Archive
Results from the second day of competitions, all light music events held outdoors at a sunny and warm Mossfield Park
Results from the first of the year’s major Scottish solo piping gatherings
The UK has no unified standards for its solo piping competitions. After 200-odd years, it’s high time that changed.
The 2026 Pipe-Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge Recital was another spectacular night of jaw-dropping musical creativity and technical brilliance by five of the world’s greatest Highland pipers. Callum Beaumont, Alasdair Henderson, Finlay Johnston, Angus D. MacColl and Connor Sinclair each performed for 15-20 minutes, every second of which had the packed Strathclyde Suite at […]
As in the job world, pipe band members often quit because of management. Modern-day competitive pipe bands need to run as much like a business as a hobby. Yet, pipe band leaders are most often thrust into their role simply because they’re the most accomplished piper or drummer. On the job, so to speak, they either learn to be an effective leaders or eventually lose (or move on) from their position.
About 30 years ago, the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band travelled to Scotland to compete in the World Championships. There was plenty of discussion (and ridicule from other bands) that every band member carried a large bottle of Evian water on the flight to Prestwick to stay hydrated. They had […]
The Irish Pub in Koblenz, Germany, will be the venue for the 2026 European Amateur Solo Piping Knockout Competition, 18:00, 20:00, November 28th, with six players involved (alphabetical by last name): Kian Johnston, Germany Witold Konopka, Poland Andrew Robertson, Scotland Martijn Selier, The Netherlands Garry Stevenson, Ireland Gil Vermeulen, Belgium […]
Next in our exclusive 2026 Set Tunes Series by Willie Donaldson is “The Pride of Barra,” a piobaireachd included on the Piobaireachd Society’s list of pieces eligible for submission to the Highland Society of London Gold Medal competitions at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting. Willie Donaldson writes: “[The Pride […]
Argyllshire Gathering, Capt. John Medal, Northern Meeting on tap over the next solo piping rich three weeks
What started in 2004 with a smattering of events in and around the then-Piping Centre, attracting a few hundred from a captive audience in Glasgow for the World Pipe Band Championships, grew this year into the most expansive Piping Live! in history, drawing over 30,000 to more than 120 events. […]
Simon Fraser University of Vancouver won the 2026 World Championship after the second two-event day at Glasgow Green, in overcast, breezy and cool conditions, with the high reaching about 18°C and no rain, with large crowds both in the stands and all over the park. St. Laurence O’Toole of Dublin won the drumming.
The first day of the 2026 World Pipe Band Championships enjoyed near-perfect weather: partly sunny, breezy, a high of about 20°C, and, best of all, no rain. The 13 Grade 1 bands competed in a four-part MSR contest and an own-choice Medley event, the results kept under lock and key, to be compiled with the equivalent contests on Saturday to produce a final result.
We’re asking a few important questions during Worlds Week 2026. Here are responses to our Friday, August 14th, question: Should the Worlds regularly move location? What are your thoughts? Feel free to express your opinion through Comments below.
True North Strong 78th Fraser Highlanders Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Glasgow; August 12, 2026 Reviewed by Cameron Drummond There is always a weight of expectation around the Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band’s Pre-Worlds Concert, and the return of the 78th Fraser Highlanders for True North Strong certainly brought plenty of it. Walking into the Royal […]
Iain MacDonald (Regina) reports from the epicentre of piping (and drumming) . . .
In a first since the event started more than 30 years ago, the 2026 P-M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge ended in a deadlock, with Callum Beaumont of Guardbridge, Scotland, and Connor Sinclair, Crieff, Scotland, sharing the prize after rankings submitted by the five unidentified judges in the audience were tabulated.