Pipe Band Magazine/ Archie Kenneth Quaich Amateur Piobaireachd

The autumn edition of Pipe Band Magazine will be available for free download this weekend. The magazine is the official publication of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and is provided gratis as a service to the pipe band community worldwide.

Worlds winners pictures

October’s features include:

  • All the World Champions from Glasgow Green back in August
  • Part 2 of an interview with adjudicator David Brown
  • A historic look back at 70 years of the Worlds
  • The latest on the redevelopment of the Washington St HQ
  • A tribute to the late Matt Connell
  • D/M’s corner
  • A review of the superb new Argylls music book
  • News from the various Association branches
Headline on the Argylls book review

The magazine will be available here from tomorrow and on the RSPBA website at www.rspba.org.


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Dr Peter McCalister: The twenty-sixth annual amateur piobaireachd competition for the Archie Kenneth Quaich will take place on Saturday, 3rd March 2018, in the rooms of The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society, 127 Rose Street Lane South, Edinburgh, starting at 10 a.m.

Entries and enquiries to: peter.mccalister@doctors.org.uk (email entry is preferred) or post to Peter McCalister, Drumcairn, Cawdor Crescent, Dunblane, FK15 9JJ. Tel: 01786 824619



Competitors should submit two tunes with their entries, one of which they will be asked to play on the day. Players will receive the name of the tune selected by the judges in the final tuning room. Competitors may not submit any tune with which they have previously won first prize in the competition.

Conditions for eligibility are as follows:

  1. Competitors must be aged twenty or over.
  2. Competitors must be amateur pipers.
  3. In particular, the following are not eligible:
    1. holders of the Army School of Piping’s Pipe Major Certificate;
    2. anyone who has won a prize in open competition or who has, within the past five years, taken part in open competition;
    3. anyone who has taken part in public recitals with professional players.
  4. Anyone in doubt about their eligibility to play should contact the
    competition organiser for advice.

    2017 AKQ winner Robert Frater receives the trophy from Mr James Burnett of the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society

This competition has been increasingly popular in recent years. In the event that there are significantly more than 25 entries there will be a ballot, and the first 25 entries drawn will be selected to play, plus reserves. Those who are unsuccessful in this ballot will be definite confirmed entries for the 2019 competition, if they intend to enter that. 

The ballot will be drawn on 15th December 2017 to allow those travelling from abroad to make plans accordingly. Therefore 14th December is the closing date for entries.

Read a report on this year’s competition here.


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