A Tribute to Ian Duncan, Winner of the 2024 Balvenie Medal for Services to Piping

There are people who are born music teachers and this year’s recipient of the Balvenie Medal, Ian Duncan, is most certainly that. Countless children and young people have been introduced to our wonderful music by him. For Ian, everyone can gain something from piping. It might not always be medals or trophies, but they can take something from this art form and the amazing community which surrounds it. By Craig Muirhead…

Piobaireachd Society News/ Archie Kenneth Quaich/ Cowal Gathering Manager

The Piobaireachd Society have announced that their popular series of online tutorials, ‘Talk Piobaireachd’, will return for winter 2024/25. Starting next month, the talks will highlight beginner tunes and tunes from the set lists for next year’s Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting Gold and Silver Medal competitions. The dates and presenters, all members of the Society’s Music Committee, are as follows: Nov 20 – Peter McCalister: Lament for Alasdair Dearg,…

Editor’s Notebook: John McLellan DCM/ Band Regradings/ Weekend Solos/ Pinkman Collection/ Aussies Adopt PS Set Tunes

Reader Yahya Hussein on the above picture: ‘That rather rare photo was taken right after WW1. His medal bar shows his Great War medal trio, the 1914-1918 Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. ‘That is alongside his Queen’s South African Medal along with his famous DCM won in South Africa when rallying his battalion as they were being cut to pieces by the boers at Magersfontein in…

Legal Action in Ontario: PPBSO Publish Update

Andrew Giles, President of the Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO), has posted this new notice on the Society’s website: ‘As the leadership of the PPBSO, we want to address the ongoing situation that many of you are aware of. We understand that without access to the full scope of information, it’s natural to have questions or concerns. However, we ask for your patience as we navigate this complex…

Torquil Receives Thanks For Four Decades of Success at the Argyllshire Gathering

Perhaps there are some pipers on the dark side of the moon who don’t know Torquil Telfer. Everyone else does. For the past 40 years he has been the welcoming face of the Argyllshire Gathering. Torquil’s dedication has been suitably recognised by his colleagues….. As the last of the Gaels headed home from a successful Mòd in Oban last weekend, family, friends and colleagues from the piping world gathered to…