Pipe Band Magazine/ Archie Kenneth Quaich Amateur Piobaireachd

The autumn edition of Pipe Band Magazine will be available for free download this weekend. The magazine is the official publication of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and is provided gratis as a service to the pipe band community worldwide. October’s features include: All the World Champions from Glasgow Green back in August Part 2 of an interview with adjudicator David Brown A historic look back at 70 years…

New Composing Competition for Young Pipers

The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust have sent this: ‘A competition to find Scotland’s next superstar young composer and an iconic new tune for our national instrument has launched today ‘Piping Hit 2018′.  Youngsters across Scotland are being asked whether they think they have the x factor and to compose a hit tune suitable for the great Highland bagpipe.  ‘The competition is open to every school pupil in Scotland.  Music charity organisers, the Scottish Schools Pipes and…

Last Black Watch Piper to Play at President Kennedy’s Funeral Dies

The Dundee’s ‘Courier’ newspaper has reported the passing of Bruce Cowie the last Black Watch Piper to play at the 1963 funeral procession of former US President John F Kennedy. Piper Bruce (78) was aged 24 when he took part in the march through Washington from the White house to St Matthew’s Cathedral in 1963 (see pic above). PP readers can re-visit our extensive feature on these few tragic days…

Iain Dall Young Pipers Festival

‘It is clear that local councils’ investment in providing tuition to young people in Scotland’s national instrument is creating a generation of fantastic pipers able to perform and compete to an extremely high standard,’ said Dr Decker Forest, judging the Iain Dall Young Pipers Festival at Gairloch on Saturday 23rd September. ‘This year’s competition featured excellent performances from some of the country’s best young pipers as well as local entrants,…

PP Ed’s Blog: Chris Terry/ P/M Andrew Donaldson’s Funeral/ Letter/ Lohheide Winter School/ Queensland/ FMM Bass Drummer

A lot of interest already in the Shasta Piping Society’s Piobaireachd Composing Competition. The organisers like to keep the panel international and this year it will comprise myself, Bill Livingstone and South African Chris Terry (pictured above). Chatting to Chris at Inverness he said he believed he held a rather unenviable record of being placed in the Gold Medal more times than anyone else without actually winning it. He got…