Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships

The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship have issued this press release: ‘Scotland’s National Instrument in Danger of Extinction’ The iconic sight and sound of pipers playing Auld Lang Syne at Hogmanay street parties could be under threat – according to piping enthusiasts who are campaigning for more tuition in state schools. More than 75,000 people are expected to descend upon Princes Street on December 31 to attend one of the world’s…

Shotts & Dykehead Juvenile Contest (updated with pictures and comment)

New Shotts Contest Set to Be an Annual Event after 2014 Success Robert Wallace writes: This was a well-run competition. It was held at Calderhead High School, Shotts (a superb facility), with sponsorship from pipes/drums, RG Hardie, D Naill & Co., TyFry Drumsticks, The National Piping Centre, D2 Percussion, Jim Kilpatrick Percussion, Scott Currie One Stop Pipe Band Shop, Canning Reeds, MacLeod Highland Supplies, McCallum Bagpipes.  Well done to all of them…

Scots Guards Junior Solos – Updated

Adjudicator Robert Wallace writes: This was a first class day of junior piping in the impressive surroundings of the Army School of Piping at Inchdrewer House in Edinburgh. It was a credit to competition convenor Jimmy Banks, and to the Scots Guards Association, the promoters. There was substantial sponsorship from Pipe Dreams, manufacturers of the famous Eezidrone drone reeds, and from Grants of Dalvey who supplied beautiful silver keepsakes for…

London CLASP Results

The Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) is run by the National Piping Centre  and provides an important platform for amateur pipers, with contests run at different venues  around the country. Any amateur piper who wishes to participate should be over 18. Full details of how to join this innovative programme here. CLASP Co-ordinator Margaret Dunn has issued the latest results from the London 2014 contest. CLASP Results Overall Grade 1 Winner…

Falkirk Tryst Competition

[easyrotator]erc_14_1414056032[/easyrotator] This important, relatively new competition for talented young pipers was held on October 4th in Falkirk in Central Scotland. Main sponsor and founder of the competition, pipemaker Blue  MacMurchie, described this year’s standard of playing as at ‘the highest level’ possible for youngsters. One feature of the contest, and one that is always appreciated by the townsfolk is the parade of the competing pipers through the town after the…