Solo Piping Success in Scotland

Maggie McConnochie (Year 11) has placed second in the prestigious MacGregor Memorial (U22) Piobaireachd Solo Piping Competition in Oban, Scotland. Selected from 30 international competitors, Maggie qualified through her morning heat and performed Queen Elizabeth II's Salute in the final. An impressive result!

Maggie has also been awarded an Inspire Foundation Grant in Specialist Instrument for Solo Piping. The Inspire Foundation supports young New Zealanders to achieve excellence in their chosen field.

Further success followed, with Maggie named Overall Winner at the Birnam Games (Juniors), the Braemar Gathering Junior Piping (U18) event (attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla) and the prestigious Northern Meeting in Inverness, where she performed The Lament for Captain MacDougall. She also placed first in Strathspey and Reel at the Lochaber Gathering (Juniors), and second in Piobaireachd at the Blairgowrie Games Junior Piping event.

Sam Foote (Year 12), our College Pipe Major, also competed in Scotland, earning multiple placings across several events, including:

• Glenisla Highland Games – First in Juniors (U18) Strathspey and Reel; Second in March

• Crieff Highland Games – Second in both the U18 Junior MSR and Jig Solo Piping

• Lonach Gathering – Third in March; Fourth in Strathspey and Reel

• Lochaber Gathering – Second in March

• Pitlochry Highland Games – Second in U18 March, Strathspey and Reel

• Birnam Games – Third in in March

Competing on the solo piping stage internationally is no small feat – these are outstanding achievements.