Archive
Wins in the 2/4 March and Jig and solid prizes in the other events gained Callum Wynd of Stirling, Scotland, the overall trophy at the annual Birnam Highland Games. Twenty-two competed in warm and sunny conditions . . . until about 3 pm, when constant rain came down on the Piobaireachd event to its conclusion.
Cameron MacDougall of South Orange, New Jersey, late of Nigg, Scotland, won the Lochaber Gold Axe at the annual Lochaber Gathering, events held at locations within the West Highland town. Sandy Cameron of Roy Bridge, Scotland; Sandy Cameron, Lesmahgow, Scotland; and Calum Brown, Aberdeen, did well overall through the top events.
The morning started wet for the traditional march to Mossfield Park led by 2025 Oban Gold Medallist Steven Leask, as is the tradition. Conditions cleared for the all-outdoor light music competitions.
It was Steven Leask of East Kilbride, Scotland’s big day, writing his name into the history books by winning the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering. Leask gained the prize against 24 other pipers and gets an invitation to the 2025 Glenfiddich Championships, which will be his first time playing in the event.
After a record number of entries from all over the world were reviewed, Mark Christy from Camrose, Alberta, Canada, emerged the winner of the pipes|drums 2025 Pick The Six contest! Mark got the Grade 1 World’s prize list spot on to be part of a draw with the entry from […]
We speak with Neill Mulvie about the Highland Society of London and its sponsorship of Highland piping events since 1781.
We continue with Part 2 of our panel discussion on potential applications of artificial intelligence in competitive piping and drumming. AI might be used more in our world than we realize, and we can expect much more in the near and far future. We can’t say whether it will be […]
Winning two firsts and a second in the three senior solo piping events on offer, Zephan Knichel of Lynwood, Washington, successfully kept possession of the overall trophy at the annual Glenisla Highland Games, which he won in 2024. Nine competed in a mix of sun and clouds throughout the dry day.
The post-World’s transfer season started about a minute after the final results were announced at Glasgow Green, and Grade 1 Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia got things started officially with the appointment of 29-year-old Bradley Parker as pipe-sergeant. Parker becomes the first appointed pipe-sergeant for the band under Pipe-Major […]
The Argyllshire Gathering on Wednesday, August 27th, and Thursday, August 28th, marks the traditional turning point of the piping and drumming year in the northern hemisphere, ushering in a series of big solo competitions that last until May. “Oban,” as competitors casually refer to the event, is the sister event […]
Competing pipe bands and their members put in hundreds of hours of practice and pay thousands for the pure joy of making the best music they can with their friends. The endorphin-inducing thrill of competing, the adrenaline rush of satisfaction after an excellent performance, and the strange relief when it’s […]
According to organizers, the 2025 Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival attracted more than 30,000 Celtic music-lovers in Scotland’s biggest city, shattering previous records. Hinging or dependent on the participation of more than 200 pipe bands in the World Championships, about half of which are from outside of Scotland, Piping […]
In the aftermath of the all-consuming World Pipe Band Championships, a group of die-hard solo piping competitors turned out for the Crieff Highland Games, where Sean McKeown of Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, won the Piobaireachd and was third in the MSR to win the overall trophy.
Glasgow – August 15-16, 2025 – After two days of exhausting competition, Inveraray & District won the 2025 World Pipe Band Championship at Glasgow Green, successfully defending their titles. The events were held in exceptional weather that helped attract the largest crowds seen since before the pandemic. Inveraray won all […]
George Watson’s College of Edinburgh successfully defended their title by winning the Juvenile World Championship at Glasgow Green on the first day of the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships in what the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and sponsors Glasgow Life branded a “Youth Championship” day. Watson’s also won the drumming.
The first day of the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships enjoyed immaculate weather to go with many near-flawless Grade 1 performances before a large crowd at Glasgow Green. Fourteen of the globe’s best bands competed in Medley and MSR events. Each contestant could choose which of their two selections they’d […]