Bagpipe Instruments and Concerts Sell Out As Global Interest Rises Article featuring news on the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and their 2 Million Dollar Recording Concert,  Red Hot Chilli Pipers Concerts, and demand for increased bagpipes from makers Kilberry Bagpipes See Full Story and Video on ABC NEWS. 

Piping Live! 2008 will take place at George Square, The National Piping Centre and many other venues around the city between 11th-17th August 2008. But if you cant wait til then for all the fun and piping excitement, go to www.pipingfestival.co.uk to look at the new Gallery section for all the photos from the last two year’s events. If you go to the home page, click on “The Festival” tab and then go to the gallery link you will be able to choose from 2006 or 2007 and remember all the fun of the festival. Also we have a few events listed, but keep checking for announcements about artists and a great NEW VENUE for the After Worlds  Shindig on Saturday 15th August!
There will be a fun new look to the website, more great events than ever before and the same amazing quality of artists all throughout the week!  

We have some very exciting news about a series of Recitals we  have planned for the Spring of 2008 here at The National Piping Centre. First up on Thursday 6th March are Fred Morrison and Finlay MacDonald. On Thursday 17th April a Field Marshall Montgomery Quartet will be playing, with solo performances and Quartet recitals included in the evening. Then on Thursday 1st May we have recitals by John Wilson and Allan MacDonald. Lastly on the 22nd May we have lined up Angus MacColl and the 2007 Glenfiddich Champion Gordon Walker to complete a great recital series. These events all start at 7.30 pm Tickets are £8 adults and £6 concessions and are available from The National Piping Centre reception in person, or by calling 0141 353 0220   or email info@thepipingcentre.co.uk

The National Piping Centre’s annual junior competition was held on Saturday 9th February. The day was a great success with many great performances being heard by the judges.The Overall winners were:

• Junior Champion – Jonathan Graham
• Novice Champion – Andrew McPhee
• Chanter Champion – Donnie McKerral 

The Winners of the Pipe Major Angus MacDonald Scholarship were: Andrew McPhee and Laura McMillan National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland scholarships were awarded to: Stephanie Brodie, David Anderson and Alexander Scougall We would like to thank all the competitors for taking part, the parents and tutors who make the day possible, as well as all the judges and stewards for their hard work. We look forward to seeing you all again next year! For full results go to www.thepipingcentre.co.uk and see the news article listed on the homepage.

San Diego State University, San Diego, California

20th – 27th June 2008  

The California Summer School of Piping offers intensive instruction by seven Scottish and American expert piping teachers in the playing and maintenance of the Great Highland Bagpipe. The school is open to all ages and to pipers of all levels of skill from raw beginners to competition players. Each student is placed in a class of 8 to 10 students within their level of experience and skill. Emphasis is placed on marches, strathspeys, airs, reels, jigs and hornpipes. Optional classes are offered in the afternoon, such as piobaireachd, reedmaking, pipe band techniques, and bagpipe maintenance. Nightly lectures and recitals are offered by the instructors demonstrating prize-winning piping and presenting some interesting history about bagpipes and piping.To register for the school click here. 

The Flint Scottish Pipe Band will host it’s 92nd annual Ceilidh Feb. 16, 2008.   As in years past guests will be entertained by the music and dance so identified with our Highland Heritage Entertainment will be provided by the Lakes Area School of Highland Dance, Hienzman School of Irish Dance,the Celtic band Equinox, the Grand Rapids & District Pipe Band as well as The Flint Scottish Pipe Band.  The Ceilidh is held at the Knights Of Columbus Hall in Davison MI.  All of your favorite Scottish foods and drinks will be available for purchase.  
Join us in celebrating our wonderful traditions! Ticket information is available on our website  www.flintscottishpipeband.orgor by emailing  Lfisch3134@comcast.net 

The National Piping Centre, in association with the Monterey Celtic Arts Academy, to present the 4th annual Monterey bay School of Piping and Drumming in Pebble Beach prior to the 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival

A very special event-filled “2nd Annual Monterey County Celtic Week” will be held the week of June 28, 2008 through July 6, 2008, including the 4th Annual Monterey Bay Piping and Drumming School and the 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival.

This exciting week will begin with the 4th Annual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming will begin, to be held from Saturday, June 28th to Thursday, July 3rd, at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California. On Sunday, June 29th, there will be the annual popular Caber Parade featuring Scottish dancers, bagpipers and drummers on Sunday, at 1 p.m. in Devendorf Park in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea along Ocean Avenue.

