Glenfiddich Whisky: Stuart McInnes, Glasgow

David Naill Practice Chanter: Romana Brunner, Austria

Scott’s Highland Services: Pipers’ Choice Deluxe Long Practice Chanter:
Michael Campbell, Glasgow
Caroline McCulloch, Oban
Neil Murray, Glasgow

Pipetech Coolbackpack: Matt Donaldson, Edinburgh

Pipers’ Choice Backpack Case: Mr. C. Houston, Dunoon

Alasdair MacDonald Bag Cover: Eric Stein, New York, USA

Jamies Italian £50 Voucher
Lisa Crampin, Glasgow
Muriel Shaw, Coalburn
John MacLeod Dunoon
Michael Kerr, Glasgow
Ian Williamson, Kinlochard

Fyne Ales Mini-Keg
R. Lawrie, Renfrew
Liz Ottley, Bolton

Piping Today Subscription
Debbie Neill, Carkluke
Jim Campbell, Glasgow

Piping Live! CD
Jack MacDonald, Glasgow
Niel Hastie, Edinburgh
Robyn MacKay, Renfrew
Gary Smith, Clydebank

We apologise for any confusion caused.

1. Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band

2. Strathclyde Police Pipe Band

3. Inveraray and District Pipe Band

4. 78th Fraser Highlanders

5.  St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band

6. Lothian and Borders Pipe Band

7. ScottishPower Pipe Band

8. Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band

These bands will play in a first half MSR and then second half medley, in this order.

Professor Hugh Cheape will formally place the chanter in the museum, shortly before his talk about The Pipers House – Angus and John MacKay of Raasay which will take place on Monday 8th August at 1.30pm at The National Piping Centre. This talk is free to attend.

Iain MacDonald of Saskatchewan wrote about the chanter:

“I first became aware of this chanter in 1981. At the time, I was living in Scotland, and taking weekly lessons with Pipe-Major Donald MacLeod, M.B.E. at his home in Cardonald. Donald had a spare bedroom on the second floor that was his teaching room, and among other things therein was a bookshelf that had volumes of pipe music, reed making tools, and other bits and pieces of pipes, chanters, etc.

When I asked about this chanter, Donald told me that a female descendant of Angus MacKay’s gave it to him following a recital in the north. She said it had been passed down in her family, and would be best cared for by a tradition bearer such as Donald.

At the time, we talked about the wear on the finger holes, and compared it to the wear on Donald’s practice chanter, which also showed significant wear on the holes, and a grooved marking where the birl finger curled back.

Donald MacLeod died suddenly in 1982, and I next visited Mrs. Winnie MacLeod in summer 1983. While there, she took me up to Donald’s room because she had questions about certain things of his, and also just to share the sense of his presence that had not left the room. One of the items about which she asked was the chanter, because she did not know what it was, but was certain there would be a story attached. When I told the story as related to me, Mrs. MacLeod insisted that I take the chanter as a memento of my time there with Donald, and because I had been the only one who seemed to know it’s story.

I did publish a photo of the chanter and a small article on the chanter in the British Columbia Pipers’ Association Newsletter in 1987/88 when I was editor, and I am trying to find a copy of that.”

The events were launched today by new 2011 ambassador – Harry Potter star Natalia Tena alongside some of the newest, brightest faces in traditional music. As well as acting, Natalia is the accordion player in gyp-step band Molotov Jukebox and she jammed in George Square today alongside piper Jonathan Graham, Chris Armstrong – Pipe Major of ScottishPower Pipe Band and fiddle player Tricia Mullan. Together these young musicians represent the diverse elements of these two world-class events and they urged all spectators to ‘Pick Up The Pipes’.
“People have such misperceptions of traditional music which, like any genre, can take many forms and be interpreted by different musicians and bands in many ways” says Natalia Tena: “I play accordion in my band Molotov Jukebox. Our roots firmly lie in traditional music, but our sound is anything but traditional. I would encourage anyone to pick up traditional instruments and have a go. It has been brilliant having a go at the pipes, I thought Harry Potter fight scenes were tough but the pipes really take it out of you!”
The World Pipe Band Championships or ‘The Worlds’ have been held in Glasgow for almost 70 years while Piping Live! is entering its 8th year and has established itself as one of the world’s top celebrations of Scottish culture showcasing a diverse blend of traditional music.
The 2011 Piping Live! festival programme will include concerts at the Royal Concert Hall and the Fruitmarket by the likes of Fred Morrison, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Anxo Lorenzo Trio. Throughout the event, George Square will once again be an ideal family day out as it stages free daily highlights including a special Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance. The National Piping Centre will offer recitals, workshops and the popular Family Fun Day.

Says Piping Live! Festival Director Roddy MacLeod: “Piping Live! hosts over 170 events across all forms of traditional music as well as the finest pipers and pipe bands from across the globe. We constantly challenge people’s perception of our national instrument and every year we have new fans coming to the festival surprised by the diversity of the music. This year we are also encouraging people to Pick up the Pipes themselves. We’ll be hosting special come and try sessions over the festival and you can look out for more special guests having a go themselves on our website”
The festival week will culminate with the incredible spectacle of The World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green on Saturday 13th August. Organised by Glasgow Life on behalf of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), the Worlds is considered the single most important date in the calendar for pipe bands and is attended by audiences of thousands of people from all over the world.

Ian Embelton of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association says “The Worlds are an iconic event and a must on any traditional music fan’s calendar. As well as being the pinnacle of competitions for the crème de la crème of pipe bands from as far and wide as Australia to Aberdeen, The Worlds is also an unmissable family day out. We have Highland Dancing, Highland Games, a massive kid’s zone and delicious local food and drink on offer.”
Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “The World Pipe Band Championships and Piping Live! draw thousands of people from across the UK and overseas to Glasgow to experience what is a truly spectacular week of superb traditional Scottish music and culture. In addition to attracting some of the world’s leading bands and pipers, both events can boast a strong local identity and provide great platforms for our home-grown pipers to showcase their talents on the global stage. Moreover, both events generate significant economic benefit for the city, as 2010 proved, and their continuing popularity reinforces the message that Glasgow in August is the visitor destination to experience world piping of the highest quality.”
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland added, “Together The World Pipe Band Championships and Piping Live! generate significant economic for Glasgow and Scotland.
International visitors get to experience world class traditional and contemporary piping through these two iconic events – and give them a taste of the vibrancy of Scotland’s cultural events calendar.”

Tickets for both events are available to purchase from:0141 353 8000
Full event information is available at www.seeglasgow.com/piping

So why not spend the afternoon in Kelvingrove park, then head along to the Islay Inn, just a short walk away for a night of great music with Piping Live! and Lorne MacDougall, one of Scotland’s leading young pipers and three time BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist.

Piping Live! was also commended in two other categories, Best Cultural Event and best Traditional Event.Over 300 of the country’s top event organisers attended the awards at Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel on Thursday night, where nominations were judged by a panel of experienced events industry professionals.

Alberto Laidlaw, Director of the National Piping Centre said: “We are delighted to have won Best Large Event and also to have been commended twice at such a prestigious awards ceremony.  2009 was a great year for Piping Live! and this year we saw it take another leap forward with a programme that was bigger than ever.”