Archive

William “Bill” or “Wullie” Smillie was born in 1931 in Annbank, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was raised in Scotland with his nine siblings. At the age of 18, he joined the Royal Scottish Fusiliers as a soldier and piper. He had the honour of being the lone piper playing at the […]

The Grade 2 Peel Regional Police have revealed that the band will implement two thirds of its succession plan following the 2024 competition season, with Leading-Drummer Harvey Dawson and bass drummer Reagan Jones voluntarily stepping aside to allow their designated successors to take over. Cameron McKail will become the band’s […]

Jeremy White is the new leading-drummer of Grade 2 North Stratton of Edmonton, Alberta, taking over from Tim Boan, who had held the post for the last six years. It was Boan’s decision to step down, and he will stay with the band. “We would like to thank Tim Boan […]

Grade 2 Cascadia of Seattle has appointed Steven Wheeler as the band’s leading-drummer following the decision by Amber Stone to step down from the role after two years as the band’s first percussion section leader. Wheeler joins Cascadia after two years playing with Florida’s Grade 1 City of Dunedin. Before […]

The Grade 1 78th Fraser Highlanders have appointed the prolific composer Michael Grey as their new pipe-major, succeeding Doug MacRae, who recently announced his retirement after 13 years in the role. Also joining the band is double Gold Medallist and former Grade 1 Toronto Police pipe-major Ian K. MacDonald, who […]

I’ve spent 50 years now trying to figure out piping and drumming – the music and the culture. And both are fascinating, endless pursuits. The younger competing years seemed to have unlimited wonder and time, so much so that you didn’t have to ponder things much. I think back and […]

For a piper, winning the Springbank Invitational is about as precious as finding a bottle of the distillery’s coveted and rare product is for a malt whisky-lover. That said, one of eight pipers is certain to gain the title at the 2023 Springbank Invitational Solo Piping Competition on September 16th […]

It was a warm 28°C with mostly sunny skies for the Calgary Highland Games, held at the Calgary Rugby Union. A good crowd was on hand for the day, and the only glitch was the public address system was not working for massed bands, and members of the bands and public could not hear many of the results announced.

Results were mixed, with a different competitor winning every event at the annual Blairgowrie & Rattray Highland Games, which saw a strong turnout from solo pipers.

Hot on the heels of winning both the Clasp and the Silver Star MSR at the Northern Meeting, Callum Beaumont of Sat. Andrews, Scotland, had the most successful day of the 16 pipers who competed at the annual solo piping competitions on the grounds of the extraordinary Chatsworth House in the Derbyshire Dales. The event offers more than £3,500 in total prize money, making it one of the world’s most lucrative contests for those who do well. The weather was warm and bright. Beaumont received an additional £100 for being the overall champion.

Gareth McLees was the winner of the 2023 United Kingdom Solo Pipe Band Drumming Championships, held at Greystone Primary School. The contest was the final event to determine those who will compete in the semi-final of the World Solo Drumming Championships on October 21st in Glasgow.

In 2022, former pipe-major Kenny MacLeod stepped up to ensure that the Grade 2 Glasgow Skye Association could get back on the road, and the storied band was able to compete throughout the 2023 season. Now that the band is well reestablished, MacLeod has voluntarily given way to Donald Stewart, […]

Sources close to the competition have confirmed the 10 pipers who will receive a welcome to the 2023 Glenfiddich Invitational Solo Piping Championships at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Scotland, on Saturday, October 28th. The event will be the 50th anniversary of the world’s most prestigious invitational piping event, generally considered […]

The second day of the Northern Meeting returned again to Eden Court Theatre, and it was Callum Beaumont of St. Andrew’s, Scotland, who won the Clasp, the biggest prize of the event. Campell Wilson of New Zealand won the B-Grade MSR, assuring a move into A-Grade light music, while the A- and B-Grade Hornpipe & Jig competitions were won by Fred Morrison and Bradley Parker, respectively.

The Grade 2 Los Angeles Scots have made Scott Walsh the band’s leading-drummer after Steven Graham led the corps for the last two years. Walsh has been a member since 2017. Saying he’s looking forward to the challenge and keen to keep the momentum going, the Hawick, Scotland, native Walsh […]

The first day of the biggest solo piping competition in the world once again is at the Northern Meeting at Eden Court Theatre on the banks of the River Ness in the capital of the Highlands. Innes Smith of Bridge of Allan, Scotland, won the Highland Society of London Gold Medal, while Matt Pantaleoni became the second piper from St. Louis to win the Silver Medal. Later it was announced that Craig Sutherland of Perth, Scotland, won the A-Grade MSR. Smith can now compete in the Clasp and the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering, Pantaleoni gets a pass to compete in the 2024 Highland Society of London Gold Medal competitions at Inverness and Oban, and Sutherland qualifies to play in the Silver Star MSR at the Northern Meeting.