Famous Pipers/ Duncan Johnstone Contest

A new addition this week to our Famous Pipers series is a feature on the legendary John MacDonald of Inverness. As author Norman Matheson says, John MacDonald continues to have a profound effect on piping to this day. Read Mr Matheson’s article here. Tomorrow sees the annual Duncan Johnstone Memorial competition. Held at the National Piping Centre, this contest is run by the Competing Pipers’ Association and the Centre. It…

College of Piping Resignation/ SPA Trophies

Another director of the Glasgow-based College of Piping has resigned. Alan McGhie, Finance Director and current Secretary of the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society, left three weeks ago. His departure follows that of two other directors, Lord Martin of Springburn and P/M Barry Donaldson. Their resignations came last August either side of that of the then Principal Robert Wallace.  New directors have been added to the College of Piping board to replace the…

Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships 2015

By Alistair Aitken OBE Sunday 8 March 2015 saw the third Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships held in Broughton High School and Fettes College in Edinburgh.  Promoted under the banner ‘Fair Play for Pipes’, the Championships are independently organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust, but they also carry the support of the RSPBA. As part of the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust’s overall objective of facilitating…

Archie Kenneth Quaich Results

This important competition for amateur piobaireachd players is organised every year by the Piobaireachd Society and always draws a very large entry. The winner this year was journalist Tom Peterkin from Edinburgh playing the Lament for Captain MacDougall. In second place was former winner Andrew Frater playing Tulloch Ard, third went to Michael Graham playing You’re Welcome Ewan Lochiel. Fourth was John Frater with MacLeod’s Controversy, fifth last year’s winner…

Uist & Barra Results (Updated with Comment)

As would be expected with such a stellar line-up, this was a day of first rate professional piping. A large crowd heard the very best of both ceol mor and ceol beag. Comment on the performances and  the winners are as below but listed among the latter should be the audience too. Here are the complete results: Ceol Mor: 1 Faye Henderson, Lament for the Earl of Antrim 2 Douglas…