The Glenfiddich Piping and Fiddle Championships are musical competitions for the
bagpipes
Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, No ...
and
fiddle
A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...
. Both competitions take place annually in late autumn, at the ballroom of
Blair Castle
Blair Castle (in Scottish Gaelic: Caisteil Bhlàir) stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire in Scotland. It is the ancestral home of the Clan Murray, and was historically the seat of their chief, the Duke of Atholl, ...
at
Blair Atholl in
Perthshire
Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...
,
Scotland.
Entry to each championship is by invitation only, to those who have won various recognised major UK solo competitions held throughout the year.
The Glenfiddich Piping Championship
The Glenfiddich Piping Championship was established in 1974 to inspire and stimulate individual pipers, and to seek the best overall exponents of the Ceòl Mór or
piobaireachd (the great music) and
Ceòl Beag (the little music).
The championship was founded and continues to be run by
William Grant & Sons.,
distillers of
Glenfiddich and other whiskies.
Ten of the leading pipers in the world, all of whom will have won important awards since the previous October, are invited. Each of them submits a list of six piobaireachd, and is required to play one of them. They also submit lists of six
marches,
strathspeys
A strathspey () is a type of dance tune in time, featuring dotted rhythms (both long-short and short-long "Scotch snaps"), which in traditional playing are generally somewhat exaggerated rhythmically. Examples of strathspeys are the songs "The ...
and
reels, and play one of each, twice through.
There are prizes in each discipline, and an overall championship prize.
2012 Championship
The Glenfiddich Piping Championship 2012 was won by Iain Speirs of
Edinburgh.
Other 2012 finalists included returning champion
Roddy MacLeod M.B.E. of
Glasgow, Callum Beaumont of
Bo'ness, Murray Henderson from
Kirriemuir, Finlay Johnston from
Glasgow, William McCallum from
Bearsden
Bearsden () is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow. Approximately from Glasgow city centre, Glasgow City Centre, the town is effectively a suburb, and its housing development coincided with t ...
, Stuart Liddell of
Inveraray, Euan MacCrimmon of
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...
, Gordon Walker of
Ayr and Canadian-based piper Jack Lee from Surrey, a suburb of
Vancouver.
Previous championships
Previous Glenfiddich Piping Championship Winners from the last 49 years:
*2022
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Bearsden - 9th Win, Willie McCallum sets record 11th MSR win
*2021
Jack Lee, Canada - 3rd Win, Willie McCallum 10th MSR win
*2020
Stuart Liddell
Stuart Liddell MBE (born 12 January 1973) is a Scottish bagpipe player. As well as competing in solo competitions, he is the Pipe major of the Inveraray and District Pipe Band.
Early life
He was born in Oban on 12 January 1973 and spent his ear ...
, Inveraray- 3rd Win, Willie McCallum 9th MSR win
*2019 Finlay Johnston - 2nd Win
*2018 Finlay Johnston
*2017
Jack Lee, Canada - 2nd Win
*2016
Roddy MacLeod, Glasgow - 5th Win, record-breaking 10th Piobaireachd win, Willie McCallum 8th MSR win
*2015
Angus MacColl, Benderloch - 4th Win
*2014
Stuart Liddell
Stuart Liddell MBE (born 12 January 1973) is a Scottish bagpipe player. As well as competing in solo competitions, he is the Pipe major of the Inveraray and District Pipe Band.
Early life
He was born in Oban on 12 January 1973 and spent his ear ...
, Inveraray- 2nd Win
*2013 Iain Speirs, Edinburgh - 2nd Win
*2012 Iain Speirs, Edinburgh
*2011
Roddy MacLeod, Glasgow - 4th Win
*2010
Angus MacColl, Benderloch - 3rd Win
*2009
Stuart Liddell
Stuart Liddell MBE (born 12 January 1973) is a Scottish bagpipe player. As well as competing in solo competitions, he is the Pipe major of the Inveraray and District Pipe Band.
Early life
He was born in Oban on 12 January 1973 and spent his ear ...
