A Tribute to Ian Duncan, Winner of the 2024 Balvenie Medal for Services to Piping

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There are people who are born music teachers and this year’s recipient of the Balvenie Medal, Ian Duncan, is most certainly that. Countless children and young people have been introduced to our wonderful music by him. For Ian, everyone can gain something from piping. It might not always be medals or trophies, but they can take something from this art form and the amazing community which surrounds it. By Craig Muirhead…

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Piobaireachd Society News/ Archie Kenneth Quaich/ Cowal Gathering Manager

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The Piobaireachd Society have announced that their popular series of online tutorials, ‘Talk Piobaireachd’, will return for winter 2024/25. Starting next month, the talks will highlight beginner tunes and tunes from the set lists for next year’s Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting Gold and Silver Medal competitions. The dates and presenters, all members of the Society’s Music Committee, are as follows: Nov 20 – Peter McCalister: Lament for Alasdair Dearg,…

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Scots Guards Knock Out – Round One

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I think it must have been the Scottish Pipers’ Association who started the ‘knock-out’ competition, two pipers play, the audience picking a winner who progresses to the next round. The famous final of the ’60s when Duncan Johnston defeated Donald MacLeod is still talked about in these parts. And I remember being robbed in the SPA final myself when playing against P/M Angus. By Robert Wallace Well it’s another guardsman…

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Glenfiddich Championship 2024 Results

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The Glenfiddich Champion for 2024 is Callum Beaumont (above). He was placed first in MSR and third in Ceòl Mòr. Runner-up was Stuart Liddell, with Nick Hudson, Texas, in third. There was a large audience in the great hall at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl. Piobaireachd placings:1 Stuart Liddell, Unjust Incarceration2 Finlay Johnston, Donald Gruamach’s March3 Callum Beaumont, Lament for Donald Ban MacCrimmon4 Nick Hudson, Lament for the Laird of Anapool5…

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Editor’s Notebook: John McLellan DCM/ Band Regradings/ Weekend Solos/ Pinkman Collection/ Aussies Adopt PS Set Tunes

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Reader Yahya Hussein on the above picture: ‘That rather rare photo was taken right after WW1. His medal bar shows his Great War medal trio, the 1914-1918 Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. ‘That is alongside his Queen’s South African Medal along with his famous DCM won in South Africa when rallying his battalion as they were being cut to pieces by the boers at Magersfontein in…

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