US University Holds First Solo Piping Contest

By Andrew Carlisle Carnegie Mellon University hosted its first ever solo piping competition on Friday, March 8th 2019. Adjudicators for all events were Jimmy McIntosh MBE, founder of the world’s first degree in piping and his good wife Joyce McIntosh. The competition was confined to students at the university. The nine competitors had to submit three piobaireachd, three march, strathspeys and reels and 6/8 marches. In the morning, competitors played…

Posted in News   

New Piping Film Premiered at Piobaireachd Society Conference

The premier of a new piping film will take place at the Piobaireachd Society Conference it has been announced. ‘MacCrimmon’s Gold’ is made by Breton film director Gerard Alle and features Patrick Molard and Piobaireachd Society President Dr Jack Taylor among others. The blurb reads: ‘Pioabireachd or Ceol Mor is a musical genre full of spirituality, born in the Scottish Highlands….each of the nine notes of the bagpipe seem to…

Posted in News   

Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships Report

Our correspondent MacStig dug out his old motor car, braved the early snow and got over to yesterday’s Scottish Schools Pipe Band contest. His report tells us he is stretching those legs, sharpening the pen and is all set for the new outdoor season……..  By arriving in Livingston before 9am on a Sunday morning, and trying in vain to find a nearby coffee vendor in what is a town of…

Posted in News   

Worlds to Remain a Two-Day Event RSPBA Rules

The World Pipe Band Championship is to remain a two-day event. After considering all the feedback they have received, the Board of Directors of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association made the decision at a meeting before yesterday’s AGM in Glasgow. Specific arrangements for this year’s championship will be reviewed by the Association’s Music Board and ratified at a Board of Directors meeting in May. The Music Board will have…

Posted in News   

RSPBA AGM Attracts Large Number of Band Representatives to Glasgow

The RSPBA AGM was held in Glasgow today with representatives from 37 member bands attending. After a delayed start (10.30am), President George Ussher welcomed everyone to the meeting in the elegant Trades Hall and presented a Honorary Life Membership to Mrs Vi McMorran for her long service to the Association as a results compiler (see picture below). Mr Ussher then handed proceedings over to Chairman John Hughes. Mr Hughes thanked…

Posted in News