, Inveraray
*2008
Gordon Walker, Galston - 2nd Win
*2007
Gordon Walker, Galston
*2006
Angus MacColl, Benderloch - 2nd Win
*2005
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Bearsden - 8th Win (Willie McCallum wins both individual events)
*2004
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Bearsden - 7th Win (Willie McCallum wins both individual events)
*2003
Jack Lee, Canada - 1st piper from North America to win
*2002 Roderick J. MacLeod, Cumbernauld - 3rd Win
*2001
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Bearsden - 6th Win
*2000
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Bearsden - 5th Win
*1999
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Bearsden - 4th Win
*1998
PM Alasdair Gillies, Pittsburgh - 3rd Win
*1997 Roderick J. MacLeod, Cumbernauld - 2nd Win
*1996
PM Alasdair Gillies, Pittsburgh - 2nd Win
*1995
Angus MacColl, Oban
*1994
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Glasgow - 3rd Win
*1993
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Glasgow - 2nd Win
*1992 Roderick J. MacLeod, Cumbernauld
*1991
PS Alasdair Gillies, Queen's Own Highlanders
*1990
Willie McCallum
Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, , Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The family is directly rel ...
, Glasgow
*1989
Murray Henderson - 4th Win (Murray Henderson wins both individual events)
*1988 P/M Gavin Stoddart - 2nd Win
*1987
Murray Henderson - 3rd Win
*1986 Iain MacFadyen - 4th Win
*1985
Murray Henderson - 2nd Win
*1984 Iain MacFadyen - 3rd Win
*1983 P/M Gavin Stoddart (P/M Gavin Stoddart wins both individual events)
*1982 P/M Angus MacDonald - 2nd Win (P/M Angus MacDonald wins both individual events)
*1981 Iain MacFadyen - 2nd Win
*1980 P/M Iain Morrison
*1979
Murray Henderson
*1978 Hugh MacCallum
*1977 Iain MacFadyen
*1976 P/M Angus MacDonald
*1975 P/M
John D. Burgess
John Davie Burgess (11 March 1934 – 29 June 2005) was an eminent Scottish bagpipe player.
Life
He was born in Aberdeen on 11 March 1934, and first learned to play the practice chanter at the age of four from his father John, who was also a ...
*1974 James McIntosh
*
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship was added in 1989 to the existing Glenfiddich Piping Championships – to reward, encourage and perpetuate the art of fiddle playing throughout the world.
Eight finalists are hand selected to compete following successes throughout the year, with each finalist giving a recital incorporating all the various styles of composition including a set of tunes by a specific composer – a new composer is chosen annually.
2015 Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship 2015 was won by George Davidson of Tarves in Aberdeenshire.
Second place went to Maggie Adamson of Fladdabister, Shetland, and third place went to Mari Black of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
2014 Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship 2014 was won by
Mari Black
Mari Black is an American multistyle violinist, fiddler, and composer from Boston, Massachusetts. She has won national and international accolades in many styles of music, including being named the 2014 Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion of Scotland ...
of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Second place went to George Davidson of Tarves in Aberdeenshire, and third place went to Maura Shawn Scanlin of Boone, North Carolina, USA.
2012 Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship 2012 was won by Maggie Adamson from Shetland.
Second place went to Erin Smith of
Aberdeen, and third place went to Ronald Jappy of
Findochty.
Previous championships
Glenfiddich Fiddle Championships winners:
*2015 George Davidson
*2014
Mari Black
Mari Black is an American multistyle violinist, fiddler, and composer from Boston, Massachusetts. She has won national and international accolades in many styles of music, including being named the 2014 Glenfiddich Fiddle Champion of Scotland ...
*2013 Maura Shawn Scanlin
*2012 Maggie Adamson
*2011 Maggie Adamson
*2010 Nicola Auchnie
*2009 Rebecca Lomnicky
*2008 Raemond Jappy
*2007 Calum Pasqua
*2006 Gemma Donald
*2005 Sarah Naylor
*2004 Ross Thomson
*2003 Stephen Cordiner
*2002 Ruaridh Campbell
*2001 Gillian Risi
*2000 Gillian Risi
*1999 Patsy Reid
*1998 Patsy Reid
*1997 Russell Kostulin
*1996 Russell Kostulin
*1995 Paul Anderson
*1994 Keith Anderson
*1993 Kathryn Nicoll
*1992 Maureen Turnbull
*1991 Maureen Turnbull
*1990 Maureen Turnbull
References
{{reflist
External links
Glenfiddich Piping ChampionshipsGlenfiddich Fiddle Championships
Music competitions in the United Kingdom
Folk festivals in Scotland
Piping events