McCallum Victorian Solo Piping Championships
- At September 28, 2011
- By Scott
- In Bagpipes, Chanters, News, Solo Chanter
- 0
The 8th Annual McCallum Victorian Solo Piping Championships was promoted by the Moorabbin City Pipe Band and held at the Essex Heights Primary School in the eastern suburbs of Melbourneon Sunday 11th September.
The day was successful with over 50 entries over 6 Grades of Light Music and 3 Grades of Piobaireachd.
The McCallum Victorian Solo Championships also encompasses the Victorian Pipers Association Gold Medal for Piobaireachd which was won this year by David MacDonald of Melbourne.
Alasdair Thom, fromScotland, won the Silver Medal.
The overall A Grade Light Music was won by R J Houston and the overall B Grade Light Music by Christine Poulter.
The McCallum Prize Bagpipes are awarded each year to a supportive and up and coming young piper as an encouragement award.
All the pipes have been won by pipers over the eight years who have gone on to play at A or B Grade level and also play in Grade 1 & 2 pipe bands, 3 of which have played at the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 1 with bands such as Dowco Triumph Street, Peel Police and the Band Club.
This year the McCallum Prize Bagpipe was awarded to Ellen McAnulty (pictured below).
Full results and the Victorian Pipers Association can be found at www.vicpipers.org
Double Silver Medal Win
- At September 28, 2011
- By Scott
- In Bagpipes, Chanters, News, Solo Chanter
- 0
Gordon Bruce, pictured below, became only the 3rd person in history to win the double silver medal at the Argyllshire Gathering (Oban) and Northern Meeting (Inverness).
Gordon is originally from Arbroath and now stays in Kilwinning.
He graduated in 2007 with a 1st Class Honours Degree from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama’s BA Scottish Music – Piping Degree, becoming the first piper to graduate from the Piping Degree with 1st class Honours.
Gordon is the Bagpipe instructor at West Lothian Council, and PM of the West Lothian Schools Pipe Band, who have now begun to compete this year, Gordon having built the band up from scratch.
Previous bands Gordon played with are:- Arbroath RBL, Gordon Walker’s 52nd Lowland Regiment and Scottish Power.
Gordon currently receives tuition from Anne Johnston. Anne is a previous winner of the Silver Medal at the Northern Meeting, and just to complete the family picture, Ann’s son Finlay is also a previous winner of the same medal.
The tunes played by Gordon this year were ‘The Gen is Mine’ (Oban) and ‘The Battle of Auldearn (No1 Setting)’ (Inverness).
As well as winning both Silver medals also achieved the overall for the B grade events at the Northern Meeting.
Gordon won all these events playing a McCallum Solo Chanter (McC²) which he has used for a number of years.
We wish Gordon all the best for the Gold Medal competitions next year, although he will be a very busy man as he gets married next summer.
Argyllshire Gathering Gold Medal
- At September 21, 2011
- By Scott
- In Bagpipes, Chanters, News, Solo Chanter
- 0
At the Argyllshire Gathering, on 24th August, 2011, the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal was won by Callum Beaumont, from Bo’ness, playing the tune ‘Keppoch’s March’. He becomes the latest piper to be added to the illustrious list of players to have won this award dating back to 1873.
Callum was originally taught by Bert Smith and Tom Speirs and currently takes tuition from Willie McCallum. Callum is an instructor at the National Piping Centre and plays with Inveraray and District Pipe Band. He has previously won the World Pipe Band Championship with Shotts and Dykehead and Simon Fraser University Pipe Bands.
Callum is the latest in a number of prominent pipers who have recently won major prizes playing McCallum products. In Callum’s case, he plays a silver mounted set of McCallums and McC² solo chanter. Our hearty congratulations go to Callum and wish him every success in the future.
The picture below shows a happy Callum displaying his Gold Medal and McCallum Bagpipes.
Northern Meeting Gold Medal
- At September 13, 2011
- By Scott
- In Chanters, Solo Chanter
- 0
At the Northern Meeting, on 1st September 2011, the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal was won by Niall Stewart, Kyle of Lochalsh, playing the tune Tulloch Ard (the MacKenzie’s Gathering). In doing so, he becomes the latest piper to have the distinction of becoming a double Gold medallist. Niall is the latest in a number of prominent pipers who have recently won major prizes playing McCallum products, in this case the McC² solo chanter. Our hearty congratulations go to Niall.
Niall is originally from Alness where he was taught by the legendary Pipe Major John D Burgess. Now living in Kyle, he receives lessons from Iain MacFadyen. Currently Niall is the Schools Piping Instructor for South Skye and Lochalsh. He won the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 2008.
The picture below shows a happy Niall displaying his Gold Medal.
“Fired Up”
- At September 09, 2011
- By Scott
- In Bagpipes, News
- 0
“Fired Up” Presents Live in Concert ReIgnited.
For more information visit www.bucksburnpipeband.com or call 01224 312979.