The Glenfiddich Piping Championship was established in 1974 to inspire and stimulate the world's finest individual pipers, and to seek the best overall exponents of ceol mor or piobaireachd (the great music) and ceo beag (the little music).
There are 10 competitors, each receiving an invitation to compete in "The Glenfiddich" by winning, or being placed in, one of the senior piping events taking place throughout the year.
There are two panels of three judges for each of the sections of the Championship
1. Piobaireachd with each piper submitting six tunes in advance, from which the judges select one
2. March, Strathspey & Reel with the judges selecting three tunes from those submitted, to be played twice through.
There are three overall prizes, with a further 5 prizes for the two sections of the competition. Total prize money amounts to over £4,000.
The competition - which is open the public, but limited to 450 - commences promptly at 11am with Piobaireachd, and March, Strathspey and Reel commences at approximately 3pm. Presentation of prizes takes place approximately 6.30pm and the winner of this event will (unofficially) be known as "The Best Solo Piper in the World."
The Glenfiddich Piping Championship takes place in the magnificent "Ballroon" in the beautiful and historic Blair Castle, ancestral home to the Dukes of Atholl. Set in glorious landscaped gardens, the castle is open to the public from 1st April until 31st October. When the Atholl family first made their home in the Strath of Garry, more than seven centuries ago, it was a wild and dangerous place. It was also a strategic one. Whoever held Blair Atholl was gatekeeper to the Grampian mountains and the route north to Inverness. The story of Blair Castle and the Dukes of Atholl involves much colourful history from Mary Queen of Scots to the English Civil War, from Lord George Murray and the Jacobite cause to the disaster of Culloden, and from the Isle of Man to Queen Victoria's love affair with the Scottish Highlands. Blair Castle has changed its architectural appearance over the years. Much of what can be seen today dates from the 18th century, and it has become a palace rather than a fortress. Queen Victoria was so captivated by the 200 Athollmen who formed the royal bodyguard when she visited the castle in 1844, that she presented them with regimental colours. They are now the only private army in Europe, and as the Atholl Highlanders are recruited mainly from the Atholl estate, and exist today as a private ceremonial bodyguard.
Further information on Glenfiddich Piping Championship:
Liz Maxwell
Phone
Fax
e-mail
Further information on Blair Castle from:
The Castle Manager,
Blair Castle,
Blair Atholl
Pitlochry
Perthshire
PH18 5TL
Tel :
