Bagpipe News

The Pipers' Tryst Trad Music Session
2022-11-07 18:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | The Pipers’ Tryst, 30-34 McPhater Street, Glasgow, G12 8JH, United Kingdom
There will be great tunes, so drop in for a drink and a listen or bring your instrument along to join in!
Check on our Events page for dates of future Trad in the Tryst sessions.

Winter Storm 2024 – 21st Anniversary Event
2024-01-11 - 2024-01-14 | Kansas City, KS, United States
The Midwest Highlands Arts Fund (MHAF) Board of Directors announced the 21st anniversary of Winter Storm – The Pipes and Drums Event in Kansas City, will be held January 11 – 14, 2024. Online registration for the 2024 workshop and the piping and drumming competitions opened on October 1, 2023.

Winter Storm classes and contests will be held at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza.

Workshops

The piping and drumming workshop and master classes will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 13 & 14, 2024, featuring our faculty of twenty of the world’s best pipers and drummers.

Concert

The Winter Storm concert will be held in the Marriott Grand Ballroom on January 14, 2024 at 7pm. The free concert is not open to the public. With limited seating, the priority will be for workshop attendees, competitors and accompanists, and their families.

The 2023 concert recording is more than three hours long, and was live streamed by sponsor, Dojo University, and can be watched again on The Piper’s Dojo Faceboo page here.

Live Stream

The Pipes and Drums concert and will be live streamed on the Saturday. On Thursday and Friday many of the Amateur and Professional contests, and the awards ceremony, will be live streamed.

Winter Steam

The ever-popular Winter Steam Ceilidh will follow the concert at approximately 9:00 P.M. The “world’s biggest indoor beer tent” is free, and open to the public. A souvenir pint glass may be purchased for $30 online, or on the day of the event, until sold out.

•The Winter Steam after-concert party in 2007. Photo: Mike Paterson

Contests

The 2024 contests include entry limitations for all contests, a $1500 travel prize for the aggregate winner of Gold Medal Piobaireachd and the Gold Medal Ceol Beag, and a single classes for amateur tenor drum and bass drum contests

Professional ceol beag piping will be held in two categories, Gold Medal and Silver Medal, and neither will have a playoff.

All Amateur Piping and Drumming competitions will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 and all Professional Piping and Drumming competitions will be on Friday, January 12, 2024.

The Gold Medal Snare Drumming qualifier will take place Thursday evening, January 11.

There will be competitor entry size limits for all contests. Registration for each contest will be accepted until full.

The on-site competitor registration/check-in desk will be open at the Marriott Hotel, 2nd floor, from 3pm – 9pm on January 10 and will reopen on January 11 & 13 at 7am. Competitions will start at 8am on both Thursday and Friday.

The awards ceremony for all contests will take place at approximately 9pm on Friday, January 12, 2024 in the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

Contest Spectators

On Thursday contest spectators may attend the amateur contests and the Gold Medal snare Drumming Qualifier free of charge. Friday contest spectators must purchase a Contest Spectator Pass. Spectator Passes may be purchased online in advance or onsite.

All amateur competitors will be given a free Contest Spectator Pass to watch Friday’s professional events.

B.A.G. Winter Competition
2023-01-21 - 2023-01-22 | Altes Gymnasium Bremen, Kleine Helle 7-8, Bremen, 28195 Bremen, Germany
After a great success in recent years, the BAG Winter Competition 2023 will again be hosted in Bremen by “Crest of Gordon – City of Bremen Pipes & Drums”. We hope to create an international stage again this year to ring in a new competition season. Even bigger, even more beautiful, even more pipes & drums. With this in mind: Stay tuned.

When and where does the event take place?

The 2023 winter competition will take place from January 21st to 22nd at Altes Gymnasium Bremen, Kleine Helle 7-8, 28195 Bremen.

Who can participate?

In principle, every piper and drummer can participate. The corresponding competition rules of the BAG must be observed.

What competitions are there?

In addition to the usual competitions that correspond to the BAG rules, we also offer a practice chanter competition for beginners who do not yet have the necessary experience on the bagpipes themselves. In addition to the side drum competitions, there are also competitions for tenor, bass drum and drum major.
In addition, there will be a quintet competition in the Grade 4 March, Open Grade Medley and Open Grade MSR.

