PP Editor’s Blog (Updated): SPA KO & Dates/ Owen MacNiven/ Piob Soc/ WW1 Memorial

Revised dates for Scottish Pipers’ Association contests are as follows: The Professional competition will now be held on April 16. The provisional date was April 23rd but for various reasons this was unsuitable.  The Adult Amateur and Veterans contest is on March 26 to allow some of those attending the Piobaireachd Society Conference from overseas to stay on for a week to compete. The Juvenile/ Amateur contest will be in September,…

Wheel of Fortune: Unique Allan MacDonald Tune Offer for Auction

Organisers of the prestigious ‘Pipe Major’s Wheel of Fortune’ competition have sent the latest on the competition auction which includes a very generous offer from supremely talented piper, composer and singer, Allan MacDonald….. ALLAN MACDONALD PUTS HIS SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL FOR CAPITAL BAND By Paul White Piper and multi-instrumentalist Allan MacDonald is set to boost the City of Edinburgh Pipe Band’s fundraising efforts by donating a tune for auction…

New Contest Added at Argyllshire Gathering

The Argyllshire Gathering has added an important new competition to its list of light music events. The Argyllshire Gathering MSR (Intermediate) title will be competed for at the annual games held at Mossfield Park. First prize will be a year’s retention of the P/M RG Hardie Memorial Trophy and £50. The competition is only open to pipers who have played in the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd competition on the first day of…

PP Editor’s Blog: Sandy Hain/ Donella Beaton/ SPA/ South Florida etc.

It was a pleasure to talk to Sandy Hain the other day. Sandy is the composer of the popular jig Donald MacKillop, now better known, erroneously, as Duncan MacKillop. The eponymous Donald was from Wick and a piper in the Black Watch through WW2. Sandy was  Pipe Major at the regimental depot in Perth. Sandy ‘did the course’ with Willie Ross 1950 -51 along with Bob Crabb (Scots Guards), Peter…

Can You Take Highland Games Out of the Highlands?

Longing for summer? Missing those glorious days at the Games, piping midst all the fun of the fair? Here US piper and enthusiast Peter Beckford looks back on his trip during the Summer of ’15 and compares games on both sides of the Atlantic….. I’ve never been to a Highland games as an impartial spectator. I go for the piping, as a competitor in the US, or parent and fan….