The Pittsburgh Piping Society (PPS) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will host the 3rd Annual Jimmy McIntosh MBE Piobaireachd Workshop from February 21-23, 2025. The workshop will be held at Carnegie Mellon University’s Cohen University Center, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Pipers of all competitive grades are welcome, with the requirement that each attendee can already play at least one piobaireachd. Members of the public may register as ‘observers only’ as space allows.
The weekend begins on Friday at 7.30pm with a gathering of the Pittsburgh Piping Society, where pipers of all abilities will perform for their peers. The evening concludes with a featured piper playing a longer selection of tunes, including a piobaireachd. Workshop instructor and Gold Medalist Mike Rogers will be the featured piper on this occasion. Friday’s gathering will take place at The Pitch on Butler, a local restaurant featuring weekly traditional music sessions – perfect for playing a tune or two on the pipes. We ask that any minors attending the Friday gathering be accompanied by a parent.
Saturday, world class instructors Mike Rogers (Silver Spring, Maryland), Alex MacIntyre (Edmonton, Alberta), Peter Kent (Annandale, Virginia) and Andrew Carlisle (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) will lead Masterclass and Classroom instruction. Instructor bios (all have strong ties to Jimmy McIntosh) can be found here: https://pittsburghpipingsociety.org/scholarship/instructors/
Saturday’s session concludes with performances from this year’s Jimmy McIntosh MBE Scholarship recipient, Meghan McElhinney. She will share two new piobaireachd she has been studying since June 2024 where she attended an in-person piobaireachd weekend in Pittsburgh with Andrew Carlisle and has since been studying, under the tutelage of Amy Garson (Ottawa, Ontario) via video conferencing.
Sunday morning will conclude the workshop (9.30am-12.30pm), again at Carnegie Mellon University.
Logistics: Individuals must arrange their own travel and accommodation. There are many hotels and Airbnb’s close to Carnegie Mellon University. For those traveling by air, the closest airport is Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). There is a paid parking garage next door to the Cohen University Center and an outdoor parking lot across the street off Morewood Avenue (free after 5pm on weekdays and all weekends).
Cost for the weekend workshop is $150.00 for participants, and Saturday lunch is included in the registration. There are pricing options for observers only. Space is limited, and needs-based discounts are available. Further information and registration can be found here: https://pittsburghpipingsociety.org/scholarship/jimmy-mcintosh-mbe-piobaireachd-workshop-2025/
Weekend Schedule (approximate):
Friday, February 21st
Arrival in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Piping Society Gathering – 7:30 PM – ‘The Pitch on Butler’ [<15 minutes from campus and accommodation]
Opportunity for all pipers to perform. The featured piper will be Mike Rogers. https://www.facebook.com/PittsburghPipingSociety/
Saturday, February 22nd
All Day Workshop – 09:30 AM – 4:00 PM – Carnegie Mellon University, Cohon University Center
Lunch is included for all registrants.
Instructors Mike Rogers, Alex MacIntyre, Peter Kent and Andrew Carlisle.
The workshops will take place in two formats:
- ‘Masterclass’ – students will perform on the bagpipe for an instructor and receive constructive feedback.
- ‘Classroom’ – classes where students will learn new music around the table on practice chanters.
Scholarship Recital – 4:15 – 5:00 PM – Carnegie Mellon University, McConomy Auditorium
Scholarship recipient Meghan McElhinney will perform a piobaireachd as the capstone to their scholarship instruction.
Sunday, February 23rd
Morning Workshop – 9.30am – 12.30pm – Carnegie Mellon University
Instructors Mike Rogers, Alex MacIntyre, Peter Kent and Andrew Carlisle. Same format and locations as Saturday.