Highland Pipes Evening Classes
2023-01-23 - 2023-03-30 | The National Piping Centre
The Next Term of Evening Classes will start from Monday, January 23 – Thursday, March 30 2023. Suitable for everyone from complete beginners to advanced pipers, these weekly classes in small groups will provide a supportive and fun learning environment. There are in person and online classes available, so click the options in the booking form to find times.
These 10 week courses offer structured learning experience, designed to take you from absolute beginner through to proficient piper, through PDQB levels 2 – 5. There will be an opportunity to sit these exams along the way if you wish. The 10 week course costs £110 adult / £100 U18 – just £11/£10 per week!
BOOK YOUR 10 WEEK TERM HERE
Looking for information about our Specialist Evening Classes on Bellows – Head to this web page to find out more
The learning journey the student will embark on details all the abilities required to be a self sufficient piper. Pupils will learn how to read and write music for the bagpipe, maintain and tune their own instrument and develop a well rounded repertoire of pieces.
There are 9 levels of playing experience, to reflect the different stages of piping learning. This will allow you to more accurately describe your playing to us and allow us to group you more accurately. See below for the level descriptions before you book to ensure you are booking the correct class.
Classes offered are subject to amendment or cancellation. You may be asked to move times/ days due to over subscription to a class or lack of interest in a day/ time
All classes are run to UK time (GMT/BST). Please be aware of Spring/ Autumn daylight savings and how this may effect your attendance

Specialist Bellows Evening Classes
2023-01-24 18:00 - 20:00 | The National Piping Centre
The next term of the Bellows evening classes will start from Tues 24th Jan – Tues 28th March 2023. This 10 week evening class course replaces the Bellows piping course which used to run at The National Piping Centre Otago Street. This will run in two hour slots, one from Novice players and one for Intermediate players. The novice course will be based around the basics of playing a bellows pipe and an introduction to session tunes. The Intermidiate+ course will look more at repertoire, form and tune delivery.
The teacher for this course will be our Piping teacher and Youth Development Lead, Ailis Sutherland. Ailis has a first class honours degree in Applied Music from University of Highlands and Islands, where she studied at their South Uist campus. She has performaed all over the world as a solo piper and with her group Hecla, as well as appearing on radio and television.
These courses will be weekly on Tuesdays from Tues 24th – Tues 28 March 2023. The Novice class will be at 6pm and the Intermediate+ course will be at 7pm, with lessons lasting 50mins.
Previously we have run Piobaireachd 101 and Whistle evening classes. If you would be interested in these lessons, please email eveningclass@thepipingcentre.co.uk
BOOK NOW
Looking for information about our regular Evening Classes? Head to this web page to find out more
Fees
These 10 week courses are £110 for each course.
We can take registrations once the course has started, however the full 10 week price will still apply. We can only take new registrations until week 2 of the new course.
BOOK NOW
Hearing Protection
The National Piping Centre requires all students to use hearing protection at all times when playing pipes. Hearing protection is available for purchase in our shop or free of charge from the earplug dispenser in both our piping school venues.
Find out more

Celtic Connections: Brìghde Chaimbeul, Ross Ainslie & Steven Byrnes
2023-01-25 19:30 - 22:30 | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY, United Kingdom
•Brìghde Chaimbeul, Ross Ainslie & Steven Byrnes ast Piping Live! 2022. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
Highlighting concerts at Celtic Connections 2023 featuring bagpipes or piping-related music.
The Celtic Connection website says about the Brìghde, Ross and Steve playing as a trio: “Brìghde Chaimbeul and Ross Ainslie started working on music around 4 years ago focusing on double C smallpipes. Recently they’ve been working alongside Steven Byrnes on bouzouki and guitar, performing and recording as a trio.”

Celtic Connections: Assynt
2023-01-25 20:00 - 22:30 | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY, United Kingdom
• David Shedden piping with Assynt at Piping Live! 2016. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
Highlighting concerts at Celtic Connections 2023 featuring bagpipes or piping-related music.
The Celtic Connection website says about the concert: “Glasgow based folk trio Assynt are former BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year finalists, Graham Mackenzie (fiddle) and David Shedden (pipes/whistles) alongside BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Innes White (guitar/mandolin). Awarded ‘Up and Coming Artist of the Year’ at the 2018 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, Assynt are a band rooted in the great fiddle, piping and Gaelic traditions of the Highlands of Scotland.”

