Rose & Thistle Ladies Pipe Band

Inspired in part by the video ‘Don’t Look Back, I’m Right Behind You’, a new US ladies band is preparing for a trip to Scotland to play at the Worlds and to raise money for an important cause. Andrea Jones reports…. The Rose & Thistle Ladies Pipe Band was formed in 2025 with the goal of putting together a band to play at events and raise money for cancer research….

Mull Weekend Workshop/ Masters Drumming

On Friday the 30th January, Tobermory High School Pipe Band ran a pipers’ ceilidh in Park Lodge, Tobermory. It was well attended and the school pipers were supported by visiting tutors Barry Donaldson and Robert Wallace, writes Calum Maclean.  The ceilidh ran from 7-9pm and we had a couple of selections from Robert to open; this included a set of two-part strathspeys and reels which was nice to hear. There…

The Basics of Pipe Band Ensemble Judging

The word ensemble, translated from the French, means ‘together.’ How together are the various sections of the pipe band: the pipers, the side drummers and the bass and tenors? In current competition format, how clearly defined are the roles of the piping, drumming, and ensemble judges in measuring this togetherness? By Alan Jones Who measures it within a given section and between the various sections? Is there any overlap of…

Scots Guards KO/ Graeme Johnston/ China Contest

The Army’s Scott McCaskill (pictured) won through to the next round of the Scots Guards KO contest held yesterday at the SG Club, Haymarket, Edinburgh. The large crowd narrowly voted Scott through against his opponent Ross Conner, Campbeltown. Graeme Johnston Contest The West of Scotland Branch of the RSPBA attracted a large entry to their annual juvenile contest held in memory of pipe band stalwart Graeme Johnston. The event was…

Germany’s Northern Winter Competition Continues to Grow in Stature

One hundred and forty pipers and drummers converged on the German city of Bremen at the weekend for the Northern Winter Competition, writes the Editor. Organised by the Bagpipe Association of Germany, it was a triumph of efficiency and balance: camaraderie, fierce competition in equal measure. Piping judges were myself, Barry Donaldson, Peter Hunt and Allan MacDonald. There were solos at every level and quintets for bands. This last worked…