Editor’s Notebook: Forres Thoughts/ Ian C Cameron/ Jim Dow/ Balmoral Concerts/ Gaelic Cash

Not being able to travel to Forres for the British I had a listen to a few of the Grade 1 bands online. Not ideal, but better than nothing. Of those I heard I thought third placed Shotts had the most complete MSR. The winners Boghall had an outstanding march…but then the strathspey. Inveraray, second, likewise. Band drummers these days don’t play strathspeys in the traditional sense, four beats to…

More Information on Donald Ruadh MacCrimmon and Glenelg

The mention of Donald Ruadh MacCrimmon [pro. approx. Roo -ah] in the report on the Piobaireachd Society Summer School mentions the formal attempts by the Highland Society to provide teaching through him. This is fine but only tells part of the story. I have copies of several letters by Donald MacCrimmon which add to story. I really should have got around to publishing something on them I suppose, though I…

2024 USPF Piping Championship Results

Congratulations to all the participants in the 36th annual United States Piping Foundation Amateur and Professional Piping Championships, held in memory of founder Maclean Macleod on 8 Jun 2024, at the University of Delaware, Newark, DE. By Mike Rogers In the Amateur events there were 17 pipers from throughout North America, and 16 in the Professional events. Champion Piper Nick Hudson is pictured top receiving his prize from the writer….

Pipe Bands Gear up for Second Major of Season

Forres in Moray will host the British Pipe Band Championship this Saturday, June 8th. The competition is being held in Grant Park, very popular with bands after the successful staging of the European Championships there from 2013-18. The above aerial shot is of that championship and comes courtesy the promoters ‘MacPipingHot Forres’ a partnership between YBD Music Ltd and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. The RSPBA report all arrangements…

The ‘Old Men of the Shells’ and a Win for Alastair Murray

The Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts, together with the Robert Burns Society of Charleston, are pleased to announce that, on 31st May 2024, Alastair Murray won the third annual Joseph MacDonald Memorial Prize for Piobaireachd, writes Major Bruce MacDonald. It is held as part of the Scottish Performing Arts Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The judge was Jack Lee of Vancouver, British Columbia. Alastair Murray was…