed

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

In 2023 the Piobaireachd Society recommended a long list of 50+ set tunes for the senior piobaireachd events at Oban and Inverness. The five year experiment ends next year and assessment has begun. When launched the idea of a comprehensive list of tunes thought suitable for this level of competition was popular with audiences. They were guaranteed a raft of classics as they took their seats at Corran Halls or…

More Success of Long List of Senior Tunes for Oban and Inverness Being Assessed

Northern Ireland: All Irelands/ Piper of the Year/ Piping Societies/ Down Academy

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

On 24th September the All-Ireland & JAC Solo Piping & Drumming Championships took place at Cookstown High School. What a day it was for Field Marshal Montgomery duo James Frazer and William Glenholmes. They took the senior piping and drumming titles despite stiff opposition. James took the piping title by winning favour with both adjudicators ahead of Alastair Donaghy and John McElmurry. John was the winner of the Piobaireachd A…

More Northern Ireland: All Irelands/ Piper of the Year/ Piping Societies/ Down Academy