Daily News

Henderson new PM of GPOL

Henderson new PM of GPOL

Ewan Henderson has been appointed as Pipe Major of Glasgow Police Pipe Band (GPOL). Henderson, who stepped down last week as Pipe Major of Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band, succeeds Duncan Nicholson who stepped in as interim Pipe Major in February on the departure of Alisdair MacLaren. A spokesman for […]

The Nicol-Brown Chalice goes to the winner.

Nicol-Brown the latest to go online for 2020

The Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Contest is the latest solo piping competition that will adopt video submissions and remote judging for 2020 in order for it to take place. Organiser, Paula Glendinning said: “We are delighted to announce that Jack Taylor and Patrick Molard will judge the Piobaireachd event, and Matt […]

Finlay Johnston appointed Head Piping Teacher at NPC

Finlay Johnston appointed Head Piping Teacher at NPC

Finlay Johnston has been appointed Head Piping Teacher at The National Piping Centre (NPC). The position is a new one and is effective from July 1. Finlay, the current (and two-time) Glenfiddich champion, has worked with the NPC since 2015 but has been part of the Glasgow-based organisation’s development, attending […]

Online competitions “here to stay”

Online competitions “here to stay”

A few online competitions have taken place as a result of the measures brought in to manage the Covid-19 pandemic, the latest one being the one by Aboyne Highland Games that was announced here yesterday. However, that one is for professional pipers. The first one that catered to junior competitors […]

Aboyne going online for 2020

Aboyne going online for 2020

Aboyne Games is running the open Piobaireachd and MSR competitions online for this year. Only professional pipers 18 and over are eligible. There will be a limit on the numbers of players entering, however. Piping Convenor, Jack Taylor said: “We’ll have to limit the competition to about 30 players. If […]

Online: NPC summer school;  RSPBA AGM

Online: NPC summer school; RSPBA AGM

The National Piping Centre is planning its first online seasonal school. The Glasgow-based organisation has held its popular Adult Gatherings for many years and the move online – due to current Covid-19 guidelines – follows on from the success of its online group piping lessons that were launched last month. […]

Perth & District Pipe Band about to compete at the British Pipe Band Championships in 2016.

Composing contest for Juveniles

The deadline is approaching for entries to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s 6/8 march composing competition. The competition is being held to mark the RSPBA’s 90th anniversary. The competition is for juvenile pipers and drummers. Entry is open to those who through their pipe band have registered with the […]

CPA goes online for summer contests

CPA goes online for summer contests

The Competing Pipers Association (CPA) is to hold several online solo piping competitions this summer. Ceòl Mòr and MSR competitions for each grade will feature. Videos of pipers’ performances are to be recorded and uploaded rather than live-streamed. In a statement released today, the UK-based organisation that represents competing pipers […]

‘Pipers’ new edition / PPBSO contests going online for 2020

A new edition of Willie Donaldson’s book, Pipers will be published in July. The book was first published in Great Britain in 2005 by Birlinn, the Edinburgh-based publishing company that’s also behind the new edition. The book – its full title is Pipers: A Guide to the Players and Music […]

In full flow. The Clasp competition at the 2019  Northern Meeting.

Set Tunes blog feedback / Contest by tape

We have received some feedback regarding the blog post from Simon McKerrell, pictured right, that appeared here last week. All of the feedback we received came from competing pipers and a couple of judges. Most were supportive of Mr McKerrell’s suggestion that it is time to gradually abolish the Set […]