Amateur to Professional Pathway: Readers Respond

We have had a number of letters regarding last week’s series of articles by Adam Aitchison on the need for an approved structure for those wishing to make the progression from amateur to professional ranks. (Read Adam’s articles starting here.) Unfortunately the responses have all been made anonymously. We assume the writers are afraid their competitive success may be compromised by their putting their heads above the parapet (a common…

‘Masters of Piping’, a Masterwork by Seumas MacNeill

A new edition of writer Seumas MacNeill’s celebrated book, ‘Masters of Piping’, has been published by the Piobaireachd Society. The original work was issued in 2006 sponsored by the Society in honour of Mr MacNeill, for 20 years its Honorary Secretary. It was based on a radio series he made for BBC Radio Scotland. The new revised edition has been produced in co-operation with his son Rory and PP Editor…

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

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…

The Piping Wire: Made by Enthusiasts, for Enthusiasts

Keeping up with the piping world can mean visiting a growing number of websites, checking competition calendars and hoping you haven’t missed news about a favourite piper or band. The Piping Wire is a new, free service designed to make that easier – and to grow with the community it serves. By Henry Edwards Made by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, the Wire brings together news, competition coverage and events from across the…

Lochnell Piping Championship Results and Report

This prestigious, invitation-only contest for solo pipers aged under 22 was held on Saturday, October 10th, at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll, courtesy the Earl of Dundonald. The overall champion at the 6th annual competition was Thomas Fallon from Edinburgh. Thomas is 19 and this was his first appearance at the Lochnell. He is a piper with Field Marshal Montgomery. By Robert Wallace He is pictured above with Magnus Stone (l),…