2017 Robert Burns Festival, Camperdown Solo Competition, Victoria, Australia

Results of the Victorian Pipers Association 2017 Robert Burns Festival Competition held  on Saturday, May 20, at Mercy College, Camperdown. In the photograph are (l – r): Cameron Ely, Jason Craig, Craig Sked, Jono Quay. A Grade Piobaireachd 1. Cameron Ely, The Big Spree 2. Jonathan Quay, Lady MacDonald’s Lament 3. Craig Sked, Lord Lovat’s Lament Judge: Jason Craig 2/4 March 1. Craig Sked 2. Katherine Belcher 3. Jonathan Quay Judge: Chris…

Gordon Castle Solo Piping Results

Windy and a bit cold at Gordon Castle, ancient seat of the Clan Gordon, in Banffshire, today. Seven seniors. Good standard. Overall winner Gordon McCready is pictured above. Open Piobaireachd 1. Gordon McCready – Lord Lovat’s Lament 2. Eddie Gaul – Lament for the Viscount of Dundee. 3. Calum Brown – Earl of Seaforth’s Salute 4. Alan Clark – MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart 5. Michael Laing – Lament for the Only Son….

History: Pipe Major Donald MacKinnon, Skye and Australia

A few weeks ago we received a letter from Cailean Maclean of Skye Media and the BBC radio piping programme ‘Crunluath’, regarding Skye piper Donald MacKinnon. Cailean wrote: ‘Do you know anything about Donald MacKinnon, composer of the Sound of Sleat? I know he was from Skye (I am trying to trace his origins here) and that he was a Pipe Major with the KOSBs and served in Korea. Why he was…

Leading Drummer Heads for Oman/ Third Placed Piobaireachd Composition by John Bottomley

As the current members of Wallacestone & District Pipe Band celebrate its 130th anniversary, they will also be keeping one eye open for a potential new leading drummer. The current holder of the post, Stewart Gardiner, pictured above second left, is leaving to take up a teaching job in Oman. Stewart took on the position of Wallacestone L/D when Pipe Major Neil Henderson joined the band from Vale of Atholl in…

PP Ed’s Blog: Stuart Liddell/ Dave’s Tune/ Wallace Bagpipes/ Band Season Starts

Fortunate to catch Cailean Maclean’s excellent ‘Crunluath’ programme on BBC Radio Alba last weekend. One track featured the astonishing Stuart Liddell playing some Gaelic airs and kitchen piping. The finger work he is capable of defies belief and all on a richly toned bagpipe with perfect chanter intervals. The problem with this sort of brilliance is that youngsters start trying to imitate what Stuart does before they’ve perfect the basics of…