Piping elite get ready for Argyllshire Gathering
The Argyllshire Gathering, the world’s second most important solo piping competition, will once again take place in Oban on Scotland’s west coast. This year’s competitions will be held on Wednesday, August 25, and Thursday, August 26, in both indoor and outdoor settings.
The two most prestigious events, the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal, and the Open Piobaireachd (reserved for former winners of the Gold Medal at Oban or Inverness) are the marquee events of the gathering. Both piobaireachd contests will be held on Wednesday.
The Northern Meeting at Inverness is generally considered the world’s premier solo piping event of the year.
The Silver Medal will also be held on the Wednesday. The contest generally has a heavier contingent of overseas competitors, while the Gold Medal and Open appear to be slightly more restrictive for entry.
In 1998, the Oban Gold Medal was won by Scotland’s Niall Matheson, while the Silver Medal went to Matt MacIsaac of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Light music events are each held on Thursday, with the top category being the Former Winners’ MSR. Candidates to win that event include Alasdair Gillies, Willie McCallum, Roddy MacLeod and Gordon Walker.
Both the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting have seen increased applications for entry to their competitions. Each category is generally limited to only 30 competitors.
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