The Competition
The Balmoral Classic is the only solo bagpiping and Scottish snare drumming competition in the US exclusively for those age 21 and under. Pipers compete in two styles: Pìobaireachd, the classical music of Highland bagpiping, and MSR, the traditional bagpipe competition medley. Drummers compete in Hornpipe & Jig and MSR. The Overall is a combination of scores from Pìobaireachd and MSR for piping, and Hornpipe & Jig and MSR for drumming. Previous 1st place winners of the US Junior Solo Championships are not eligible to compete. For the 17th Balmoral Classic, we'll hold a live event Pittsburgh, PA, with Piping & Drumming competitions on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, from 8:00am-3:00pm._Matt MacIsaac will be one of our piping judges. The other piping and drumming judges will be announced soon.
The Concert
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2023 @ 8:00pm: Beòlach, a Creative force from Cape Breton, best known for their innovative and exciting arrangements of traditional Scottish, Irish, and Cape Breton tunes for fiddle, bagpipes, piano and guitar. They light the stage on fire with energy and witty stories, demonstrating their knowledge of and passion for Celtic music. The band has recorded three albums. The first two, Beòlach (2001) and Variations (2004), gained critical acclaim and earned nominations for East Coast Music Awards. In 2005 the group was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Best Instrumental Artist. Upon reforming after a hiatus, during which members pursued solo careers, Beòlach’s album, All Hands (2020), won two 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards—Instrumental Group of the Year and Traditional Album of the Year—and received nominations for four East Coast Music Awards and a Juno Award. Classic 2024 piping judge, Matt MacIsaac, is featured on pipes, whistles and guitar.
The Piobaireachd Workshop
There will be a free Piobaireachd workshop with Dr. Angus MacDonald—open to all 2024 applicants and former Classic competitors—on Sunday morning, November 3. Piping judge Dr. Angus MacDonald of Glenuig, Scotland has won nearly all of the top solo prizes in piping, including the Clasp at Inverness, the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medals, and the Silver Chanter. His compositions are played throughout the world, and he’s a much-respected judge for important solo piping competitions.
