Change of Venue for Piobaireachd Society Conference Following Hotel Fire

The Piobaireachd Society’s Annual Conference has been switched to a new venue following a fire at a hotel in Perth. A blaze in the kitchen has forced the temporary closure of the Royal George Hotel, the home for the conference for the past four years. The new venue for 2026 is the Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling. All arrangements, meals, rooms etc. are as per the Royal George. The conference…

Archie Kenneth Quaich Results & Report

The winner of the 42nd Archie Kenneth Quaich competition was Andrew Robertson from Edinburgh playing the Lament for Donald of Laggan. Andrew is pictured above with the winners’ trophy and banner. The competition is for amateur piobaireachd and is run by the Piobaireachd Society. It was held last Saturday, February 28, in the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Rooms in Edinburgh. It attracted an entry of 25. Other prizes: 2 Tom Peterkin (Lament…

Successful Jimmy McIntosh Piobaireachd Workshop

The 4th Jimmy McIntosh MBE Piobaireachd Workshop was held at Carnegie Mellon University last weekend. We had 42 students, including 17 at open level, which we were delighted with, especially because it was solely a piobaireachd event… and held in a very cold Pittsburgh.  The weekend was organised by the Pittsburgh Piping Society. Instructors were all longtime students of Jimmy’s, Northern Meeting Clasp winners Mike Cusack and Nick Hudson (both travelling…

Editor’s Notebook: Judges Training/ RSPBA Website/ St Columba’s Concert/ Pipes ID/ Gloria Aicken

When chatting to Jack Lee before his Talk Piobaireachd presentation this week we rounded on the need for continuous professional development (CPD) among judges and teachers. It was this that made sessions such as TP so valuable. CPD is common in all walks of professional life and piping should be no different. Jack’s tunes were the Earl of Seaforth’s Salute and the King’s Taxes. Both I have played and taught…

Northern Ireland: Stuart and Steven Recital/ RSPBA NI 2026 Calendar/ Compilers wanted/ Blackthorn

Piping and Drumming enthusiasts are in for a real treat on May 9th when Cloughfin Pipe Band (Kildress) present intimate, world class solo performances from legendary piping and drumming duo Stuart Liddell and Steven McWhirter. Grade 3B Cloughfin are celebrating their centenary this year and this special event is one of a number they’ll be organising. Stuart and Steven provide the leadership for the current World Champions Inveraray & District,…