Archive
The Hilton Chanter, created by Australian virtuoso piper Lincoln Hilton, has been recognized for innovation, craftsmanship, and reimagining a traditional instrument in this year’s Good Design Awards.
It’s time to transform the culture of complaining. How about starting with association leaders sharing the truly rewarding aspects of their roles? Let’s hear why leaders want to be in the role, the personal gratification they get from serving, not why they wouldn’t wish it on their worst enemy.
The pioneers of digital pipe music scoring continue their discussion of technological development in piping and drumming and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the art.
Abby Long of Houston was the overall winner of the 2025 George Sherriff Memorial Amateur Invitational Solo Piping Competition, held once again at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. Unusually, three different pipers won each of the three events, with Long taking the Piobaireachd, Alex Pavolovic, also from Houston, winning the MSR, and Magnus Stone of Natick, Massachusetts, winning the 6/8 Marches event.
“Grading disputes discourage bands from competing internationally. That’s a loss for everyone. If we want to promote cross-border participation, we need a clearer, fairer path for bands to follow.”
When they turn the pages of Highland bagpipe history, there are sure to be breakthroughs such as the addition of a second tenor drone, the evolution of competitions; the MacCrimmons, Angus MacKay, G.S. McLennan, Willie Ross, Donald MacLeod and Gordon Duncan; and the impact of synthetic materials. But a deserved […]
Remember Daniel Laidlaw, 7th Bn, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Piped his company over the top during gas attack at Loos (1915); awarded VC. Remember James Cleland Richardson, 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, CEF. Played pipes over the top at Regina Trench (1916), inspiring men to victory, killed while retrieving pipes; awarded […]
Angus D. MacColl of Benderloch, Scotland, was the overall winner of the fourth annual Sun Belt Invitational Piping Competition (“An Crios Gréine”) held at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel. His first in the Piobaireachd and third in the Medley were enough to win the aggregate over runner-up Willie McCallum of Bearsden, Scotland.
“It’s an honour of the greatest degree. My piping heroes are all on that list. It’s a fabulous list of pipers, and even to be considered for it is one of the greatest honours of my lifetime, because I’ve learned so much from listening to and knowing many of them.”
“The recent Grade 1 dissolutions aren’t anomalies; they’re warnings.” Scott Armit calls for action now, unless we want to see further decline of competition bands around the world
The 2025 Scots Trad Music Awards will be presented on December 6th at a gala event at the Music Hall in Aberdeen, Scotland, and, while Highland pipe music touched every aspect, this year’s nominees include a solid representation of Highland pipers. The awards are organized by Hands Up for Trad and […]
Members of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association re-elected Liam Kernaghan and Peter Duncan to the RNZPBA’s management board as president and board member, respectively, both standing unopposed. Kernaghan was first elected in November 2024, succeeding Iain Blakeley, who had held the role for most of the 20 years […]
Gregor Burton of Kelowna, British Columbia, has won the 2025 pipes|drums Pick the Glenfiddich Five contest, sponsored by McCallum Bagpipes! “I’m beyond thrilled to have won the pipes|drums Glenfiddich Pick Five contest!” he said. “After many years of submitting my predictions, I’m chuffed to have finally managed to provide a […]
On the second day of competitions, the overall Champion Piper of the 2025 solo piping competition of the Scottish Pipers Society of London was Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland, who had the best aggregate over the Premier Grade events, and thus gained a repeat invitation to the 2026 Glenfiddich Championships next October, joining Bratach Gorm winner Finlay Johnston.
Finlay Johnston of Glasgow won the Bratach Gorm at the annual Scottish Piping Society of London’s solo competitions held at the Caledonian Club in the UK capital. It was his second consecutive Bratach Gorm victory.
We continue our conversation with 2025 World Solo Drumming Champion Kerr McQuillan and Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia piper Chris Coates and their analysis and insight into the Hornpipe & Jig performance – the duet, as they stress – that helped to gain the big prize in Glasgow on […]