Editor’s Notebook: Closkelt/ Guards KO/ RSPBA Summer School/ Queensland/ Grampian League

Speaking to a piper who plays with Closkelt (above) over at the All Ireland’s. He told me that P/M David Chesney is very strict about who he lets into the band hence they never have that superabundance of pipers that seems to be de rigueur with today’s Grade 1s. I hope David’s band don’t suffer a visual deficit when they stride on to the big arena next year. Everyone is…

Posted in News   

South West Scotland: Lochryan Pipe Band Search for New P/M and Tutor/ Lockerbie Contest/ Piob Workshop

Established in 1932, Lochryan Pipe Band have continued to be a pivotal role within the community of Stranraer and Dumfries and Galloway, offering tutoring for beginners and competing in major championships across the UK and Ireland. The band are currently recruiting a new Pipe Major to take over the Grade 3b band. They already have an existing pipe corps and full drum corps within the band, with players travelling from…

Posted in News   

Closkelt and US bands Deserve Their Elevation to the Top Grade

The lads and lassies of Closkelt got their deserved reward after a sterling 2019 season where only the final hurdle of the Grade 2 World Championship eluded them. They picked up three of the other Majors and in a fourth were not present, but caught the ear of the RSPBA’s Music Board enough to be promoted to the higher echelon, to Grade 1, for 2020. Band members are pictured above…

Posted in News   

All Ireland Solos Results: Updated with Comment and Pictures

A packed gym hall at the Lusk National School north of Dublin saw Ashley McMichael of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band crowned All Ireland Champion Piper for 2019. Ashley is pictured above with his trophy. There was more success for Field Marshal in the ‘A’ piobaireachd where Scott Wallace triumphed with his rendition of the King’s Taxes, and in the ‘B’ MSR where Alastair Donaghy came out on top. In…

Posted in News   

Changes at Kilmarnock Pipe Band

Kilmarnock Pipe Band have sent this…. We are delighted to announce that Dave Harling has been appointed as Leading Drummer. Dave has a wealth of experience in top level performance having spent the previous 3 years in Johnstone Pipe Band, 5 years in the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and a year in Bleary and District Pipe Band. Dave said: “I’m delighted at having been asked to be part of…

Posted in News