View the video from MSNBC of Bagpiper.Com’s Norm Weaver playing at the funeral service of Tim Russett.

Norm can be contacted at http://va-md.bagpiper.com or at nweaver@erols.com and Home Phone: 703-594-3755 or Cell Phone: 703-577-8782

Bill Hedworth 9 key Northumbrian Pipes for sale on the Bagpiper.Com Classifieds

$1600.00

Competition celebrates tenth anniversary of National Piping Centre

The skirl of the bagpipes is either music to the ears or a heart-sinkingly tedious screech. And the range of bagpipe tunes heard on street corners or played by marching bands can be so repetitious that most Scots know every note of Highland Cathedral, Scotland the Brave and Amazing Grace.

To remedy this, the National Piping Centre will celebrate its tenth anniversary today by introducing its answer to the Eurovision Song Contest to find new classic bagpipe tunes.

It hopes that its international search will produce a tune to march, dance or even punch the air to as the national side notches up yet another stirring triumph.

Read the Entire Article

Established in 1998, CH Bagpiping is represented throughout North America. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, we have 5 bagpipers on staff in the state of Utah and over 20 bagpipers nationwide. Call Chris at: 877-Piper-4-Hire (toll free)

The mournful music can be heard while traveling down East Market Street and rounding the corner of North Kenton Street. The sorrowful notes eventually round back to the Urbana Fire Division in the municipal building, where two firefighters are diligently trying to master the art of the bagpipe.

Eric Beverly and Brian Williams are flushed, drenched in perspiration and attempting what seems to be impossible on this Monday - tuning the bagpipe. Beverly eventually gives up and shrugs his shoulder.

“If it’s not making my ears bleed, it’s not too bad,” he said.

The two are currently the only two firefighters in the Urbana Fire Division who are all too familiar with the stubborn instrument. The bagpipe has been a tradition for centuries for fire departments and service personnel and Beverly and Williams picked up the skill about five years ago, with the intent of continuing the custom.

Read the entire article

A REPORT on buying and selling trends on internet site eBay has thrown up a few regional surprises.

People in Aberdeen forked out £1.3million on clothes in the past year - the second highest total in the UK.

The city’s residents also have a keen interest in philately, with £35,851 spent on stamp collections.

And they wound up spending £7000 on cuckoo clocks, the most in Scotland.

The website’s eBaynomics Report 2007-8 also revealed that bagpipe merchants in Edinburgh sold almost £10,000 worth instruments, the most in Britain.

Strangely, buyers in Norwich snapped up more bagpipes than anywhere else.

Posh punters in Edinburgh spent a whopping £285,000 on antiques, the most in the UK, and £6700 on chandeliers.

Glaswegians, meanwhile, spent the most on cars - £4.7million.

And the city’s women spent nearly £40,000 on hair removal products.

The report also revealed Scots were selling almost as much as they spend.

A spokeswoman said: “It’s clear Scots have found the key to beating the credit crunch.”

The family that plays together stays together. Members of Allentown’s Owens family are closer than ever since they started sharing their passions for music.

Their collective talents and dedication over the years have most recently culminated in Dale Owens and his daughter, Taylor, 13, playing the bagpipes in the Trenton Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Pipe Band, while Maggie, 16, helps keep beat in the drum section and Pam keeps time as drum major.

Dale, a South Brunswick police officer, first took interest in the bagpipes when he saw them played during Police Memorial Week in Washington, D.C., where officials from all over the country gather annually to honor fallen officers. Upon hearing the droning instrument and the emotion it evokes, Dale vowed to learn how to play the pipes by the age of 40.

Although he started taking lessons on a chanter under the direction of Frank Watson in 2000, Dale stopped pursuing his dream when his mother suddenly took ill and passed away. At that time, he wasn’t sure he would ever take up the bagpipes again. However, after a year passed, he realized that learning the pipes was something that his mom had always encouraged him to do. So, he picked up the chanter again and ultimately purchased his first set of bagpipes at the age of 43 in 2003.

Read the Entire Article

ABC News Video on the Bagpipes - Click Here

Bagpipe School

Featuring Ian Whitelaw & Murray Henderson 

July 7th to July12th, 2008.

St. Peter’s By the Sea Presbyterian Church

St. Peter’s By the Sea Church

6410  Palos Verdes Drive South

Rancho Palos Verdes, California 90275

Spend a week at the beach with Murray and Ian studying the great highland bagpipe !

For more information contact 

Ian Whitelaw:

telephone: (310) 634-9726 

ian@aceltictraveler.com      

www.aceltictraveler.com 

Tuition: $500.00 

LINK TO FLYER (PDF Format)

You can find the Ghostly Bagpiper inside the Walt Disney World (and Disneyland) Haunted Mansion Ride. He is is in the graveyard near the end of the ride. On Friday the 13th in June, Disney released a pin featuring the bagpiping ghost. Take a look here.

