Oban, Scotland — August 2025 — Congratulations to Maggie McConnochie, who secured 2nd place in the prestigious MacGregor Memorial (Under 22) Piobaireachd solo piping competition at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban.

 

Thirty international competitors were selected for this year’s event, including nine from outside Scotland. Among them was another kiwi, Sam Foote.

 

Maggie qualified through the morning heat, where the top four of fifteen advanced, and then performed in the afternoon final of eight players. Each competitor submitted four piobaireachds, with the tune assigned by the judges just before performance. Maggie played The Lament for the Iolaire in the heat, and in the final delivered Queen Elizabeth II’s Salute, another Donald MacLeod composition.

 

Results:

1st: Andrew Pattison (Troon, Scotland)

2nd: Maggie McConnochie (New Zealand)

3rd: Magnus Stone (Massachusetts, USA)

4th: Calum Dunbar (Inverness, Scotland)