Females rock on at Highlands & Islands

Oban, Scotland – May 1, 2010 – The UK’s top women solo pipers claimed the big awards at the annual Highland & Islands Music & Dance Festival, marking the first time in memory – or ever – that a UK competition saw females take the top prizes. Events were broken up by CPA grading. Faye Henderson of Kirriemuir, Scotland, and Andrea Boyd and Fiona Manson, both of Glasgow, took home the prizes in thecontests for pipers graded Premier or A.

Premier/A-Grade
Piobaireachd
1st Faye Henderson,  “Lament for Captain MacDougall”
2nd Fiona Manson,  “Lady Margaret MacDonald’s Salute”
3rd Euan MacCrimmon, Oban, “The Stewarts’ White Banner”
4th Bill Geddes, Edinburgh, “The Battle of Auldearn”

Judges: Hugh MacCallum, Tom Speirs

MSR
1st Andrea Boyd
2nd Simon McKerrell, Lenzie, Scotland
3rd Bill Geddes
4th Gavin Walker, Stirling, Scotland

Judges: Ronnie McShannon, John Wilson

B- and C-Grade
Piobaireachd
1st Iain Marshall
2nd Craig Muirhead
3rd Keith Bowes
4th Derek Midgley

Judges: Ronnie McShannon, John Wilson

MSR
1st Craig Muirhead
2nd Euan Dewar
3rd Struan Thorpe
4th Fiona Manson

Judges: Hugh MacCallum, Tom Speirs