Editor’s Notebook: Singer Pipe Band/ Solo Judging/ Stirling Recital and Contest/ NZ National Youth Pipe Band

Thanks to reader David Moore for the above picture of Singer Pipe Band, Clydebank. David was mentioned in last week’s article along with two other ex-members, George McEwan and Murdo MacLean. David writes: I knew both George and Murdo well as we all lived in the same area along with many other Singer employees. George and myself played with Pipe Major Maurice Pert at Duthie Park, Aberdeen, in 1970 winning…

Responses to ‘Judge’s Dilemma at Glenfiddich’ article

Neil Mulvie: ‘I find it difficult not to be impressed by the approach to judging and scrutiny that Norman [Matheson] describes in his letter to Andrew Wright. And I am certain that Andrew would have totally agreed with Norman’s views. ‘Andrew often quoted Andrew MacNeill, saying that he was more comfortable awarding a prize to the piper, ‘who went off the tune rather than one who was never on it…

History: Judge’s Dilemma at Glenfiddich Competition

In 1993 there was a boycott of the main piping competitions by a large tranche of the competing piping community. They had been driven to take such drastic action by what they perceived as the poor standard of judging then extant. The boycott led to the formation of the Joint Committee for Judging representing all interested parties, pipers, promoters, judges. It was to oversee matters of dispute. Andrew Wright was…

Playing Requirements for 2026 Band Season Announced

The Board of Directors of the RSPBA met last Saturday at their Washington Street HQ in Glasgow and among other things confirmed the band playing requirements for the 2026 season. These are as follows: To download a copy of this sheet click on the two right-pointing arrows top right. Marketing and Media Convenor Jackie Allan also issued the following press release: The RSPBA’s Board of Directors had a busy weekend….

Scottish Schools Entries/ CLASP Results

The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships will be held on Sunday, 8th March, 2026. Entries close on January 30th. The venue is the William McIlvaney Campus in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Enter here. No entry fee. There are categories for Quartets, Junior C, Junior B, Junior A, Novice Juvenile B, Novice Juvenile A, Juvenile and Freestyle, plus the Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award, which honours dedication and spirit. Substantial prizes are on offer: Travel grants:…