SPA Professional Review

I sat through a few tunes in the C Piobaireachd and then the whole of the P/A. At the conclusion of an unbroken four hour stint I wandered off for refreshment. I looked over my notes. I jotted down my prediction. Here it is: It’s not often you get it exactly as the judges call it. (In this instance they were Ronnie MacShannon and Euan Anderson.) Usually you are too…

Donald MacLeod Memorial Report

The Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition took place on the last weekend in March and was hailed a great success with piping fans travelling from far and wide to listen to eight of the world’s best pipers playing the music of the legendary piper and composer from Stornoway. By Katie Laing Long-time competitor Angus MacColl took the top honours in the invitational senior competition on Friday, March 28, and…

Found! A Missing Piobaireachd by Master Composer John MacColl

I recently had another very enjoyable and productive session in the Special Collections reading room of the National Library of Scotland (NLS) in Edinburgh.  The main purpose of this visit was to take another look at Robert Meldrum’s manuscript, where, in January, I had found a score entitled the Rout of Glenlivet, which I realised was the same tune the Piobaireachd Society had published in its Book 16 as Nameless…

Duncan Johnstone Memorial Results

This event for B and C grade pipers was held today in the Piping Centre in Glasgow. The promoter is the Competing Pipers Association in association with the Centre. Champion Piper winning the Jimmy McIntosh MBE Memorial Quaich: Jonathon Simpson. B Piob: 1 Jonathon Simpson 2 Andrew Smith 3 Bobby Allen 4 Alistair Brown 5 Luke Kennedy B MSR: 1 Luke Kennedy 2 Norman Gillies 3 Anna Kummerlöw 4 Ruairidh…

Bill Livingstone’s Life Remembered and Celebrated

The Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario have announced a special ceremony to commemorate the life of Bill Livingstone, writes PPBSO President Malkie Bow. Bill died last month aged 83. A celebration of his life will take place in the ballroom of the Old Mill Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this Sunday, March 23, 2025. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube. Here is the link. The time is…