Chanter Only Festival of Juvenile Piping to Go Ahead

One of Scotland’s most popular competitons for young pipers will go ahead this October but only for those on practice chanter. Jon Gerard McClumpha of the promoters, the Caledonian Piping Club, has sent the information below. ‘As everyone knows – we are all in uncharted times & waters, and finding it difficult to steer an easy way out. Nothing is immune to the rippling effects emanating from this terrible virus,…

Editor’s Notes: Nightmare Scenario/ Tam’s Chanter/ MacLennan Piper/ Florida Academy

If you were unimpressed by my earlier comments on a nightmare scenario and the possibility of a blank 2021 piping season then you may like to consider the latest scientific findings that the trumpet and clarinet worst of instruments for spreading coronavirus.The bagpipe might not be far behind. We need a proper study to determine risk. Could the virus remain in the bag and for for how long? How do…

Tunes Selected, Heats, and Judges for MacGregor Memorial 2020

Tunes and heats have now been allocated for this year’s MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd Competition promoted by the Highland Society of London and organised by the Argyllshire Gathering. The competition is for young professional pipers aged 22 on the date of the competition. It is one of the most prestigious in world piping. Four pipers from each heat will go forward to a final, format to be confirmed. It is usual…

Piping Live! Events Livestreamed

The promoters have sent this… After a summer of cancelled events, Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival have announced they’ll be live-streaming a mini-programme of this year’s event between 8 – 14 August. In April, festival organisers had to cancel this year’s event due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  But after months of careful planning, the festival board decided that if audiences couldn’t come to Glasgow, then they’d bring Piping Live! to millions of pipers…

MacStig Picks His Favourites from a Fine Selection of PP Lockdown Essays

Ireland’s Seamus Russell gave us an insightful piece on the background to a painting held by the Black Raven Pipe Band [above]. The painting of the band at the off with banners flying certainly caught my eye, writes MacStig. Seamus deprecatingly said it wasn’t an entry for the Piping Press Arts Competition but I think it deserves an honourable mention and the story was engaging.  Betty Ann Muckle’s memory piece…