Very nice cell phone video capture of a bagpiper playing at a funeral. Seems to be a friend or family member playing his tribute on the pipes.

The bagpipes is an instrument that takes years to master, but 12-year-old Justin Steele is far ahead of the learning curve.

After taking up the bagpipes just over a year ago, the Chatham boy is already a member of the local Branch 28 Legion Pipe Band and the London Fire Fighters Pipe Band.

He also won first place at a Grade 5 bagpipe competition in Georgetown last weekend.

Justin’s interest in the bagpipes was born during a trip to Scotland, the birthplace of the instrument.

“I just thought it would be a cool thing to do,” he said

He joined the Br. 28 Legion Pipe Band where he learned to play the instrument and then began taking lessons twice a week in London with well known instructor John Cairns.

Read the Entire Article

Hey Guys!  This just was sent to me because of this group! Read it and see if you can’t help Liz out.  If I was in Edinburgh I’d do it!
Monkey Kingdom productions (monkeykingdom.com) are making a pilot for a new documentary series for BBC2 looking at youth culture in Edinburgh, and we are trying to find the most exciting teenage pipers in the city.

We’re keen to speak to teenagers who are passionate about doing interesting and innovate things in the world of piping! Perhaps you’re in a teen version of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, or maybe in a group fusing rock music with the tradional sound of the bagpipes.

If you or anyone you know fits the bill get in touch ASAP

Facebook LIZ COLLIER (Edinburgh) or call or email Tel: 020 7749 3159
Email: lizcollier@monkeykingdom.com
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We are saddened to report a personal family tragedy that is being experienced by EUSPBA Executive Secretary Carole Hackett. I have reposted the information from the EUSPBA Website so that those who know Carole my pass on their prayers and condolences and attend any services.

FROM THE EUSPBA WEBSITE:

On June 14, Carole Hackett’s daughter Beth was involved in a fatal car accident in Colorado (read article). Beth moved to Colorado about 3 months ago and was very happy in her new life when this tragedy struck. While our thoughts, prayers and support are so very important right now for Carole and her family, we can help them in another way too.

As you can imagine, the funeral expenses involved here will be quite expensive. Carole is always there for our association, always willing to give of herself . . . now we can help her and her family tremendously by sending a contribution to help them defray some of those costs. Please mail contributions payable to the Schenectady Pipe Band (please specify Beth’s Fund in check memo area) to:

• Schenectady Pipe Band, attn: Beth’s Fund, 9 Emmett Drive, Niskayuna, NY 12309

We’ll keep track of all contributions and provide Carole and her family with a list of those who contributed as well as any cards or notes you wish to send.  Let’s all put our best foot forward and help one of our favorite people when she needs it the most. Thank you all.

Arrangements for Elisabeth Harkes

• Friday, June 20, 4:00-8:00pm - Viewing to be held at: Daniel Keenan Funeral Home
• Saturday, June 21, 9:00am - Mass of Christian Burial at: St. Mary’s Church
• Immediately following, Celebration of Beth’s life at: Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall

PLEASE NOTE: all association business and correspondence that would normally go to Carole should be sent to Helen Harlow at oalone@euspba.org until further notice.

Click Here for June 14th, 2008 Results

Alexis Malcolm Kilts and The ClanMcCallum/Malcolm Society and Clan Gunn have established a one week Piping Scholarship to the North American Academy of Piping & Drumming at the Valle Crucis Conference Center, Valle Crucis,  North Carolina. 

This Scholarship will cover one week of instruction, room & meals as well as a practice chanter for beginners.This award is for beginners, intermediate or even advanced Pipers as the school offers all levels of instruction. Age is unimportant. Preference will be given to Veterans, descendents or relatives of a veteran and membersof Clan MacCallum/Malcolm and Clan Gunn. 

We just awarded scholarships to 4 winners for 2008 to the North American Academy of Piping & Drumming in North Carolina and we had 3 winners in 2007.

There is no age limit & nor grades of piping ability.

Alexis Malcolm Kilts Website

Scholarship Application

Two new tartans were registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority, the Firefighters Memorial Tartan and the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Tartan.

Both were created to honor those who lost their lives in the  line of duty and give a special “nod” to our heros on 9/11.

15% of every sale will be donated to a charity associated with the tartan (The Leary Foundation  for the firefighters and Concerns of Police Survivors for the Law Enforcement  tartan).
To see them, click here:

Firefighters Memorial:
http://www.usakilts.com/ffm_kilts.php

Law Enforcement Officers Memorial:
http://www.usakilts.com/leomt_kilts.php

Rocky Roeger
Owner & Kiltmaker
www.USAKilts.com