Piping Press

This started off as a small opportunity for local kids to compete together as their local contests had been cancelled, the promoter reports. It quickly grew into a much larger event as documented below. Competitors submitted audio files which were compiled and sent to judges who judged them blind, in other words, not knowing who the player was. The virus is forcing us to find new ways of supporting youth piping and…

By Jack Lee Simon Fraser University Pipe Band have run the largest summer school for Pipers, Drummers and Highland Dancers in the world for quite a few years now. ‘Piping Hot Summer Drummer’ has had 26 tremendous years out here on Silver Star Mountain, BC. We usually get around 300 students over the two weeks in July. We have some terrific ‘overseas’ instructors, such as Stuart Liddell, Steven McWhirter, Callum…

The Piobaireachd Society’s Facebook page has (since the lockdown in the UK) been hosting videos of Piob Soc members playing or talking about piobaireachd. It seems a very popular activity. There are other pipers out there doing similar things to entertain each other during this time … examples include Covid Ceol Mor and the pipers who have joined in with the Covid Ceilidh. So far we have had  Robert Wallace…

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Allan MacColl, the man who 25 years ago had the vision to revive the once grand Lochaber Gathering. Allan, who was 79, had been in failing health for several months. A lifelong lover of Gaelic, its language, song and poetry, Allan also had a passion for the great pipe and its music. Though he himself did not play, his son…

As part of our Lockdown Challenge we invited readers to submit a piece of artwork, an essay or a new tune to be judged by our experts and prizes awarded. Today we have an essay from reader Ian Forbes who looks back with some fondness on the once great Cowal Gathering – see Massed Bands pic above. Please keep the entries coming in. Send to the usual address pipingpress@gmail.com I…