The Pipers' Tryst Sessions at Celtic Connections
2023-01-26 10:30 - 2023-01-29 15:30 | The Pipers’ Tryst, 30-34 McPhater Street, Glasgow, G12 8JH, United Kingdom
•The weekly Trad in the Tryst music session pictured. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
The National Piping Centre will be running The Pipers’ Tryst Sessions – four days of workshops, group lessons and sessions during the Celtic Connections festival from Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 January 2023.
Taught by pipers in the folk scene, this event will focus on bellows pipes and whistle playing and on the social environment of piping in the trad music world. It will all take place at The National Piping Centre & The Pipers’ Tryst in the McPhater Street venue, which is a stone’s throw from Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the hub of Celtic Connections.
As The Pipers’ Tryst sessions will take place during Celtic Connections, we want you to get the most out of one of Scotland’s most celebrated international festivals, along with these workshops. To this end, as well as teaching, we will also be recommending the best piping gigs in the festival programme and will point you in the direction of pre-theatre restaurants close to the venues.
In the late morning, there will be a two-hour block of lessons, followed by a soup & sandwich lunch (included in cost) in The Pipers’ Tryst, where the afternoon folk session will take place.
You can attend the full event (£200 for all four days) or choose individual days (£70 each) to suit your schedule.
Book your place now!

Netherlorn Piping Society recital with Fred Morrison
2023-01-26 19:30 - 21:30 | Argyllshire Gathering Halls, Breadalbane Street, Oban, Argyll, PA34 5NZ
•Fred Morrison at Piping Live! 2022. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news

Celtic Connections: Malin Lewis - New Voices
2023-01-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY, United Kingdom
•Malin Lewis playing in the Two Octaves concert at Celtic Connections 2020. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
Highlighting concerts at Celtic Connections 2023 featuring bagpipes or piping-related music.
The Celtic Connection website says about the concert: “Malin Lewis is an award-winning piper, fiddler, composer and instrument-maker from Ardnamurchan and Skye. They marry deep traditional roots with adventurous innovation – not least as maker of a unique 2-octave version of the Scottish smallpipes.”

Scots Guards KO semi-final 1
2023-01-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Scots Guards Association Club, 2 Clifton Terrace, Haymarket, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR
John Dew and Calum Brown will compete in the first semi-final of the Scots Guards Club Knockout competition on Sunday, January 29, with a 4pm start. Tickets are £5, pay at the door. Pies on sale at half time. The pipers will play 30 minutes of music each, and the audience votes for the winner. The Scots Guards Club is in central Edinburgh at 2 Clifton Terrace, EH12 5DR — directly across from Haymarket train station.

•John Dew in the SPA competition 2022. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news

•Calum Brown in the SPA competition 2022. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news

Celtic Connections: Allan MacDonald & Friends
2023-02-01 20:00 - 22:30 | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY, United Kingdom
•Allan MacDonald and Finlay MacDonald playing at Piping Live! 2022. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
Highlighting concerts at Celtic Connections 2023 featuring bagpipes or piping-related music.
The Celtic Connection website says about the concert: “Piping legend Allan MacDonald brings a lifetime of musical mastery to Celtic Connections 2023. A leading light in the Gaelic musical scene, Allan MacDonald is in demand internationally as a composer, musical director, piper, singer, workshop leader and lecturer on Gaelic music. In this special show which was premiered at Piping Live! 2022, Allan is joined on stage by a house band of traditional music greats – Finlay MacDonald, Iain MacFarlane, Leonard Barry and Ali Hutton – as they perform Allan’s compositions from his seminal Moidart collections The First Hundred and The Second Hundred, including his tune We’re a Case the Bunch of Us. “

Celtic Connections: Peatbog Faeries
2023-02-03 20:00 - 22:30 | The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, Glasgow, G1 1NQ, United Kingdom
•The Peatbog Faeries at Celtic Connections in 2014. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
Highlighting concerts at Celtic Connections 2023 featuring bagpipes or piping-related music.
The Celtic Connection website says about the concert: “Peatbog Faeries, present a rip-roaring display of musical wizardry with their fiddles, bagpipes, whistles, drums, guitars, sax, keyboard and vocals. Having thrilled audiences worldwide, collecting jazz, pop, techno, African and other influences en-route, they’ve twice been voted Scots Live Band of the Year. Never guilty of standing still, they’re shaking things up with fresh music and an enhanced line-up.”

