2026 International Quartet champions: Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia

Glasgow – August 11, 2026 – After two knee-knocking, stomach-churning, why-did-I-ever-volunteer-for-this? performances, Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia emerged winners of the 2026 International Quartet Competition at a packed Strathclyde Suite in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Also competing were foursomes from (in alphabetical order) Field Marshal Montgomery (Northern Ireland); Inveraray & District (Scotland); Police Scotland Fife (Scotland); ScottishPower (Scotland); and Simon Fraser University (Canada).

The competing quartets delivered, first, an MSR, and then returned after an intermission to play a Medley, all tunes of their own choosing. The four members of the first event had to play in the second.

The format is considered by some as much a test of nerves as a trial of musicality. One significant slip can easily torpedo a quartet’s chances, particularly if a judge emphasizes technical mistakes over the big-picture performance.

The contest was sponsored by G1 Reeds.