Archive

Winning the MSR and runner-up in the Medley, Prince Charles from San Francisco was the overall Grade 3 winner at the annual pipe band competitions at Scottish Fest USA. City of Angels of Los Angeles won the Medley competition.

Ben Duncan, Edinburgh, won the overall trophy at the annual Blair Atholl Highland Games, which was held in splendid weather. There was the usual gigantic entry (with a good few scratches) in the open light music, which was split over four heats, followed by a 12-piper final for both the MSR and the Hornpipe & Jig.

In many ways, there are two distinct eras in the history of Highland piping: BNPC and ANPC

The first Scottish Grade 1 contest of 2026 to see more than one actual Grade 1 band compete turned out to be the Dollar Pipe Band Competition held on the grounds of Dollar Academy, the private school with one of the most successful piping and drumming teaching programs in the world.

“The Australian Ladies” by Willie Fergusson is one of the most popular 2/4 marches in the piping repertory, and the inspiration for the great tune will be suitably commemorated with a world record attempt in July in Melbourne. The piece was named for the Australian Ladies Pipe Band’s 1925-27 world […]

In only its fourth year, the Dollar Pipe Band Competition has become a solid non-championship favourite, and the 2026 edition on Saturday, May 23rd, features more than 50 bands across all grades, including an eight-band Grade 1 medley competition. Five of the UK’s eight certified Grade 1 bands are entered, […]

“Keeping a pipe band running week to week is an expensive business, and we rely on fundraising and donations to pay for instruments, uniforms and travel.” Those are the never-truer words from Grade 4A Strathendrick bass drummer Paul May after Ayrshire-based wood pellet and briquette producer Land Energy contributed £1,000 […]

While some might dismiss the piece as pure schmalzt, its success in bringing the sound of the pipes to billions of ears is undeniable.

Greighlan Crossing was the overall Grade 3 winner in the top contested band event at the Victoria Highland Games, held in pristine weather on Canada’s Victoria Day Weekend in British Columbia’s capital city. Alastair Lee, Tommi McAndrew, and Harry Justice won the top overall awards in the Open solo piping, snare drumming, and tenor drumming categories.

Walter J. Cowan passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 15, 2026, in Annan, Scotland. Born in Annan on August 7, 1936, he became one of the most influential pipers, pipe-majors and senior light music judges of his generation, as well as a foundational figure in the piping traditions […]

The Saskatchewan Highland Gathering & Celtic Festival took place Friday and Saturday, with worrisome bouts of snow, rain and wind threatening in the days leading up to the event, and even Saturday early morning had snow on the ground in Regina. And yet, the day started cool and clear, and gradually turned to sunshine and moderate warmth, making for a great day of competition.

In the penultimate installment, the Ontario piping and drumming scene is changing rapidly. As the pressure to grow increases, more pipe bands look to mergers in order to prosper or even survive, including Elliott’s Grade 1 Toronto & District and Tom Anderson’s Peel Regional Police, and a short time after, Clan MacFarlane and the Toronto Police.

For the first time, two competitors from abroad will perform at the 2026 Captain John A. MacLellan MBE Memorial Dinner on August 29th at the black-tie event at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh. Derek Midgley of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and Craig Sutherland from Vancouver are on the bill with […]

Exclusively for subscribers, our reviewer discovers a unique blend of culture and community in the new production from the current edition of the world’s original youth pipe band project

Winning both events, Sean McKeown of Toronto was the clear winner of the 2026 Livingstone Invitational Solo Piping Competition held at the Officers’ Mess of the John Weir Foote Armoury.

Winning the Piobaireachd and placing in the MSR and Jig events, Colin MacNeill of Edinburgh was the overall winner of the 2026 Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Annual Solo Piping Competition at the RSPS Rooms at 127 Rose Street North Lane in Scotland’s capital city centre.