Macalester Winter Warmup Solos and The Skye K. Richendrfer Memorial Challenge
2023-02-04 | Jane Wallace Fine Arts Centre, Macalester College, 130 Macalester Road, St Paul, MN, MN55105, United States
https://bagpipe.news/2023/01/20/memorial-challenge-cup-in-honour-of-skye-k-richendrfer/

MWBPA Rules updated for 2023

The MWPBA contest rules have been updated for season 2023, and you will find it on the MWPBA home page under “THE ASSOCIATION”. All MWPBA members are expected to be familiar with the contents for their disciplines.As announced at the AGM, for 2023 there have been changes for solo piping contest music requirements and Grade 1 band MSR requirements.For solo piping contests:

Grade 5: no change
Grade 4: 6/8 march is removed; a Strathspey/Reel event of 2-parts each is added
Grade 3: Jig event is removed
Grade 2: Hornpipe/Jig event is replaced by 4-parted Jig only event
Grade 1: no change
Open: no change to events, but all events are now submit 4

For solo drumming contents:

All solo drummers are now permitted to be accompanied by recorded music or live music.
For live accompaniment: Solo Snare, Solo Tenor, and Solo Bass drummers must be accompanied by one or two properly attired pipers but no accompanying tenors or basses. Solo Tenor and Solo Bass drummers may have one optional properly attired snare accompanist.
For recorded accompaniment: Solo Snare, Solo Tenor, and Solo Bass drummers may use recorded instead of live accompaniment. Solo Snare drummers should be accompanied by a recording of one or two bagpipers but no tenors or basses. Solo Tenors and Solo Basses should use a recording of one or two bagpipers and one optional snare drummer, but no tenors or basses.
Any soloist using recorded accompaniment must provide a device capable of operating without external power and which can broadcast the audio recording at an adequate volume to be heard over their own performance by both the competitor and the judge(s) of the event.

For band contests:

Grade 1 bands MSR set composition requirements have change – one MSR with maximum 4-parted tunes, and the other MSR with minimum 4-parted tunes
The band contest entry form will now required all bands in all grades to include their music selections with their entry. This is mandatory for MSR selection in band Grade 1 and 2, but also useful information as a courtesy for the announcer to share with the audience for all all grades. Bands in Grades 1 and 2 have until the final date of entry to submit any changes to selections.

There are no changes to other band contests.

Celtic Connections: Annual Pipe Band Concert - Names and Places 2023
2023-02-04 12:30 - 15:30 | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY, United Kingdom
•The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland on stage in the main auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in 2014. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
Highlighting concerts at Celtic Connections 2023 featuring bagpipes or piping-related music.
The Celtic Connection website says about this concert: “A highlight of the winter season for pipe bands, the Annual Pipe Band Concert returns with a special, one off double bill.
“An unmissable celebration of Pipe Major Ian Dunan’s contribution to the piping world. This special show revisits and reimagines the seminal Names and Places album originally recorded by the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and folk group Eclipse First in 1990. As well as a wider celebration of Ian and the band.
“Also bringing together some of the country’s elite young players, The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland’s Senior Band open the show.

Celtic Connections: James Duncan Mackenzie
2023-02-04 20:00 - 22:30 | Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3NY, United Kingdom
•James Duncan Mackenzie at Celtic Connections in 2014. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news
Highlighting concerts at Celtic Connections 2023 featuring bagpipes or piping-related music.
The Celtic Connection website says about the concert: “From the Isle of Lewis, James Duncan Mackenzie is a piper and wooden flute player who is known for his musicianship and tune writing. To date he has released three solo albums as well as a tune book containing 70 of his compositions.”

