Gourock Draw & Times/ London Busking Problem for Pipers

The revised draw and playing times for the Gourock Pipe Band Competition to be held a week on Sunday (May 10) has now been posted on the RSPBA website. The revision was due to a number of late entries. Adjudicators: Arena 1 – (Piping) John Wilson & Ronnie McShannon, (Drumming) Jim Baxter, (Ensemble) Gordon Lawrie; Arena 2 –  (Piping) Richard Parkes & Robert Shaw, (Drumming) Mick O’Neill, (Ensemble) Joe Noble.   PP…

Scotland’s Jim Murray Wins ANZAC Tune Competition

P/M James Murray of Western Australia Police Pipe Band has won a prestigious composing competition for a tune to commemorate 100 years since the bravery and sacrifice of the Gallipoli landings during WW1. The tune, complete with harmony, is being made available here for the public with the composer’s permission: A press release issued by the promoters of the competition, Pipe Bands Australia and the New Zealand Pipe Band Association,…

Draw for Wheel of Fortune/ PP Miscellany/ Drumming Prizes Poll

Paul White: The City of Edinburgh Pipe Band is pleased to announce that the draw has been made for the 2015 Pipe Majors Wheel of Fortune competition. The event, which will be held in Danderhall Miners Club on Saturday 7th February, will see some of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians take part in a unique competition where musical expression and entertainment comes to the fore.   The order of play is…

Solo Judges Announcement

This press release has been received from the Solo Piping Judges’ Association Additions to Judges’ List: Murray Henderson – senior judge, Michael Grey (Canada) – approved judge, Logan Tannock – approved judge. The updated list is attached (see below), and will be posted on the CPA website. Change to Senior Judge Criteria A change has been made that a new senior judge will judge with experienced colleagues for the first year. This recognises that…

Strathclyde Police at Cowal Gathering

The above picture shows the front rank of the all-conquering Strathclyde Police Pipe Band in the 1980s playing up the road at the Cowal Games. It comes to us courtesy P/M Barry Donaldson, now of the City of Edinburgh Pipe Band. P/M Donaldson writes: ‘The picture shows the band parading up the street on the Saturday morning. The picture shows [left to right] P/M Ian McLellan, the late Harry McAleer, myself and…