Junior piping events return to Edinburgh Mod

Junior solo piping competitions will be held for the first time ever at the Edinburgh Mod on September 28th, when the event takes place at Tollcross Primary School in Scotland’s capital city.

Four categories will be on offer, with Under-13 March (practice chanter); Under-13 March (pipes); a March for 13-16-year-olds; and an Under-18 March, Strathspey & Reel. Prizes and sponsorship have been secured from various organizations, including McCallum Bagpipes.

According to a spokesperson for the event, the organizers hope that, “with support and the growing number of young pipers in the Edinburgh area, the competition will go from strength to strength over the coming years.”

The Edinburgh Local Mod is connected with Scotland’s Royal National Mod – Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail– is an annual celebration of Gaelic music and culture for children. Kids from the Edinburgh and Lothian districts are encouraged to enter in competitions like Gaelic singing, step-dancing, clarsach and Gaelic poetry.

The tradition of the Royal National Mod dates to 1891. Adult prizes for Gaelic singing are considered the most prestigious in the genre. The next National Mod is October 10-18 in Fort William, Scotland.

The Edinburgh area has enjoyed a resurgence in young pipers due to increased teaching efforts by David Barnes, Stuart Cassells, and Colin MacLellan at Edinburgh Academy over the past few years.

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