The Glenfiddich Piping and Fiddle Championships are musical competitions for the bagpipes and fiddle. Both competitions take place annually in late autumn, at the ballroom of Blair Castle at Blair Atholl in Perthshire, Scotland. Entry to each championship is by invitation only, to those who have won various recognised major UK solo competitions held throughout the year.
In 2016, the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship was discontinued.
The Glenfiddich Piping Championship The Glenfiddich Piping Championship was established in 1974, as the Grant's Piping Championship, to inspire and stimulate individual pipers, and to seek the best overall exponents of the Ceòl Mór or piobaireachd (the great music) and Ceòl Beag (the little music).
The championship was founded and continues to be run by William Grant & Sons., distillers of Glenfiddich and other whiskies.
Ten of the leading pipers in the world, all of whom will have won important awards since the previous October, are invited. Each of them submits a list of six piobaireachds, and is required to play one of them. They also submit lists of six marches, strathspeys and reels, and play one of each, twice through.
Qualifying Events
Competitors gain an invitation to the Glenfiddich Championship by winning one of the following events:
The previous year's Overall Glenfiddich Championship The Former Winner's Clasp at the Northern Meeting The Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering The Former Winner's MSR at the Northern Meeting The Former Winner's MSR at the Argyllshire Gathering The Master's Solo Piping Competition The Overall Winner at the Scottish Piping Society of London Annual Competition The Bratach Gorm at the Scottish Piping Society of London Annual Competition The Highland Society of London Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting The Highland Society of London Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering
In the event that an individual wins more than one of these events, 2nd or 3rd place prize-winners from the event are invited, with the exception of the Gold Medal competitions.
There are prizes in each discipline, and an overall championship prize.
Previous championships Previous Glenfiddich Piping Championship Winners from the last 50 years:
+ Glenfiddich Piping Championship Winners Year Winner Location/Regiment Notable achievements 2025 Stuart Liddell MBE Inveraray 4th Win 2024 Callum Beaumont St Andrews 2nd Win 2023 Callum Beaumont Dollar 2022 William McCallum Bearsden 9th Win, Record 11th MSR Win 2021 Jack Lee Canada 3rd Win, William McCallum 10th MSR Win 2020 Stuart Liddell Inveraray 3rd Win, William McCallum 9th MSR Win 2019 Finlay Johnston 2nd Win 2018 Finlay Johnston Milngavie 2017 Jack Lee Canada 2nd Win 2016 Roderick J. MacLeod Glasgow 5th Win, Record 10th Piobaireachd Win, William McCallum 8th MSR Win 2015 Angus MacColl Benderloch 4th Win 2014 Stuart Liddell Inveraray 2nd Win 2013 Iain Speirs Edinburgh 2nd Win 2012 Iain Speirs Edinburgh 2011 Roderick J. MacLeod Glasgow 4th Win 2010 Angus MacColl Benderloch 3rd Win 2009 Stuart Liddell Inveraray 2008 Gordon Walker Galston 2nd Win 2007 Gordon Walker Galston 2006 Angus MacColl Benderloch 2nd Win 2005 William McCallum Bearsden 8th Win (McCallum wins both individual events) 2004 William McCallum Bearsden 7th Win (McCallum wins both individual events) 2003 Jack Lee Canada 1st Piper from North America to win 2002 Roderick J. MacLeod Cumbernauld 3rd Win 2001 William McCallum Bearsden 6th Win 2000 William McCallum Bearsden 5th Win 1999 William McCallum Bearsden 4th Win 1998 Alasdair Gillies Pittsburgh 3rd Win 1997 Roderick J. MacLeod Cumbernauld 2nd Win 1996 Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Pittsburgh 2nd Win 1995 Angus MacColl Oban 1994 William McCallum Glasgow 3rd Win 1993 William McCallum Glasgow 2nd Win 1992 Roderick J. MacLeod Cumbernauld 1991 Pipe Sergeant Alasdair Gillies Queen's Own Highlanders 1990 William McCallum Glasgow 1989 Murray Henderson Eassie 4th Win (Henderson wins both individual events) 1988 Pipe Major Gavin Stoddart Royal Highland Fusiliers 2nd Win 1987 Murray Henderson Eassie 3rd Win 1986 Iain MacFadyen Kyle of Lochalsh 4th Win 1985 Murray Henderson Eassie 2nd Win 1984 Iain MacFadyen Kyle of Lochalsh 3rd Win 1983 Pipe Major Gavin Stoddart Royal Highland Fusiliers (Stoddart wins both individual events) 1982 Pipe Major Angus MacDonald Scots Guards 2nd Win (MacDonald wins both individual events) 1981 Iain MacFadyen Kyle of Lochalsh 2nd Win 1980 Pipe Major Iain Morrison Queens Own Highlanders 1979 Murray Henderson Eassie 1978 Hugh MacCallum Stirling 1977 Iain MacFadyen Kyle of Lochalsh 1976 Pipe Major Angus MacDonald Scots Guards 1975 Pipe Major John D. Burgess Alness 1974 James McIntosh Dundee Inaugural competition
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship was added in 1989 to the existing Glenfiddich Piping Championships – to reward, encourage and perpetuate the art of fiddle playing throughout the world.
Eight finalists are hand selected to compete following successes throughout the year, with each finalist giving a recital incorporating all the various styles of composition including a set of tunes by a specific composer – a new composer is chosen annually.
In 2016, the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship was discontinued. A celebratory non-competitive event was held at Blair Castle in which all previous champions were invited to perform.
2015 Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship 2015 was won by George Davidson of Tarves in Aberdeenshire. Second place went to Maggie Adamson of Fladdabister, Shetland, and third place went to Mari Black of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
2014 Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship 2014 was won by Mari Black of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Second place went to George Davidson of Tarves in Aberdeenshire, and third place went to Maura Shawn Scanlin of Boone, North Carolina, USA.
2012 Championship
The Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship 2012 was won by Maggie Adamson from Shetland. Second place went to Erin Smith of Aberdeen, and third place went to Ronald Jappy of Findochty.
Previous championships + Glenfiddich Fiddle Championships Winners Year Winner 2015 George Davidson 2014 Mari Black 2013 Maura Shawn Scanlin 2012 Maggie Adamson 2011 Maggie Adamson 2010 Nicola Auchnie 2009 Rebecca Lomnicky 2008 Raemond Jappy 2007 Calum Pasqua 2006 Gemma Donald 2005 Sarah Naylor 2004 Ross Thomson 2003 Stephen Cordiner 2002 Ruaridh Campbell 2001 Gillian Risi 2000 Gillian Risi 1999 Patsy Reid 1998 Patsy Reid 1997 Russell Kostulin 1996 Russell Kostulin 1995 Paul Anderson 1994 Keith Anderson 1993 Kathryn Nicoll 1992 Maureen Turnbull 1991 Maureen Turnbull 1990 Maureen Turnbull
References
External links Glenfiddich Piping Championships Glenfiddich Fiddle Championships