Celtic Connections: BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Final 2023
2023-02-05 17:00 - 19:30 | City Halls, Candleriggs, Glasgow, G1 1NQ, United Kingdom
•Ailis Sutherland pictured playing in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2023 Semi Finals. Photograph by Martin Shields. www.martinshields.com © Martin Shields
The final of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition brings six of the country’s rising stars to the stage as they battle for this career-defining accolade. National Piping Centre Tutor, Ailis Sutherland, is in the final playing smallpipes.
Th five other finalists for 2023 are:
Aidan Moodie – Singer/guitarist (Orkney)
Mairi McGillivray – Gaelic singer (Islay)
Sam Mabbett – Accordion (Oxfordshire)
Madeleine Stewart – Fiddle (New England, USA)
Amy Laurenson – Piano (Shetland)

The National Piping Centre Adult Winter Gathering
2023-02-06 - 2023-02-09 | Co. Dublin
Join the NPC Adult Gatherings in 2023. The National Piping Centre is bringing you a series of Adult Gatherings in 2023 for pipers aged 18+, which have been designed to give a fantastic social learning experience. This year we will be running in person workshops as well as online events.
The dates for our 2023 schools are:
Winter Adult Gathering: 6-9 February
Spring Adult Gathering: 24-27 April
Summer Adult Gathering : 31 July-3 August
Autumn Adult Gathering: 30 October-2 November
Our schools will run in two timezones, one for in person teaching and one for online students. The in-person school will run during the day UK time (9am – 5pm UK time), with the online school running in the evenings (3pm – 9pm UK time). There will be no option for online learning during the day, or in person learning in the evening. For the online schools to run in 2023, we require a minimum of 6 students to register. Teachers for each school will be announced ahead of the event.
The school costs £275 in person and £240 online for the four days.
BOOK MY GATHERING PLACE NOW
Where will we meet?
The in person schools will take place at one of the two National Piping Centre locations in Glasgow City Centre or West End. This will be confirmed nearer the time of your school. For our online schools, you will join us on Zoom each day for your day of tuition! Once you have registered, we will be in touch with more information about the school and how you can log in each day.
What will I learn?
Over the four days there will be group lessons, 1-2-1 tuition, Masterclass workshops and more for pipers and drummers. Each piping student will be provided with a digital music pack so everyone will have new music to learn.
What will the school cost?
It is £250 GBP to register for a place on one of our in person schools and £220 GBP for an online school. Registrations will open shortly.

Irpinia School of Bagpipes workshops with Franco Calanca: Scuola Irpina di Cornamuse
2023-02-11 - 2023-02-12 | Summonte Castle, Via Castello, snc, 83010, Summonte, Avellino, Campania, Italy
The Irpinia School of Bagpipes are hosting a workshop weekend at the castle complex in the town of Summonte. The town is in the Campania region of southern Italy, with Naples being the capital city of that region of Italy. The workshops will be led by the Italian piper and instrument-maker Franco Calanca. Full details of the workshops are below.

The S.I.C. is an initiative conceived by a group of local musicians who are passionate about traditional music performed with bagpipes such as beer and bagpipes, with a particular interest in Scottish traditional music.

Franco Calanca, one of the most talented players and the most reliable instrument manufacturers, will make available to participants his thirty-year experience as a musician and lute player. As the main protagonist of the revival of Emilian beer, which took place in the first two thousand years, during the stage it will also give space to the enthusiasts of this characteristic instrument of the Tuscan-Emiliano Appenines.

During the weekend there will be educational moments, exhibition and music sharing, evening “open sessions” and the performance of a “massed band” on the streets of the village, at the end of the event. The workshops will take place with open doors for the most curious.

For more information contact the number +39 349 5361254 (also on WhatsApp) at any time.

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SEMINAR COST: Euro 70,00 (per person) NB. Depending on the number of participants, the cost may vary.

Lesson Schedule:
Saturday 9am-12pm / 3pm-7pm
Sunday 9am – 12pm

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Lunch € 10.00 per person
Dinner Euro 10.00 per person
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Accommodation at Hotel Al Palazzetto Set Fair, 12 Plane Street, Summonte (Av)

Euro 50,00 Double (with double bed + breakfast included)
Euro 40,00 Single (breakfast included)
Check – In until 11pm. Check – Out at 10:00
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Stirling Piping Recital with Roddy and Willie
2023-02-17 19:30 - 21:30 | King Robert Hotel, Glasgow Road, Stirling, FK7 0LJ, United Kingdom
Photos by Derek Maxwell
Craig Muirhead is planning to arrange more piping events in Stirling, and is starting with a recital by two of the world’s finest bagpipers who need no introduction. Craig said: “Thanks to Willie and Roddy for agreeing to play and to the King Robert Hotel for their support. Tickets on the door. Hoping local piping enthusiasts will be as excited as I am for this one!”

