George Watson’s Band and Solo results/ Redding CA Results

The George Watson’s College Invitational Competition held on 3rd March at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh, writes Ben Duncan. With close to 130 solo and 20 band performances, it made for a healthy day of piping and drumming at Watson’s. The events were judged by RSPBA adjudicators John Nevans, Alvis Kerr, Gordon Lawrie, Alex Dudgeon and Stuart Coils. George Heriot’s were triumphant in the Senior Bands, with Dollar winning the…

Germany’s Northern Winter School Inundated with Students/ Reader’s View on Band Sizes

The popular Northern Winter School, held each November in Germany, opened for registration at the weekend and is already sold out, the organisers report. Principal Ronnie Bromhead said: ‘After opening the online booking portal on February 1 we have received significantly more booking requests than we could give places. ‘Because of this flood we are doing our very best to fulfil all individual requests, but unfortunately some may not get…

The Dying Art of Piping Reports – Some Reader Reaction

Response to last week’s comments on the dearth of competition reports in the piping world….. In regards to the suggestion that competition reports are a dying art, it is actually true, writes Duncan Watson. I have expressed this to a few piping associates from whom I obtained similar responses. It should be a pre-requisite, particularly for judges in the highest rank of Senior Judge. They should be required to occasionally…

RSPBA Chief Executive Standing Down But Good News Coming on Majors/ John Hughes Funeral

Colin Mulhern, Chief Executive of the RSPBA, has tendered his resignation after only four years. However, Mr Mulhern has agreed to stay on in his job until a replacement can be found. The news is a blow to the Association coming as it does on top of the sudden death of Vice Chairman John Hughes only two weeks ago*. By the Editor But the good news for the bands, and…

Lochaber Piping Society/ Scots Guards KO/ Piobaireachd Society Conference

Lochaber Piping Society held its AGM recently, writes Ken Cameron, Chairman. We retain the talented team of volunteers who have successfully organised our programme over the past few years, including our Junior Piping and Drumming Competition held in late March, and the Lochaber Gathering held in late August. In addition, we have held popular recitals. Considering that the core at the heart of the Society consists of so few, the…