Call for Bagpiping Competitors, Age 21 and Under!
Pittsburgh’s Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming invites young pipers to apply to participate in the 2023 Balmoral Classic: US Junior Solo Bagpiping Championship. Pipers will compete in MSR and in Pìobaireachd. The competition’s Overall prize is decided by a combination of scores from Pìobaireachd and MSR.
Our 2023 lineup of distinguished judges includes:
John Cairns (Canada) was the first person from outside of Scotland to win the two Highland Society of London Gold Medals for solo piping at Oban and Inverness. He has won numerous other prizes, including eight Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario Champion Supreme designations, three North American Champion titles, the Bratach Gorm, the Piobaireachd Society Canadian Gold Medal, Bar to the Gold Medal and Former Winners March, Strathspey & Reel Contest, three Livingstone Invitational Contests, and three Fergus Gold Medals for Light Music.
Scot Walker (USA) is currently ranked as one of the top solo bagpipers in North America. A fourth-generation player with many years of experience, Mr. Walker offers instruction to players of all levels. He is a member of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association judges’ panel, a Pipe Major of the Lehigh Valley Pipe Band, and a published composer. His students have distinguished themselves at many bagpipe competitions throughout North America.
Our third judge will be announced soon.
APPLY BY OCTOBER 9 at:
The competition will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 8:00am to 3:00pm. The venue is the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
There will be a free Piobaireachd workshop with one of our judges—open to all 2023 applicants and former Classic competitors—on Sunday morning, November 4.