Free concert: Eliza Ross Manuscript — Fraser Fifield with Dave Milligan
2023-02-28 19:30 - 20:40 | Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL, United Kingdom
Join us for a reinterpretation of the Eliza Ross Manuscript, collected on the Isle of Raasay in 1812, with Fraser Fifield and Dave Milligan. The Elizabeth Ross Manuscript was compiled on the Isle of Rassay in 1812 and is the earliest known manuscript of Highland music. In 1954, the collection was secured by the School of Scottish Studies and subsequently published by Musica Scotia.
In his role as Traditional Artist in Residence at University of Edinburgh, Fraser Fifield first became aware of the manuscript. The collection struck a chord, and together with acclaimed pianist Dave Milligan, he re-presents the music in exciting contemporary settings, which disguises the music’s ancient roots.
Elizabeth Ross was a competent transcriber and her settings represent the wide range of Hebridean music known to the islanders and in Raasay House, home of James MacLeod, laird of Raasay – Elizabeth’s uncle and guardian.
The manuscript, including detailed commentary and translations, is freely available as a PDF on the University of Edinburgh’s website.
Book your free ticket here
Learn more about The Eliza Ross Manuscript

SPA Club Night
2023-03-03 19:00 - 21:00 | The National Piping Centre, 30-34 McPhater Street, Glasgow, G4 0HW, United Kingdom
The Scottish Pipers’ Association’s monthly club night at The National Piping Centre McPhater Street. A convivial evening of piping with occasional guest pipers playing.

The Hayland Gathering
2023-03-11 10:30 - 12:30 | Hay, Hay, New South Wales, Australia
The inaugural Hayland Gathering is a free event being held at the Hay Park number 1 Oval, following a street parade leaving from The Hay Visitor Centre at 11am.
There will so much to see for the whole family.
FULL bar facilities run by the Hay Cricket Club and BBQ by Hay Magpies and food vans available for meal purchase.
Expect to see many different activities on the day.
*The Riverina Titles Highland Dancing Competition
*Heavy events – Highland Muscle
*Live music
*Pipe band displays
*Scottish Clan information
*Market stalls
*Highland Dancing display from Morven Johnston – 2nd in World Championships
*Children’s activities run by Hay Youth Task Force including archery,
*Kilted Dash for cash – foot races
* Golf Tournament at Hay Golf Club
*Ceilidh at the Hay Services Club at 6.30pm Fireworks

Netherlorn Piping Society recital with Connor Sinclair
2023-03-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Argyllshire Gathering Halls, Breadalbane Street, Oban, Argyll, PA34 5NZ
The Netherlorn Piping Society are hosting a recital with Connor Sinclair this Thursday, March 16 in the Argyllshire Gathering Halls in Oban
The event starts at 7.30, with £4 entry for adults and free entry for children. The Argyllshire Gathering Halls are in Breadalbane Street, Oban, PA34 5NZ.
Connor is pictured above competing at the Glenfiddich Piping Championship in 2022, and recently won the Ardmore Cup Invitational Solo Piping Competition in Waterford, Ireland in February 2023.

LBPS Annual Competition
2023-03-18 09:00 - 17:00 | The Burgh Halls, Linlithgow, Burgh Halls, Linlithgow, EH49 7AH, United Kingdom
The committee of the LBPS are looking forward to welcoming members to the 2023 LBPS competition. We encourage you to come and have a go at competing, whatever stage you are at in your small-piping/ Border piping “career”. It’s a supportive atmosphere where you will meet great people, have a chance to listen to a wide range of playing and get constructive feedback on your performance.
Entry fees:
Members: £2.50 per class
Non-members: £5.00 per class
Spectators: Free
The booking form is available below.

The venue will be Linlithgow Burgh Halls which is an interesting historic venue with a small museum in the centre of the town, close to the railway station (on the main Glasgow to Edinburgh line).
Full address for the venue:
Linlithgow Burgh Halls, The Cross, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 7AH

The hall will be open from 9.15 am with tea and coffee available on arrival. The first class will commence at 10 am prompt.
The running order for the classes will be available shortly. There will be space available for tuning.
Anyone wishing to enter the Overseas class (and remember this includes people based in the UK who can’t make it on the day) should record a video that will be shown and judged on the day. Please see the Competition Rules for full details of the deadline and how to submit your entry.
The theme for the Skeely Piper Trophy will be any tunes with women in the title. This can be a woman’s full name or partial name, e.g., ‘Jenny Dang the Weaver’ or ‘Mrs MacPherson of Inveran’.
Please click here for the Competition Rules and for information about the different classes. Please do check the time limits and other criteria when devising your set.

