Australia Adopts Set Tune Lists and Uniform Light Music Requirements for Solo Piping

Pipe Bands Australia has announced a sweeping reform of its solo piping competitions, marking the most significant change in over two decades, writes Scott Nicholson, Piping Principal. The revised criteria, applicable across all grades from Novice to A, aims to align Australia with Scotland, New Zealand and Canada and to facilitate smoother participation for Australian pipers in prestigious international events like Oban and Inverness, while also improving the standard of…

Ceres Games Results and Comment

A snell wind greeted us as we arrived in the Howe of Fife for the annual Ceres Highland Games, purportedly the oldest in Scotland, dating from 1314, and a year my rabid nationalist pal tells me coincides with some minor altercation at Bannockburn. By Robert Wallace It’s just over a year since the old grappler and piper Willie Baxter left us and there he was on the front of the…

History: Grangemouth Boys Pipe Band and a First Picture of Muirhead & Sons

I came across the photograph above in my great-grandfather’s collection. This is a copy I made in the days of negative film – the original is lost, writes reader Donald McLean It shows the Grangemouth Boys Pipe Band circa 1927-28. Of note for me is that seated second from left is my godfather John Ross (1909-1988). I spotted a reference to the Grangemouth Boys winning the Juvenile prize at the…

Silver Chanter Back Home on the Isle of Skye

The Silver Chanter trophy is now safely ensconced in its new home at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college on the isle of Skye. In the photograph Robert Wallace, President of the Society and the new promoters of the recital/competition, is pictured handing the trophy over to Dr J Decker Forrest of Sabhal Mòr. The chanter will be housed in a display cabinet at the college library/museum with accompanying photographs…

Inveraray Games Piping Draws/ Ceres Games/ CPA Bronze Medal/ Aberfeldy Games

Brian Spalding, the Piping Convenor, has published the draws for Inveraray Games to be held on July 16 in the Argyllshire village. P/A Piobaireachd playing order: E Ianetta-MacKay, C May, J Elder, A Henderson, C Watson, A MacColl, G Canning, S Leask, C Armstrong, D Urquhart, A MacPhee, S Muir, C Beaumont, S Cameron, B Duncan, J Mulhearn, C Sinclair, N Smith. P/A March and S&R: C Muirhead, B Watson-Massey,…