Tag: pipes and drums

Jack Lee Retires from Simon Fraser University Pipe Band

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Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee, in an email to band members, announced that he is retiring from the Simon Fraser University competition pipe band. Said Jack: ‘It was been a terrific 50 year run but I have decided to retire from the competition band. I think the band is in a very strong position to move ahead and I anticipate more amazing moments in the future. I will be cheering you…

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Braemar Results and Report/ Blairgowrie Results

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The Braemar Gold Medallist for 2025 is John McDonald, Aberdeen, (above). He gave a fine rendition of the supposedly MacCrimmon tune, the Glen is Mine, on a steady, tuneful instrument, writes the Editor How appropriate that a local man should win the medal with this tune. The first few bars of it are inscribed on the memorial cairn to the Bobs of Balmoral only yards from the piobaireachd board. As…

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Editor’s Notebook: Ensemble Judges/ SPA Nights/ Inveraray Show/ MacLean request/ Peter Bain/ Cancale

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This week’s anonymous contributor should be thanked for raising the matter of wandering ensemble judges. Personally I felt that he wrote well but was guilty of pipe band overthink. Get up close to the tenor drummers to see if they are integrating with those around them. Really? What is ensemble if it is not an assessment of the entire package, pipes and drums, and how well they work together? I…

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The Ensemble Walkabout – An Opinion Piece

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The author of this article has asked to remain anonymous. We publish it in the interest of encouraging debate on this important topic for pipe bands….. The circles may have faded, the grass will have been cut. The shadows have more than lengthened on the outdoor pipe band season. Barring a trip to Peebles or Pitlochry, we’re done. I read the Editor’s review of the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships…

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Reflections on the Argyllshire Gathering – Part 2

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Argyllshire Gathering Day 1. I judged the Silver Medal with Robert Barnes and Donald MacPhee. We started at 9am sharp and finished at 4.30 with a short break for some lunch. The winner was Kyle Cameron, now a son of Tobermory on Mull. His tune was the shortest in the list, You’re Welcome Ewen Lochiel. The pipe was rich-toned and as rock steady as the finger. Kyle’s only fault was…

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