New Rules for Clasp Competition on Skye

In a bid to increase entries, Piping Convenor Cameron MacFadyen has made significant changes to the playing requirements for the Colonel Jock MacDonald Clasp. The main one is deeming tunes from the senior lists at Oban and Inverness as eligible submissions. The competition will be held on August 5 in Portree as part of the Skye Gathering. The closing date for entries for all senior piping events is 31st May….

Donald MacLeod Memorial Report

The Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition took place on the last weekend in March and was hailed a great success with piping fans travelling from far and wide to listen to eight of the world’s best pipers playing the music of the legendary piper and composer from Stornoway. By Katie Laing Long-time competitor Angus MacColl took the top honours in the invitational senior competition on Friday, March 28, and…

Scottish Pipers Professional 2025: Order of Play

President Logan Tannock has announced the draws for the Scottish Pipers Association Professional Competition to be held this Saturday, April 12, in the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. The competition receives considerable sponsorship from the Piobaireachd Society. The P/A Piobaireachd is from 12.30pm. The draw: John Macdonald, Ben Duncan, Darach Urquhart, Brodie Watson-Massey, Steven Leask, Angus MacPhee, James MacPetrie, Cameron May, Sarah Muir, Gordon McCready, Eireann Ianetta-Mackay, Jamie Elder, Sandy…

RT Shepherd & Sons Officially in Liquidation

The liquidation of the once world-beating bagpipe and reed manufacturers RT Shepherd & Sons has been announced. It will be a sad day for all friends and followers of the founder, P/M Bob Shepherd, who started the company in the 1970s following his Worlds-winning spell with Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band. Bob died in 2019. The company’s chanters and reeds were played worldwide and it was responsible for some outstanding…

The Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference 2025 – Another Outstanding Success

It is not often you get to hear two superb, vintage sets of pipes in the one day. The first was John MacDonald, Inverness’s played by Duncan MacGillivray and the second, Bob Brown’s played by Dan Nevans. Neither disappointed. The occasion was the annual conference of the Piobaireachd Society held last weekend in the Royal George Hotel, Perth. Society committees met on the Friday night. The General Committee approved grants…