Editor’s Notebook: North Lanarkshire Schools PB/ Jet Travel/ Uist & Barra/ Braemar/ PS Conference

Speaking to Ross Cowan regarding the recent expansion of teaching in North Lanarkshire, he tells me he has 120 kids on practice chanter and 12 moving on to pipes this year. Who says there’s no interest out there? Other Scottish local authorities cutting back on their schools music tuition should look to this Motherwell-based council for the way forward. Says Ross:  ‘The band will be depleted this year as a…

Review: Archie Kenneth Quaich 2023

The ever-popular amateur piobaireachd contest for the Archie Kenneth Quaich and Piobaireachd Society Banner was held on 25th February. This was our 31st contest – and in honour of that anniversary a list of the last 30 years winners, their tunes, and the judges for each year, was posted in every room.  For 28 of those 30 years we have been the fortunate guests of the Royal Scottish Pipers Society…

Uist & Barra Draw and Tune Selections

The Uist and Barra is the first major professional solo piping event of the year. It takes place on Saturday (March 4) in the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. Thirteen pipers have been invited to take part. For what is probably the first time at the U&B, a father and son will compete in the same competition: Angus J and Angus D MacColl. Here is the order in which competitors…

Solo Piping Resurgence Continues Apace

The difficulties pipe bands are experiencing with the cancellation of a major championship and some minor contests are not being reflected in the solo world. We can report the following: Next Saturday (Feb 25) the Archie Kenneth Quaich takes place in the RSPS Rooms, Edinburgh. This is for amateur piobaireachd players and is run by the Piobaireachd Society. Here is the draw: S Mason, C Crosbie, M Kirkwood, G Tughan-Jones,…

British Championships: Get Back to Basics to Re-Engage With the Public and Promoters

Shock has been expressed at the loss of the first pipe band championship of the season 2023. Apparently this is due to the current lack of funds at local authority level, these authorities understandably reluctant /unable to commit funding to a pipe band competition when measured against other essential spending. Parks for competition require preparation, safety barriers and signage. Staff costs for policing and clearing up afterwards are rocketing owing…