The award-winning Monterey Bay Pipe Band will perform at the Caber Parade and also during the 4th of July Parade in downtown Monterey. Also during the school, on Tuesday, July 1st, there will be a Pub Night at the Mucky Duck Restaurant & Pub in Monterey, with informal performances by the piping and drumming instructors. On Wednesday, July 2nd, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., there will be a very special Celtic Concert at the Stevenson School Auditorium, featuring world class bagpipe instructors from Scotland and the United States, dancers from the Allison Barnes Academy of Irish Dance, and other Celtic performers.

The 2nd Annual Monterey County Celtic Week will culminate in the not-to-be-missed 41st Annual Monterey Scottish Games and Celtic Festival at pastoral Monterey County Toro Park located between Monterey and Salinas on Highway 68, on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, 2008. This very popular Celtic celebration brings the music, dance and athletic events of the mystical lands of Scotland and Ireland to Monterey County. Featuring fun activities for the whole family, the 41st Annual Scottish Games & Celtic Festival will offer a variety of live Celtic entertainment with massed pipe bands on parade, including California pipe bands and the award-winning Delta Police Pipe Band from British Columbia, Canada, and Highland and Irish dancers. The Games will feature exciting Scottish heavy athletic competition events, including the famous Caber Toss. Great entertainment will be provided by professional Celtic Bands. Exciting colorful activities will include pipe band competitions, Drum Major competitions, Highland Dancing, Irish Step Dancing, Sheepdog herding, Clan and Celtic Association Tents. Stroll through the Avenue of Clans, visit one of the Clan tents and trace your ancestry. There will be lots of fun special events planned for the wee ones at the Children’s Games, too. Over 50 vendors offering tasty British food and drink and unique Scottish and Irish crafts, jewelry, clothing, and music will be enjoyed by all. Sunday’s Games will also include a special Concert on our main stage. Festival proceeds will benefit many local non-profit organizations. For more details, check out the website: http://www.montereyscotgames.com.

Due to its success and popularity the last few years, the internationally renowned National Piping Centre, based in Glasgow, Scotland, in association with Monterey Celtic Arts Academy (MCAA) is returning to the Monterey Peninsula to again present, The 4th Annual Monterey Bay School of Piping and Drumming at beautiful Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. This Piping & Drumming School attracts novice and advanced bagpipers and Scottish drummers from around the United States. This outstanding school will be held from Saturday, June 28, 2008 to Thursday, July, 3, 2008, and will again feature some of the world’s finest piping and drumming instructors.

Internationally renowned bagpipers and teachers at the school will include the award-winning Roddy MacLeod, MBE (Executive Director of the National Piping Centre since 1996) and an outstanding team of piping and drumming instructors. For more information, check out http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk or email Roddy MacLeod at reception@thepipingcentre.co.uk, call Michel d’Avenas at (831) 372-2020 or email bagpipe11@comcast.net.

Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at Cliffbreaker’s – Grand Ballroom. 

The evening will include: a Silent Auction, Dinner and Dancing with a special performance by the City of Rockford Pipe Band and its Highland Dancers.  For more information please visit  www.cityofrockfordpipeband.com

The City of Chicago Pipe Band would like to invite the MWPBA to a Tartan Day concert April 5th, 2008.

The event will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 924 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois and begins at 7:30 p.m. The City of Chicago Pipe Band is committed to teaching Chicagoland youth for Free and will be showcasing its talented young members at the concert. This will also mark the debut performance of the new City of Chicago Grade IV band.

Tickets are available for $10 and may be guaranteed by e-mailing  cocpipeband@gmail.com and will also be available at the door.  The band is hosting a ceilidh immediately following the concert at Molly Malone’s,  7652 Madison Sreet, Forest Park, Illinois, 1 1/2 miles from Grace Episcopal Church. The $500 raffle winners will be announced at the ceilidh. Raffle tickets are available for $5 or 6 tickets for $25 and can be purchased by e-mailing  cocpipeband@gmail.com.

For any additional information, please phone (773) 875-6812 or visit  www.chicagopipeband.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

April 26th @ 7pm-11pm

St. Odilo Church, 2244 East Avenue, Berwyn, IL 60402.

A Wonderful Evening full of Celtic Music, Dancing, Food and Drinks!
For more information please contact Adrian Melvin at(630)841-4073  E-mail: Adrianmelvin@sbcglobal.net  Please visit the Band’s Website at  www.midlothianpipeband.com