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29th-30th August 2024: The Northern Meeting Piping Competitions, Inverness
Results of the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal, 2024:
1. Craig Sutherland, MacDougall’s Gathering
2. Derek Midgley, Battle of Sherrifmuir
3. William Rowe, Clanranald’s Salute
4. Cameron Drummond, Glen is Mine
5. Sean McKeown, Nameless, Hiharin odin
Judges: Alan Forbes, Ian Duncan and Murray Henderson
Craig Sutherland (photo credit: Bagpipe News)
23rd-24th August 2024: The Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competitions, Oban
The winners and runners-up of the competitions supported by the Highland Society of London at the Argyllshire Gathering piping competitions were as follows:
Highland Society of London Gold Medal:
1st: Cameron Drummond – Black Donald’s March
2nd: Nick Hudson – Nameless, hiharin odin, hiharin dro
3rd: Derek Midgley – Nameless, hiharin odin, higarin dro
4th: Brendan Eade – Glen is Mine
5th: Andrew Donlon – Farewell to the Laird of Islay
Judges: B Hitchings, R McShannon, W Morrison
MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd (For pipers aged 22 and under)
1st: Kyle Cameron – MacNeill of Barra’s March
2nd: Cameron Bonar – Lament for Donald of Laggan
3rd: Fraser Hamilton – Red Speckled Bull
4th: Liam Nicolson – Queen Elizabeth II’s Salute
6th-7th August 2024: Isle of Skye Highland Games Piping Competitions
The winner of the Highland Society of London’s award for Champion Piper at the Isle of Skye Highland Games 2024 was won by Derek Midgley, New Jersey. The winners and runners-up of the individual competitions held over the two days were as listed below.
10th March 2024: Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, Kilmarnock
The 2024 Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships took place on Sunday 10 March at the William McIlvanney Campus in Kilmarnock, with the support of the Highland Society of London, providing a day of competition and camaraderie, and a showcase for Scotland’s talented young musicians.
The Championships are independently organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), who believe every school pupil should have the chance to learn the pipes and drums on the same basis as other school instrument tuition. If you can learn the trumpet or violin in school, why not pipes and drums? The Championships aim to put that right by showing the power of piping and the force for good it can be.
The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships is a showcase of the talent of young musicians designed to promote the playing of Scotland’s national instruments. Competition grades and categories provide a forum for top level competition, in addition to a positive and encouraging environment for school pipe bands with minimal or no competing experience.
It’s not just about traditional pipe band formats either. The innovative Freestyle category sees school pipe bands joining forces with other instrumentalists. There’s no other competition like it in the pipe band world – check out some of the performances on https://thechampionships.org.uk/about-us/. Freestyle shows the versatility of the pipes, skill of players and imagination of school music departments weaving together memorable performances.
Photo credit: Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust
2024 Winners
Eilidh McLeod Endeavour Award
Lead Winner: Dumfries and Galloway Schools Pipe Band
Co- winners: Tobermory High School
Tynecastle Youth Community Pipe Band
Quartets
1st – St Ninian’s High School
2nd – East Dunbartonshire Schools
3rd – Ardrossan Academy
4th – Lochgilphead Joint Campus
5th – Govan Schools and Community
Junior A
1st – Fettes College
2nd – Morrison’s Academy
Junior B
1st – The High School of Glasgow
2nd – Fettes College
3rd – Gordonstoun School
4th – The Edinburgh Academy ‘B’
Junior C
1st – The Glasgow Academy
2nd – Dumfries and Galloway Schools Pipe Band
3rd – Tobermory High School
4th – James Gillespie’s High School
Freestyle Musicianship
1st – Renfrewshire Schools ‘A’
2nd – West Lothian Schools
3rd – Sgoil Bhágh a’Chaisteil
4th – Renfrewshire Schools ‘B’
5th – Sgoil Lionacleit
Juvenile
1st – Dollar Academy
2nd – George Watson’s College
3rd – George Heriot’s School
Novice Juvenile A
1st – George Watson’s College
2nd – Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band ‘A’
3rd – Dollar Academy
Novice Juvenile B
1st – George Watson’s College
2nd – Strathallan School
3rd – Dollar Academy
4th – Skye Youth Pipe Band
5th – Isle of Arran Music School
Photo credit: Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust
23rd-24th August 2023: Argyllshire Gathering Piping Competitions, Oban
Argyllshire Gathering piping results:
Highland Society of London Gold Medal
1st: Alasdair Henderson – The Menzies’ Salute
2nd: Sarah Muir – Sobieski’s Salute
3rd: Darach Urquhart – Sobieski’s Salute
4th: Calum Watson – Rout of the Lowland Captain
5th: Cameron Drummond – Rout of the Lowland Captain
Judges: Bill Livingstone, John Wilson and Robert Barnes
Photo: Alasdair Henderson (front row, first from left) and Alistair Bevan (front row, third from left)
Photo credit: Argyllshire Gathering Piping Trust
MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd (for pipers 22 years old and younger, also supported by the Highland Society of London)
1st: Alistair Bevan
2nd: Callum Bevan
3rd: Gregor MacDonald
4th: Gillian Blaney
Judges: Patricia Henderson, Bruce Hitchings, Derek Fraser and Michael Grey