Highland Games 2024 and a Warning as Two Close Down

If we needed any indication of the fragility of some of our Highland games then we received just that last week with the final announcement that two games, Cupar and Thornton in Fife are now no more. Lack of cash, volunteers and enthusiasm are to blame. We are not sure if these games had thriving piping events – if not, perhaps that was part of the problem too. No matter,…

CLASP Live in Glasgow Results

The latest round in the popular CLASP amateur competition series was held in Glasgow at the Piping Centre in McPhater Street yesterday, March 2. Overall Winners were: Grade 1 – John Frater, Grade 2 – John Nevans, Grade 3 – Kathryn McEwan. Grade 1 Piob: 1 John Frater, Lament for MacSwan of Roaig 2 Eddie Boland 3 Graham Farr 4 Robert Wilson 5 Stewart Allan 6 Craig TurnbullGrade 2 Piob:…

Editor’s Notebook: World Solo Piping/ Worlds Week Concert/ Florida Academy/ NZ Film/ Malcolm McRae

Applause for the RSPBA and their idea of a new World Solo Piping Championship based on the World Solo Drumming. With their global reach, the Association are the only organisation which could pull together such a competition. One wonders what form it will take. I should imagine it won’t include piobaireachd. MSR and H&J only. Who will judge? A band piping judge might be wholly unsuited to the solo bench….

New World Solo Piping Championship Mooted by RSPBA

A new ‘World Solo Piping Championship’ group is to be formed with a view to organising an event mirroring the current World Solo Drumming Championship, according to minutes from the January RSPBA Board of Directors Meeting. This would mean piping heats being held worldwide with a final in Glasgow. No details about the proposed championship have been released but clearly the intention is to offer pipe band pipers the same…

Uist & Barra Line Up/ Northern Ireland Band News

The first major professional solo contest of the year, the Uist & Barra, takes place in the old College of Piping building (now part of the Piping Centre) in Otago Street, Glasgow, on March 9th. Piping Convenor John Angus Smith has confirmed the following line-up, playing order, and tunes for the Ceòl Mòr: Finlay Johnston – My Dearest on Earth Give Me Your KissCraig Sutherland – MacLeod of Colbeck’s LamentWilliam…