BOOKING
Entry fees:
Members: £2.50 per class
Non-members: £5.00 per class
Spectators: Free

Scottish Pipers' Associaton Juvenile Competiton
2023-03-18 09:00 - 17:00 | The National Piping Centre Otago Street, 16-24 Otago Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom
The SPA Juvenile Competition has 12 events, listed below.

The competition is open to all members of the Scottish Pipers’ Association.
Membership is priced at £10 per annum
Entry is confined to amateur juveniles who have never played in Open Professional Events
Competitors will be confined to either Chanter or Bagpipe events and cannot enter both.
Bagpipe Entrants can only play in one age group category – (13 & Under, 15 & Under or 18 & Under)
Entries will close on 17th February. Late entries cannot be accepted unfortunately.
Competitors in events 3-12 should wear full highland dress.

Events List

13 Years and Under Practice Chanter – 2 Part Slow Air
13 Years and Under Practice Chanter – 2 Part March

13 Years and Under Bagpipes – Piobaireachd Ground
13 Years and Under Bagpipes – March (Minimum 4 Parts)
13 Years and Under Bagpipes – Strathspey & Reel (Minimum 4 Parts)

15 Years and Under Bagpipes – Piobaireachd
15 Years and Under Bagpipes – March (Minimum 4 Parts)
15 Years and Under Bagpipes – Strathspey & Reel (Minimum 4 Parts)

18 Years and Under Bagpipes – Piobaireachd
18 Years and Under Bagpipes – March (Minimum 4 Parts)
18 Years and Under Bagpipes – Strathspey & Reel (Minimum 4 Parts)
18 Years and Under Bagpipes – Jig (Minimum 4 Parts)

Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference 2023
2023-03-24 - 2023-03-26 | Royal George Hotel. Perth, George Street
£40.00 – £240.00
The Annual Conference will be held in the Royal George Hotel, Perth, over the weekend of March 24 – 26, 2023. Rooms are £85 per night B&B, or £120 per night B&B for a double/twin. Rooms must be booked directly through the Piobaireachd Society website here.
This will be the first Annual Conference for four years. The Society will subsidise the conference; dinner on the Saturday is free to overnight attendees, and lunch to all. Day visitors wishing lunch must contact the Secretary Derek Fraser by March 12 so that catering can be arranged. There is no conference fee.
Those travelling, will meet in the hotel on the Friday evening from around 7.30pm for a relaxed get together, a few drinks and tunes. The following day breakfast will be circa 8am and the conference proper will begin at 9.30am. There will be a coffee break circa 10.30, then lunch at 12.30pm. Afternoon papers will begin at 1.45pm and run till 3.45pm with a break. An informal members piobaireachd ceilidh will be between 4 – 6pm. Dinner (black tie) at 7pm. At around 9.30 there will an hour of musical entertainment. Depart after breakfast on Sunday.
Planned conference topics are:

The Musical Legacy of the MacKays of Raasay – John Frater
Composing Modern Piobaireachd – Peter McCalister and John Dew
Tune Analysis – Roddy Livingstone and Darach Urquhart
Tribute to Andrew Wright – Robert Wallace

There will be no AGM at the conference. This will be held online at a date to be confirmed. The conference is open to non-members and welcomes day visitors.

Scots Guards KO Final
2023-03-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Scots Guards Association Club, 2 Clifton Terrace, Haymarket, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR
The final of the Scots Guards KO will be held on Sunday, March 26, 4pm, and will be contested by John Dew and Angus MacColl Jnr. Tickets are £5, pay at the door. Pies on sale at half time. The pipers will play 30 minutes of music each, and the audience votes for the winner. The Scots Guards Club is in central Edinburgh at 2 Clifton Terrace, EH12 5DR — directly across from Haymarket train station.

