Piping Press

The trip to Australia is drawing to a close and the only negative thing to report is the rather weird competition scenario that I heard happened recently in the state of Victoria. Pipers were invited to compete but without a judge, the performances recorded (high quality mics etc) and sent off to Canada and Scotland for adjudication. Presumably everyone was notified of the results later. I was so nonplussed by…

After 38 years of owning Mister Antony, Antony Mistofsky, has retired, the company has announced. In a statement they say, ‘The name ‘MISTER ANTONY’ has been synonymous with Inverness raincapes since the early 80s. Bandsmen and women worldwide wear Mister Antony raincape products. ‘For many years the Mister Antony  Standard lightweight raincape and matching pouch found great popularity with the majority of pipe bands. ‘It became the standard raincape kit…

Three bands were awarded £500 from the RSPBA’s National Juvenile Pipe Band Fund recently. They were Sgoil Lionacleit from the Western Isles, Bucksburn and District from Aberdeenshire and West Lothian Schools. The fund was established a few years ago now to help youth bands with their expenses for travel and teaching and it continues to be in healthy state with 1% of RSPBA revenue added each year. It should be…

A report about Jimmy McIntosh’s annual competition held last Friday evening in Davidson, North Carolina, where there was a high standard in the piobaireachd with all nine players showing good musical understanding.  Firstly the results: Piobaireachd 1. Andrew Carlisle, Battle of Bealach nam Brog2. Derek Midgley, Lord Lovat’s Lament3. Nick Hudson, Rout of Glenfruin MSR1. Nick Hudson2. Derek Midgley 3. Andrew Carlisle  Hornpipe and Jig1. Derek Midgley2. Nick Hudson3. Dan Lyndon  It’s been…

These contest were held over two days at the Scotch College, Adelaide, South Australia, April 12 and 13. There was a strong entry in the lower grades but less so in the Clasp and Gold Medal events. The light music competitions constitute the Australian Solo Piping Championship held over four grades. The piobaireachd prizes do not contribute to the championship but are prestigious awards in their own right. All contests…