Archive
About 100 bands over all grades competed at the European Championships at Duthie Park, and ultimately it was Inveraray & District that came out on top, winning the Grade 1 MSR competition. It was the first time a new MSR format required submitting only one set of tunes, each piece no more than four parts. The rationale for the format change was apparently to help prop up the many classic shorter tunes that had often fallen out of favour in the top grade for six- and eight-part compositions.
According to public statements by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, long-established New Zealand Grade 1 bands Auckland & District and Manawatu Scottish have had their grading status “approved,” allowing them to compete in the top grade at the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships. Each band was reportedly surprised and […]
For the first time since 2019, when the pandemic shut down just about everything in piping and drumming, the popular Drumming for Drinks almost-anything-goes performance competition will return during World’s Week in Glasgow on August 16th. For the first time in its history, the event will move from the Lord […]
Exclusively for subscribers, in this installment we get into issues of conflict of interest and bias, real or perceived, in solo piping and pipe bands, including teachers judging pupils and even the Masonic tradition in the UK having a possible influence on the competitive art.
Seattle’s Cascadia Pipe Band won both Grade 2 events, Alastair Lee and Blair Brown took the aggregate Open piping and snare drumming awards, respectively, and Cameron Bonar won all three Grade 1 amateur piping events at the annual BC Highland Games – “ScotFest” – at Centre Park. A total of 16 bands and 127 solo pipers and drummers competed.
Two weeks ago, Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia, with new Leading-Drummer Kerr McQuillan, won the UK Championship at Lurgan, Northern Ireland, and Field Marshal Montgomery took the drumming prize under their new Leading-Drummer Gareth McLees. On June 24th, Inveraray & District will defend its 2022 title at the second […]
Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia and Inveraray & District each won one of the two Grade 1 events at the Edinburgh Highland Games, and it was Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia that once again won the drumming twice under new Leading-Drummer Kerr McQuillan.
Lochore, Scotland – June 17, 2023 – With straight firsts, Police Scotland Fife gained the win at the Lochore Highland Games in Fife against Johnstone, the only other Grade 1 band in the event. City of Discovery also enjoyed straight firsts from the judges as the only officially graded Grade […]
St. Thomas Alumni of Houston were the winners of both the Grade 1 Medley and MSR events at the Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games, which attracted a large crowd on a sunny 80°F day. It was the first year that the games, which had the largest band entry in North America in 2022, held a Grade 1 competition. Similarly, Ulster Scottish of Philadelphia won both Grade 2 events, and New Jersey’s St. Columcille United Gaelic took each of the Grade 3 contests.
On Father’s Day 2023, the renowned piper Willie McCallum shares a few thoughts on his beloved late dad, Willie McCallum Sr., the most influential person and friend in his life.
Cobourg, Ontario – June 17, 2023 – The Grade 2 Peel Regional Police Pipe Band were the winners of the top pipe band grade at the annual Cobourg Highland Games, held on the sunny shores of Lake Ontario and white cloud sunshine and temperatures in the low 20s. Due to […]
We’re pleased to launch “From Aboyne to Zorra,” a new series of features by Jeannie Campbell, MBE that takes a look back at historical Highland games and gatherings from around the world. These are fascinating pieces that revisit piping and drumming competitions of the past in the United States, Canada and, of course, Scotland, bringing back into to light the competitors and organizers that helped shape what we do today.
The founder and first pipe-major of the legendary Deeside Ladies Pipe Band, Lillian Nicolson (nee Keith) played a massive role in enabling women pipers and drummers to make their mark in pipe band competition, while simultaneously taking her own deserved place in the history books.
The latest contribution to our massive library. “Cragich” means “rocky” or “stony,” and the word is usually interpreted to mean that a tune is irregular in construction.
Newark, Delaware – December 10, 2023 – While many pipers were competing in Northern Ireland, Ontario and British Columbia, Bruce Gandy of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and 24 others were busy at the 2023 United States Amateur and Professional Piping Championships at the Amy DuPont Music Building at the University of […]
Georgetown, Ontario – June 10, 2023 – The first outdoor competition of the Ontario season was held, as usual, at the Georgetown Highland Games in sunny and comfortable weather. The 78th Fraser Highlanders won Grade 1, with only the Grade 2 Peel Regional Police challenging by “playing up” a grade. […]