Archive
We’re always fascinated by what piques readers’ interest, and factors such as the date and time can affect statistics. Thanks mainly to pipes|drums sources providing tips and insights, and breaking the news is a clear benefit.
The final piping competition of the year is traditionally New Zealand’s more casual Northcote Invitational. This year, Piers Dover and Liam Kernaghan gained the first prizes, winning the double MSR and the Medley events, respectively, with Kernaghan the overall winner on Medley preference.
These are the stories that shine a light on topics and opinions, which aren’t “News,” per se, although sometimes simply bringing the issues to light can be considered newsworthy.
It’s a great time to take a look at the most-read articles of the year. We exclude the subscribers-only pieces, and, along with articles categorized as News and Features, we’ve decided this year to break out the Results reports as our first Top 10 list.
In 2025, we covered the triumphs, the challenges, the debates, and the breakthroughs that helped shape this art. Through your readership and viewership, your insights, and your passion, you’ve helped keep the conversation thoughtful, vibrant, and forward-looking. We hope your holidays are filled with good company and good cheer.
It’s uncanny to us that, even 150 years after his birth, unknown compositions by the great John “Jock” McLellan of Dunoon are still being discovered. This Christmas, we’re pleased to bring pipes|drums readers an exclusive gift: “Tarbert Castle,” a four-part 2/4 march by one of the greatest and most popular […]
It’s not Boxing Day yet, but we thought it was a good time to make a case to Finlay Johnston of Glasgow to share what he carries around with him as he continues to make his name as one of the world’s elite solo pipers. At age 40, Finlay Johnston […]
If you can play at least one complete piece of ceol mor, you’re eligible to attend the fourth annual Jimmy McIntosh MBE Piobaireachd Workshop, February 20-22, 2026, in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Piping Society and Carnegie Mellon University are partnering again to host the event at Carnegie Mellon’s Cohen University Center. […]
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has informed member band secretaries that the 2026 UK Pipe Band Championships will be held on Saturday, June 13th, at Grove Playing Fields, Belfast, bringing the RSPBA back to a full complement of five major championships. This year, the event was moved to Ingliston, […]
The 2026 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships, March 20-21, 2026, in Kōhanga Moa Inglewood, a town of fewer than 4,000 in the Taranaki Region of the country’s North Island, has an entry of 56 across all six grades of competitions, possibly making it the world’s largest non-UK pipe band contest. […]
A critique of Chris and Pat Terry’s exhaustive re-interpretation and correction of the historically crucial original work by Dr. Roderick Ross
The Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations was formed in 1998 to improve commonality among the continent’s then 10 piping and drumming competition-running organizations, but in recent years has seen activity dwindle. Prompted by the recent resignation of ANAPBA’s first and only chair after 27 years, Jeff Mann of […]
The Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) has determined the overall winners in each grade from “Live Online” events held in February, May and November 2025, and the results demonstrate just how global and ethnicity-agnostic the Highland pipes have become: Grade 1: Charles-David Mitchell (Canada) Grade 2: Mariko Arimoto […]
About 25 of the Solo Piping Judges Association‘s 45 members attended the organization‘s 2025 annual general meeting and seminar on November 16, held at the Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drumming in Edinburgh, with online access for those unable to attend in person. Bruce Hitchings, who was re-elected […]
The third and final part of our discussion concludes with ideas on how associations could help to make the transition successful or even possible. They all agree on one crucial issue.
Manawatu Scottish easily won their fifth consecutive Square Day Grade 1 title, taking the Medley, MSR, and best drumming. Canterbury Caledonian Society made a solid debut under new Pipe-Major Piers Dover, second overall and winning the Best Bass Section trophy.