•John Dew in the Scottish Pipers’ Association competition in 2022. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news

•Angus MacColl Jnr at Celtic Connections 2018. Photo: JohnSlavin@designfolk.com/Bagpipe.news

NPC workshops at Surrey Piping School
2023-03-31 14:00 - 2023-04-02 14:00 | Gordon’s School, West End, Woking, Surrey, GU24 9PT
The National Piping Centre is bringing its world class teaching team to Gordon’s School in Surrey for a weekend of teaching.
Join the team from 31st March – 2nd April 2023 for teaching, workshops, practice time, new music and a recital on Saturday evening.
The school is for pipers aged 18+, who can play at least a few simple tunes.
BOOK SCHOOL PLACE

We are delighted to announce that the teachers for this school will include our Director of Piping Finlay MacDonald and the current and 9 time Glenfiddich Champion Willie McCallum, with more to be announced! They will perform in recital from 7.30pm on Saturday 1st April. For members of the public not attending the school, tickets for this recital are £15 / £12 per person and can be bought online here.

Bundanoon Highland Gathering
2023-04-01 09:00 - 17:00 | Bundanoon, Erith Street, Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia
The Bundanoon Highland Gathering is pleased to announce the list of Pipe Bands that are attending this year’s Brigadoon on 1st April 2023
PARTICIPATION AT BRIGADOON IS BY INVITATION ONLY.
The limit for pipe bands performing at BRIGADOON has been set by the committee at 25 bands.
Once that number is reached no exceptions can or will be made to allow participation.
Therefore pipe bands are selected on a “ first come basis” if bands fail to respond by the cutoff date then they are automatically excluded unless a vacancy occurs which will then be offered to the first band on the waitlist
PIPE BANDS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

1. Registered with Pipe Band Association NSW. Here
2. Have a comprehensive insurance policy.
3. Pipe Bands cannot participate if their numbers are lower than: 6 Pipers, 3 Snare Drum, 1 Bass Drum and 1 Tenor Drum
4. Terms Conditions 2022

IF BANDS CANNOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS THEN IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY JOIN ANOTHER BAND AND PARTICIPATE WITH THEM ON THE DAY.
STREET PARADE FORMS UP ON THE JUNCTION OF ERITH AND AMY STREETS:CLICK HERE:Street parade start point
Street parade start point
PIPE BAND TUNES
The words for Flower of Scotland are on page 10
OPENING CEREMONY
March on Scotland the Brave/ Rowan Tree
At Halt Marie’s Wedding/ Brown Haired Maiden
March Off: Green Hills/The Battle’s O’er

CLOSING CEREMONY
March On: 79th Farewell to Gibraltar
At the Halt: Bundanoon is Brigadoon
Flower of Scotland
Highland Cathedral
Drummers Salute
Hector the Hero
On the March: Bonnie Lass of Fyvie
At the Halt: Amazing Grace
March off: Scotland the Brave, Black Bear

PROGRAMME: From 11am until 2.30pm at 3 different locations on the oval the individual pipe bands perform to entertain the public with their own special style of music.

A FULL DETAILED PROGRAMME INCLUDING THE INDIVIDUAL PIPE BAND LOCATIONS AND TIMINGS IS AVAILABLE AT THE ENTRY GATE. $3
Pipes & Drums Brigadoon 2023

Sydney Thistle Pipe Band
St George & Sutherland Scottish Pipe Band
Ingleburn RSL Pipes and Drums
Castle Hill RSL Pipe Band
The Scots College Old Boys Pipes and Drums
Clan MacLeod Pipe Band
Presbyterian Ladies College Sydney Pipes and Drums
The Hills District Pipe Band
Southern Cross Pipes and Drums
Canberra Celtic Pipe Band
Hornsby RSL Pipe Band
Knox Old Boys Pipe Band
Shoalhaven City Pipes and Drums
Penrith RSL Pipes and Drums
Illawarra Pipe Band
Northern Suburbs Pipe Band
Granville Boys High School Pipe Band
The Parramatta RSL Caledonian Pipe Band
Manly Warringah Pipe Band
NSW Police Pipe Band
Canberra City Pipes and Drums
Goulburn Soldiers Club Pipes and Drums
The Highlands Pipes and Drums
ACT Emergency Services Agency Pipes and Drums
Burwood RSL Sub-Branch Pipes and Drums

Band Coordinator
Alaistair Saunders
