Competitions

The National Piping Centre Junior Piping Competition

This annual event held at The National Piping Centre celebrates the best in young piping, from all pipers aged Under 18. 

EVENT UPDATE 04/02/19 - Entries are Now Closed for The National Piping Centre Junior Piping Competition 2019. 

Hearing Protection
The National Piping Centre requires all students to use hearing protection at all times when playing pipes. Hearing protection is available for purchase in our shop or free of charge from the earplug dispenser in both our piping school venues. 
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Entry Guidelines

• Entry fees are £3 per event.
• Entries will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given where payment accompanies entries.
• Competitors may enter in ONE category only.
• Entries will be limited to 30 in each event, with the exception of Event 6, where more will be allowed at the discretion of the organisers.
• All competitors in Event 2, Event 6 and Event 7 must play tunes with a minimum of 4 parts. 
• Any event with too few competitors may be cancelled at the discretion of the organisers.
• The draw will be emailed to competitors the week prior to the competition.
• The Junior Championship will be decided on the highest aggregate score from Events 1, 2 and 3. In the event of a tie the overall award will be given to the competitor with the highest Piobaireachd placing.
• The Novice Championship will be decided on the highest aggregate score from Events 4, 6 and 7. In the event of a tie the overall award will be given to the competitor with the highest Piobaireachd placing.
• Competitors may only enter event 4 or event 5 in category B. 
• The Chanter Championship will be decided on the highest aggregate score from Events 8 and 9.
• If a competitor wins the overall Chanter Championship in a year, they cannot compete in the chanter competitions following and must move up a category.  
• Chanter events will be held at the Holiday Inn Theatreland. All other events will be held at The National Piping Centre.
• All events begin at 9am.
• Please report to stewards on arrival. Running times may vary, so it is advisable that competitors arrive well in advance.
• It is the responsibility of competitors to maintain contact with their steward.
• Competitors should be ready to play when called upon to do so.

If you have any queries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0141 353 0220

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Category Information

Category A - Junior Championship

Open to all pipers aged 15-17 inclusive
Event 1 - Piobaireachd
Event 2 - March, Strathspey & Reel
Event 3 - Jig

For all events in this category, 1 of each type of tune should be submitted. In events 2 and 3, all tunes must have a minimum of four parts.

The Junior Champion will be decided on the highest aggregate score from events 1, 2 and 3.

In the event of a tie the overall award will be given to the competitor with the highest Piobaireachd placing.

Category B - Novice Championship

Open to all pipers aged under 15
Event 4 - Piobaireachd *
Event 5 - Piobaireachd - ground only *
Event 6 - March
Event 7 - Strathspey & Reel

For all events in this category, only one of each type of tune should be submitted. In events 6 and 7, all tunes must have a minimum of four parts.

Competitors may not enter both events 4 and 5. The Novice Champion will be decided on the highest aggregate score from events 4, 6 and 7. In the event of a tie the overall award will be given to the competitor with the highest Piobaireachd placing.

(* Competitors may enter EITHER Event 4 OR Event 5.)

Category C - Chanter Contest

Event 8 - Slow air, two parts only
Event 9 - March, two parts only

For events in this category only one type of each tune should be submitted.

Competitors can enter both events. Competitors who have previously won the overall Chanter Champion cannot enter these events. 

Chanter competition to be held at Holiday Inn Theatreland. 

Please note: Entries will be limited to 30 per event, for all events, on a first come first served basis. Any event that does not have enough competitors may be cancelled on the day. Entry to events will only be made on receipt of payment.