On August 18th NYC Bagpipes concluded its first ever pilgrimage to Scotland. During the trip Cristopher Rodriguez of NYC Bagpipes visited several historical sights and attended events important to bagpiping.
The trip began with a visit to the highlands, driving through picturesque Glencoe and Lochaber, and ended up in Skye, a place of great significance for bagpiping. Skye is where piobaireachd, which is the classical music of bagpiping, had its origins. Skye was home to the MacCrimmon family, which was a school of pipers from several hundred years ago. He visited Dunvegan castle and the MacCrimmon cairn. He attended the Col. Joch Clasp which is a prominent competition for bagpipers located in Portree, and the Silver Chanter at the Gaelic college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Skye is also known for its beautiful, rugged, and expansive landscapes.
After Skye he proceeded to Blair Castle in Pitlochry, which hosts the Glenfiddich bagpipe competition, the highest event for bagpipe soloist competitors in the world. He visited the historical Stirling Castle, home to several Scottish monarchs, including Mary Queen of Scots.
Cristopher afterwards arrived in Glasgow to practice with St. Anthony's High School from Long Island, NY. They competed in the European Bagpipe Championships in Perth on August 9th, 2025. As the week progressed the band continued practices in preparation for the World Pipe Band championship (aka the Worlds) at Glasgow Green Park. While in Glasgow, Cristopher visited the National Piping Center, which has a museum dedicated to bagpiping. While there, Piping Live! was being held, which is an outdoor festival of bagpiping performances and events occurring in the week leading up to "the Worlds." He also got to see the International Quartet competition at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, which features some of the top players of the competing Grade 1 pipe bands, and a concert by Grade 1 Pipe Band Shotts and Dykehead.
The CLASP (Competition League for Amateur Solo Players) also had its annual Piping Live! 2025 – CLASP World Amateur Solo Piping Competition event which Cristopher competed in. In Grade 2 Cristopher got 3rd place in the piobaireachd event and 6th in the 2/4 March event.
Cristopher visited the Kelvingrove Art museum, which featured prominent Scottish artists and Salvador Dali's "Christ of St. John of the Cross" painting. He saw historical sights in Edinburgh, including Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which is popular for its massed bands performance of bagpipers.
At the end of the trip was the World Pipe Band competition. Cristopher saw the top bagpipe bands in the world compete, including the winning performances by Inveraray and District Pipe Band. He performed at its massed bands event where the winners were announced. The trip concluded with a visit to the Park Bar, which traditionally features a get together of pipe band members from championship at a local Glasgow pub with live music.
The trip was an important milestone as it marked a first visit for NYC Bagpipes to Scotland.
Published: August 26th, 2025
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