Registrations are closed
GMHG Piping & Drumming
Piping and Drumming
Just as the invading Roman legions brought bagpipes to Scotland, the sound of the pipes will invade MacRae Meadows here at the Grandfather Mountain Highland games!
There are many opportunities to see piping and drumming throughout the weekend. We are proud to hold piping and drumming events sanctioned by the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. Players come from all over the world to compete in different levels ranging from beginners to professionals. These events take place all day Saturday on the east field, the Alex Beaton Stage, and on the hill behind the Alex Beaton stage. Be sure to bring your blanket and settle in on the mountainside to be entertained.
On Sunday afternoon, we host a quartet competition where 4 pipers play up to 2 different sets of music. One is a traditional March, Strathspey, and Reel and the other is a medley arranged by each group and contains different styles of marches and dance music.
If you enjoy the whole band sound, you can watch the Drum Major lead the Massed Bands in a parade around the track on Saturday morning for opening ceremonies and again on Sunday for the Parade of Tartans. Individual bands will be playing periodically around the clan tents throughout the weekend.
We look forward to seeing you on the Meadows this summer.

GMHG is proud to sponsor
The 2022 Grandfather Mountain Dunvegan Quaich
The Grandfather Mountain Dunvegan Quaich is a premier qualifying piping event with the winner receiving a competition spot and travel stipend to attend An Crios Greine, an invitational piping competition, being held on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel, 600 N Lake Destiny Road, Maitland FL where some of the world’s top pipers will be competing in Piobaireachd and Open Medley events. All Open Piping competitors will be eligible to compete for this award.
The Grandfather Mountain Dunvegan Quaich is named in honor of Agnes MacRae Morton, founder of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Morag of Dunvegan was one of her favorite pipe tunes. As such, the Games is proud to sponsor the Open (Professional) Piper of the Day to be part of An Crios Greine. Be sure to come and listen to some of the finest piping in the Carolinas on Saturday afternoon July 9, 2022.
2022 Registration
Piping and Drumming Registration is open!
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
NEW IN 2022! Each person in your family/party (even children) will need to purchase a ticket to the GMHG. After registering for the piping/drumming competition, you will receive an invoice from GMHG office to pay for the tickets not including included in the competition registration.
Registration will close at midnight on June 8, 2022.
- There will be NO FIELD ENTRIES THIS YEAR FOR ANY EVENTS.
- Piping & Drumming SCHEDULE will be posted one week before the games. In case of conflicts, you will be asked to speak with your steward on the day of the event.
- Please note the 50 and over piping and quartet events, which have been unsanctioned in the past, are now sanctioned and follow EUSPBA sanctioning rules.
2022 Prizes
Open Piping
Piobaireachd $250 First $150 Second $100 Third $50 Fourth
MSR $250 First $150 Second $100 Third $50 Fourth
6/8 March $125 First $75 Second $50 Third $25 Fourth
Hornpipe & Jig $125 First $75 Second $50 Third $25 Fourth
Open Snare
MSR $125 First $100 Second $75 Third
Hornpipe & Jig $50 First $35 Second $25 Third
Open Tenor
MSR $50 First $35 Second $25 Third
Open Bass
MSR $50 First $35 Second $25 Third
Quartets
Medley $300 First $250 Second $200 Third
MSR $300 First $250 Second $200 Third
March Set $250 First $200 Second $175 Third
Amateur Events:
Medals will be awarded for 1st-3rd place
2022 Judges
Piping:
Greg Abbott, Jim Dillahey, Nick Hudson, Ed Krintz, Dan Lyden, Joyce McIntosh, Lyric Todkill, June Hanley
Snare Drumming:
Jon Quigg
Tenor and Bass Drumming:
Sally Warburton
2022 Events
2022 Piping and Drumming Events
OPEN PIPING
Piobaireachd
MSR
6/8 March
Hornpipe/Jig
GRADE 1 PIPING
Piobaireachd
MSR
6/8 March
Hornpipe/Jig
GRADE 2 PIPING
Piobaireachd
2/4 March
Strathspey/Reel
6/8 March
Hornpipe/Jig
GRADE 3 PIPING
Piobaireachd
2/4 March
Strathspey/Reel
6/8 March
Jig
GRADE 4 SR PIPING (18 AND OVER)
Piobaireachd (full tune)
2/4 March
GRADE 4 JR PIPING (17 AND UNDER)
Piobaireachd (full tune)
2/4 March
6/8 March
GRADE 5 PIPING
Piobaireachd (ground only)
March (two parts of 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4)
OVER 50 PIPING
Piobaireachd (full tune)
2/4 March
Strathspey/Reel
NOVICE PRACTICE CHANTER (UNSANCTIONED - MEMBERSHIP NOT REQUIRED)
One 4-parted or two different 2-parted marches 2/4, 4/4, or 6/8
OPEN SNARE
MSR
Hornpipe/Jig
GRADE 1 SNARE
MSR
Hornpipe/Jig
6/8 March
GRADE 2 SNARE
MSR
Hornpipe/Jig
6/8 March
GRADE 3 SNARE
2/4 March
Strathspey/Reel
6/8 March
March Set
GRADE 4 SR SNARE (18 AND OVER)
4 parts of March any time signature
March Set
JOHN MURRAY JUVENILE SNARE (17 AND UNDER)
4 parts of March any time signature
March Set
GRADE 5 SNARE
March (2 parts of March 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4)
NOVICE PRACTICE PAD (UNSANCTIONED - MEMBERSHIP NOT REQUIRED)
March (2 parts of March 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4)
OPEN TENOR
MSR
GRADE 1 TENOR
MSR
GRADE 2 TENOR
MSR
GRADE 3 TENOR
2/4 March
GRADE 4 TENOR
March Set
OPEN BASS
MSR
GRADE 1 BASS
MSR
GRADE 2 BASS
MSR
GRADE 3 BASS
2/4 March
GRADE 4 BASS
March Set
UNSANCTIONED (You may enter up to 2 quartet events)
QUARTET
Medley (3-7 minutes)
QUARTET
MSR
QUARTET
March Set (6 to 8 parts, simple time, no time limit)
Contact
Cecilia Higgins
EMAIL
Join EUSPBA
Need to join the EUSPBA before registering? Here's the link to join!
Forgot your EUSPBA No.?
Already registered with the EUSPBA but don't have your number? Find it here.