Editor’s Notebook: PS Conference/ Watson’s Bursary/ SPA Entries/ Virginia Tattoo/ Band Entries

one of the supplementary benefits of the Piobaireachd Society conference is the time afforded for informal chats. They were happening all over the place at the Golden Lion in Stirling last weekend. One was a follow on to Michael Grey’s talk on Bill Livingstone and the great tape recording scandal. There are phones recording everything now we pondered – in the piper’s sporran as he plays, and all over the…

Scottish Pipers Judges/ Lochaber Juniors Results

Scottish Pipers Association President Logan Tannock has announced the judging benches for the forthcoming professional contest to be held in the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow, on April 11. They are as follows:Open Piobaireachd – Ronald MacShannon and Dr Bill WotherspoonB Grade Piobaireachd – Peter Hunt and Robert WallaceC Grade Piobaireachd – Alan Forbes and Derek FraserFormer Winners’ MSR – Peter Hunt, Ronald MacShannon and John WilsonOpen March – Roderick…

PS Set Tunes for 2027 Announced/ CLASP Results

The Music Committee of the Piobaireachd Society has announced the recommended set tunes for 2027. Competitors for the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting will be required to submit eight tunes of their own choice. Competitors for the Silver Medal at both competitions will be required to submit six tunes of their own choice. Senior competitions as per 2026. More information here. CLASP…

Northern Ireland News

Ulster at the Duncan Johnstone: On Saturday 21st March a number of pipers from Northern Ireland took part in the annual Duncan Johnstone Memorial competition in Glasgow. The overall winner of the B Grade competitions was Andrew Pattison, while Scott Wallace was the Grade C winner. The B Piobaireachd was won by Rathfriland’s James Frazer who also placed fifth in the B MSR and second in the B Jig. Scott…

Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference

Well what a wonderful weekend that proved to be. The Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference is always an enjoyable mix of history, research and camaraderie, but this year at the Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling has to be rated right up there with the best.  Maybe delegates were determined to make it a roaring success following the last minute decamp from the fire-stricken Royal George in Perth. Whatever the reason, we…