Piping & Drumming Competition

Competitions take place on both Saturday, July 12th and Sunday, July 13th from 9am-5pm.

Entries close June 27th.

The sound is unmistakable, and the lore of the instrument deeply woven into the very fabric of Scottish and Irish traditions and culture. To some, the Great Highland Bagpipe is a cultural totem evoking images of warlike tartan-kilt-wearing Highlanders, bravely leading the soldiers into battle. While it is true that is part of the instrument's history, the pipes have a rich and complex musical tradition that will be on full display at the Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Individual pipers and drummers participate in competitions where judges evaluate a player's skill, sound, musical expression and other factors. Players are grouped by skill level (not age) and perform a variety of tune types (marches, dance tunes, slow airs and classical piping pieces). In a similar fashion, pipe bands perform for judges as well and are judged as a group.

Competitors at the Skagit Valley Highland Games come from up and down the West Coast, the lower mainland of British Columbia, and other states and provinces to participate. We're especially pleased to welcome two Scottish adjudicators and champion players to assist with the competitions in 2025: Willie McCallum, Stuart Liddell, and Callum Beaumont.

We invite you to join us for our kick-off event on Friday night at the Littlefield Celtic Center - Glenfiddich Champions Night! Click here for more information.

Special Piping Competitions

Gordon Duncan Memorial Kitchen Piping Competition - Saturday
A solo piping competition to honor the legacy and music of Gordon Duncan. Open to grade 2, 1, and Open level pipers. An anything goes Freestyle piping event with a time limit of 5 minutes per player, minimal tuning permitted. Competitors must include at least one Gordon Duncan composition in their arrangement. Winners will be chosen based on a performance’s musical spirit, invention, and enthusiasm. Prizes - 1st: $500, 2nd: $350, 3rd: $200, 4th: $100, 5th: $50. Winner will be announced at Opening Ceremonies on Saturday.

Skye Jig Competition - Sunday
A solo piping competition to honor the founder of the Skagit Valley Highland Games, Skye Richendrfer. Open to pipers of any grade. Competitors may choose any one jig with a minimum of four parts. Tune to be played twice through. Competitors will march themselves off the platform with a tune of their choice. Prizes - 1st: $500, 2nd: $350, 3rd: $200, 4th: $100, 5th: $50. Winner will be announced at Opening Ceremonies on Sunday.

New this year... more space for piping tents! :)

Register for Piping and Drumming Competitions Here

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SOLO PIPING EVENTS LIST

Beginner Chanter - Slow Air (102) SATURDAY

Beginner Chanter - 2/4 March (103 )SUNDAY

Beginner Chanter - 6/8 March (104) SATURDAY

Grade V Piping - 2/4 March (111) SUNDAY

Grade V Piping - Slow Air (112) SATURDAY

Grade V Piping - 6/8 March (113) SATURDAY

Grade IV Piping - 2/4 March (121) SUNDAY

Grade IV Piping - Piob. Ground & Next Var. (122) SATURDAY

Grade IV Piping - Strathspey & Reel (123) SUNDAY

Grade IV Piping - 6/8 March (124 )SATURDAY

Grade III Piping - 2/4 March (131) SATURDAY

Grade III Piping - Strathspey & Reel (132) SUNDAY

Grade III Piping - Piobaireachd (133) SATURDAY

Grade III Piping - 6/8 March (135) SUNDAY

Grade II Piping - MSR (141 )SUNDAY

Grade II Piping - Piobaireachd (142) SATURDAY

Grade II Piping - Hornpipe & Jig (143) SUNDAY

Grade II Piping - 6/8 March (145) SATURDAY

Grade I Piping - Piobaireachd (152) SUNDAY

Grade I Piping - Hornpipe & Jig (153) SATURDAY

Grade I Piping - 2/4 March (156) SATURDAY

Grade I Piping - Strathspey & Reel (157) SUNDAY

Open Piping - Piobaireachd (162) SUNDAY

Open Piping - Hornpipe & Jig (163) SATURDAY

Open Piping - 2/4 March (166) SATURDAY

Open Piping - Strathspey & Reel (167) SUNDAY

Adult Piping - 2/4 March (171) SUNDAY

Adult Piping - 6/8 March (173) SATURDAY

Adult Piping - Piobaireachd (174) SATURDAY

Adult Strathspey & Reel (175) SUNDAY

Adult Prep Piping - 2/4 March (181) SATURDAY

Adult Prep Piping - Slow Air (182) SUNDAY

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SOLO DRUMMING EVENTS

Beginner Snare Drumming - 2/4 March (202) SATURDAY

Beginner Snare Drummer - 6/8 March (203) SUNDAY

Grade IV Drumming - 2/4 March (221) SATURDAY

Grade IV Drumming - 6/8 March (222) SUNDAY

Grade III Drumming - 2/4 March (231) SATURDAY

Grade III Drumming - 6/8 March (232) SUNDAY

Grade II Drumming - MSR (241) SATURDAY

Grade II Drumming - Hornpipe & Jig (242) SUNDAY

Grade I Drumming - MSR (251) SATURDAY

Grade I Drumming - Hornpipe & Jig (252) SUNDAY

Open Drumming - MSR (261) SATURDAY

Open Drumming - Hornpipe & Jig (262) SUNDAY

Beginner Tenor Drumming - 2/4 March (301) SATURDAY

Beginner Tenor Drumming - 6/8 March (302) SUNDAY

Novice Tenor Drumming - 2/4 March (341) SATURDAY

Novice Tenor Drumming - 6/8 March (342) SUNDAY

Intermediate Tenor Drumming - MSR (351) SATURDAY

Intermediate Tenor Drumming - 6/8 March (353) SUNDAY

Open Tenor Drumming - MSR (361) SATURDAY

Open Tenor Drumming - Hornpipe & Jig (362) SUNDAY

Grade I Bass Drumming - March, Strathspey & Reel (451 )SATURDAY

Grade I Bass Drumming - Hornpipe & Jig (452) SUNDAY

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GROUP AND BAND EVENTS

Grade IV Drum Corps - Fanfare (721) SUNDAY

Grade III Drum Corps - Fanfare (731) SUNDAY

Grade II Drum Corps - Fanfare (741) SUNDAY

Grade I Drum Corps - Fanfare (751) SUNDAY

Grade IV Piping Quartet - March, Strathspey & Reel (621) SATURDAY

Grade III Piping Quartet - March, Strathspey & Reel (631) SATURDAY

Grade II Piping Quartet - March, Strathspey & Reel (641 )SATURDAY

Grade I Piping Quartet - March, Strathspey & Reel (651) SATURDAY

Grade V Pipe Band - Quick Marches Set (812) SATURDAY

Grade V Pipe Band - Quick Marches Set (812) SUNDAY

Grade IV Pipe Band - Medley (821) SATURDAY

Grade IV Pipe Band - MSR (822) SUNDAY

Grade III Pipe Band - Medley (831) SATURDAY

Grade III Pipe Band - MSR (832) SUNDAY

Grade II Pipe Band - Medley (841) SUNDAY

Grade II Pipe Band - MSR (842) SATURDAY

Grade I Pipe Band - Medley (851) SATURDAY

Grade I Pipe Band - MSR (852) SATURDAY

Grade I Pipe Band - Medley (851) SUNDAY

Grade I Pipe Band - MSR (852) SUNDAY