Major US solo pipers taking their Winchester shots

They won’t quite be pulling Winchester rifles on each other, but they will take aim with their best bagpipes as five of the eastern United States’ best pipers will go at it on June 25th at a new invitational solo contest at Winchester, Virginia.

The National Piping Centre, Scotland Challenge Recital will feature Andrew Donlon and Nick Hudson of Pittsburgh; Dan Lyden and Ben McClamrock of Maryland; and Derek Midgley, New Jersey, competing in Piobaireachd, MSR and Hornpipe & Jig events, as part of the Piping Centre’s annual Virginia Summer School, which runs from June 22-26. Each of the players has been a frequent and successful competitor in Ontario and Scotland.

It’s the first time that a contest has been made a part of the school, which each of the contestants has attended at one time of another. The event will be held at 7 pm at the Lee Jackson Best Western Motel in Winchester, and £15 tickets are available in advance. The pipers will offer workshop instruction the day after, which are also available to anyone not attending the full five days of the summer school.

Teachers at the summer school will be Matt MacIsaac, Willie McCallum, John Mulhearn and Stuart Samson.