Archive
As one of the pipe band world’s oldest franchises, the Lothian & Borders Police have more than a century of tradition to look back upon . . .
The Grade 2 Penetangore Pipe Band of Kincardine, Ontario, has appointed Jamie Connolly as its new pipe-major after the previous leader emigrated from Canada to settle in Europe. Connolly has a long history of leadership experience in the top grades. He was previously pipe-major of the Toronto . . .
Call it Grey marketing. Michael Grey, one of the piping world’s most prolific composers, has made his 68-page fifth collection, Music for Everyone, available to all for free . . .
For pipers and drummers in the northern hemisphere it’s a long winter of band and personal practice, and you might be lucky enough to have the odd Celtic Connections or Winter Storm gathering. pipes|drums wanted to ensure the fires are burning, so we bring you video excerpts from our Pipes+Drums event at Piping Live! last August. Here you can enjoy the performances of Pipe-Major Chris Armstrong and Leading-Drummer Barry Wilson of ScottishPower, and Pipe-Major Stewart McKenzie and Leading-Drummer Graeme Parker of Manawatu Scottish. Both duos are playing at the top of their game . . .
Despite the potential of a full tuition scholarship worth upwards of $30,000 annually in tuition fees, Monmouth College reports that inquiries from pipers and drummers have been few . . .
Alastair Dunn was the big winner at the annual Irish Piobaireachd Society competitions, and event sponsored by the Wexford County Council and R.G. Hardie. All events were judged by Tom Speirs . . .
It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of David “Davie” Hutton on January 31, 2012, following a battle with cancer. Davie was a prominent figure in both the solo piping and pipe band worlds and was known by all of the top players and […]
The general public’s interest in pipe band competitive drama continues with BBC2 Northern Ireland’s broadcast of “Pipe Dreamers,” . . .
Duncan MacRae of London, Ontario, was elected to a two-year term as President of the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario by . . .
We all know that competition drive and musical inventiveness are keys to the success of most pipe bands. But what about behind the scenes? How should a great pipe band operate to make ends meet, to subsidize travel, to create a great brand unto itself? On a question to provide pipes|drums subscribers with answers and useful information, we have approached several of the world’s best band managers for their tips and secrets. We start our series with Rob MacNeil, manager, special projects with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, who reveals techniques and shares advice on extending the value of the pipe band brand to raise funds, be an essential part of the community and plan for the future.
After canvassing its members, the Competing Pipers Association has decided to discontinue the two-year-old system whereby pipers could compete for spots in the Silver . . .
The Gaelic language BBC Alba television network in the UK will run three special programs in December on the Piping Live! Glasgow . . .
Manawatu Scottish regained the Square Day Championship, the second biggest pipe band event after from the New Zealand Championship. It was the tenth time in 11 years that Manawatu won the event, and 2010 winners, Aukland . . .
Following the success of the 2011 Pipes of Peace Concert in Glasgow, the promoters will again bring the event to the Scottish Exhibition and Concert Centre, this time with 2011 . . .
Nova Scotia’s Gaelic College of Celtic Arts, one of the world’s first organizations outside of Scotland to offer formal teaching in piping and drumming ¨C and the probably originators . . .
One of the world’s most storied pipe bands, Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia, is marking its fortieth anniversary year in 2012 with the introduction of a new brand identity . . .