Name: Balmoral Classic Competition
Start: 2024-11-02T09:00:00-04:00
Location: Cathedral of Learning, the University of Pittsburgh

The Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming invites young pipers and drummers to apply to participate in the Balmoral Classic: US Junior Solo Bagpiping & Drumming Championships. The competition will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at CRC Understory, Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Pipers will compete in MSR and Pìobaireachd. The competition’s Overall prize is decided by a combination of scores from Pìobaireachd and MSR. The winner will receive a set of MacRae bagpipes donated by McCallum Bagpipes. Drumming trophies will be awarded for MSR, Hornpipe/Jig, and Overall. Prizes for the Overall Winner of the Drumming contest and all other prizes to be announced.
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.
Piping judge Matt MacIsaac has been a Pipe Major in the Canadian Forces, a multi-instrumentalist with Natalie McMaster’s band, a sought-after piping instructor, and the P/M of the Grade 2 St. Andrew’s Association in Ontario. He was winner of the 2022 P/M Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital-Challenge, the first non-Scottish piper to win. Our complete lineup of piping and drumming judges will be announced when confirmed.
PIPERS APPLY BY OCTOBER 1 at:
https://balmoralschoolofpiping.org/balmoral-classic-piping-application/
DRUMMERS APPLY BY OCTOBER 1 at:
https://balmoralschoolofpiping.org/balmoral-classic-drumming-application/
Our Balmoral Classic weekend starts off with the piping and drumming competition on Saturday, 9:00am to 3:00pm, with an awards ceremony after. On Saturday evening, following the competition, Balmoral will present Beòlach in a live concert of Celtic music, with judge Matt MacIsaac featured on pipes, whistles, and guitar. There will be a free Piobaireachd workshop, taught by Dr. Angus MacDonald, open to all 2024 applicants and former Classic competitors, on Sunday morning.
Rooms for Balmoral Classic participants have been set aside at a discounted rate at the Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh University Center, 100 Lytton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.