Archive

A new mobile application that lets pipe band enthusiasts to rate and vote on their favourite performances as they occur has been . . .

Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia stopped Field Marshal Montgomery’s streak of seven consecutive major titles by winning the 2012 European Pipe Band Championship in weather mainly dry with showers and sunny spells. Shotts & Dykehead did not compete despite attending the event . . .

Following the results announcement at the 2012 European Championships, the following Grade 1 bands pre-qualified for the Final at the World Pipe Band Championships on August 11th . . .

Euan MacCrimmon of Inverness won the Lochaber Gold Axe (An Tuagh Oir) at the Lochaber Gathering, a long-running contest emerging again as one of the more important on the Scottish solo circuit . . .

Dowco-Triumph Street came as close as the band has ever come to beating Simon Fraser University, taking both firsts in piping, but ultimately losing on ensemble preference in the Saturday Grade 1 medley competition at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games . . .

Benoni MacTalla won the South African Pipe Band Championship, part of the Benoni Gathering, at Benoni High School, and also secured the Grade 2 Champion of Champions prize for the Pipe Band Association of South Africa . . .

Bill Livingstone gives the new AyrFire chanter from Ayrshire Bagpipes a thorough critique, and clues in pipes|drums subscribers to his take on the latest instrument for pipers, with an aggressive price-point.

For the price of ?29,800 ($47,366) Peter Anderson of Australia is now the proud owner of the pipes played by the great Donald MacPherson. Conveniently, the price includes the cost of shipping to Australia. The price is thought to be a record paid for a set of Highland pipes. The MacPherson pipes ¨C a set of R.G. Lawrie drones with ivory projecting mounts . . .

With Purpose is the new CD from the Grade 1 Dowco-Triumph Street Pipe Band of Vancouver, and pipes|drums readers can enjoy an exclusive preview-listen to four tracks from the album, courtesy . . .

Michael Elder and Alasdair Henderson took the first prizes at the Markinch Highland Games in Fife, Scotland, a contest that has had a reputation for hiring judges not normally associated with senior solo piping events. This year it was pipe band adjudicator Robert Shepherd who had the opportunity. About 20 contestants participated in very cold but dry conditions.

Simon Fraser University continued its decade-long winning streak on the Pacific Northwest circuit with a win of both events at the Bellingham Highland Games. Dowco-Triumph Street gained a first-place from one judge. Portland Metro surged in Grade 2 with a convincing win . . .

A strong finish at Glasgow Green is what every Grade 1 band hopes for, and that’s exactly what members and supporters of the Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia . . .

In what is likely a first for a recording by a top-shelf solo piper, Simon McKerrell has unveiled a collection of eight tracks available only as a download from iTunes either as individual . . .

Taking the cue from the success of the resurrected Eagle Pipers Society of Edinburgh, the venerable Scottish Pipers Association of Glasgow is restarting its “club night”. . .

On a mainly overcast but mostly dry day, the 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) took home the Grade 1 first prize at the Georgetown Highland Games, the first outdoor band event of the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario season. In Grade 2, the newly expanded Ottawa Police won. Ian K. MacDonald of Whitby, Ontario, was the Professional Piper of the Day, taking three of four firsts. At the closing ceremonies the games honoured, first, the Toronto Police Pipe Band, as it celebrates its 100th anniversary year, and paid tribute to the late Ron Rollo, with the 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) playing a special rendition of “Amazing Grace.” The late Darby MacCarroll was also acknowledged for his contribution to the games over the years . . .

Collette O’Connor was the overall winner at the tenth annual Cullen Feis Solo Piping Competition held on a glorious sunny day. All events were judged by Caitlin Houlihan and Dermot Jones . . .