Archive
“If they don’t understand flourishing, cannot perform flourishing, and are not experts at it, why do they think they have the qualifications to comment on it?”
Derek Midgley of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, won both events at the 2024 Pipe-Major Ian Swinton Open Professional Solo Piping Competition, held at the Park Ridge Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of Chicago. Seven competed in the event, considered by the Midwest Pipe Band Association to be its premier solo piping contest.
The annual R.U. Brown Solo Piping Competition saw Struan Thorpe of Melbourne win the Clasp for previous winners of the R.U. Brown Gold Medal, and James Murray of Perth, Australia, take this year’s Gold Medal at the events held at St. Aloysius College.
I love merging two passions into a publication that gets daily positive feedback from readers and, judging from its ever-increasing readership, is appreciated by thousands daily.
In the latest installment, we delve into the breakthrough years of the early 1980s, receiving instruction from Jimmy McIntosh, becoming the first American piper to win a Highland Society of London Gold Medal, and much more.
This is the fourth in our exclusive 10-part series showcasing never-heard-before piobaireachd recordings by Captain John A. MacLellan MBE, complete with a video introduction by his son, Colin R. MacLellan.
The Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association (SPBA) had its annual general meeting on Saturday, April 27th. Band representatives met in person in Regina, Saskatchewan, and were joined via Zoom from across the province, including Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and Swift Current. Delegates heard that band and solo registrations were on […]
St. Laurence O’Toole’s concert in Aberdeen on April 27, 2024, was titled “Inspired24,” and what an inspiration it was on many levels. Held at the Aberdeen Music Hall, which seats approximately 1,200 and appeared close to being a packed house, the show was hosted by the Bucksburn & District organization, who had very obviously done their part on the front end by promoting the show and selling tickets.
He’s created the Sun Belt Invitational, the Ardmore Cup, and the Metro Cup. Now, solo piping competition impresario Eric Stein is hoping to create a new event in continental Europe if he can garner enough interest and organizational support. Stein’s vision is for solo pipers of Open/Professional or “high-level amateur” […]
The College of Piping’s Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre was the venue for the annual Atlantic Canada Piobaireachd Challenge, and Bruce Gandy of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, won the big prize, while Alex Gandy, also of Dartmouth, took the MSR.
Keysborough, Victoria, Australia – April 28, 2024 – The first competition of the Victorian Pipers’ Association (VPA) solo season was held at Haileybury College where 37 competitors took part across all grades. Ian Lyons of Melbourne made a strong return to solo competition by winning the A-Grade Piobaireachd and Hornpipe […]
Described as “a resounding success, drawing aficionados and enthusiasts alike,” the Dundee, Scotland-based Mackenzie Caledonian organization staged its first in a series of sponsored recitals with solo piping legend Willie McCallum the top bill at the Woodlands Hotel in Broughty Ferry on April 26th. The concert to a full house […]
The British Drum Company burst onto the pipe band scene in 2018 by hiring 16-time World Solo Pipe Band Drumming Champion Jim Kilpatrick as a “Marching Specialist” and launching its Axial line of pipe band instruments. The Manchester, England-based company has now announced that it has stopped production of the […]
With the blessing and sponsorship of the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, a new Gordon Duncan Memorial Kitchen Piping Competition will be launched at the 28th annual Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival in Mount Vernon, Washington, on July 13th. Available to pipers competing at the Open/Professional, Grade 1, and […]
Piping and drumming firebrands Karen and Paul Warren are constantly looking at new ways to promote and build the arts in the Ayrshire region of Scotland. On April 22nd, “an incredible set of circumstances collided,” resulting in a one-of-a-kind workshop in Cumnock, with four pipers and drummers from the Royal […]
A peek inside the great Willie McCallum’s pipe case to see what items contribute to his success.