Testimonials

The Victorian Pipers Association is deeply grateful for the generous support of the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust. Their sponsorship and encouragement made it possible for us to host the Gordon Duncan Memorial Piping Competition at the National Celtic Festival in Portarlington, Australia. The Trust’s contribution enhanced the authenticity of the event and established an official link between the VPA and the Trust, which we are honoured to uphold.

The Trust’s generosity was truly exceptional. From providing banners, t-shirts for competitors, and music books, to their warm communication and encouragement, the competition became a genuine celebration of Gordon Duncan and his extraordinary musical legacy.

This year, four pipers competed, performing both a traditional MSR and a freestyle medley that featured a number of Gordon’s iconic tunes. Our secret judges from the legendary band Claymore awarded the perpetual trophy to Daniel Whelan. In a remarkable gesture, Willie Hutton – lead singer of Claymore and Australian Delegate for Festival Interceltique de Lorient – also offered Daniel an all-expenses-paid trip to represent Australia at the 2026 festival in Lorient.

Although Daniel currently competes with Hawthorn Pipe Band (Victoria, Australia) and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band (North Lanarkshire, Scotland), the platform provided through this competition and the support of the Trust affirmed his talent and potential to reach the very highest levels of piping. His skill, dedication, and love for Gordon’s music shone through and were justly celebrated.

The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust has not only honoured Gordon’s legacy but also created an enduring opportunity for Australian pipers to showcase their passion and talent on an international stage. For this, we offer our sincerest thanks.

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust for their generous award in 2024. This support made a significant impact on the Isle of Arran Music School and the young people we serve.
Thanks to your funding, we were able to provide high-quality traditional music tuition to a greater number of children across the island, regardless of their financial background. The award helped us pay for tutors and subsidise lessons for families — ensuring that cost is never a barrier to participation.
In a year when community and cultural connection felt more important than ever, your support enabled us to keep the music alive and thriving. Our students not only grew in confidence and skill, but also developed a deeper appreciation of Scotland’s rich musical heritage — something that will stay with them for life.
We are truly grateful to the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust for recognising the value of what we do. Your belief in our mission has been a source of encouragement and inspiration.
Thank you for helping us make traditional music more accessible, more vibrant, and more deeply rooted in the lives of our young people.

The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust are an amazing organisation, and are always there for us when we need them the most. Our band hit really difficult times and had to drop from Grade 3A to 4B – a considerable drop – and the GDMT stepped up to help us keep our team motivated, inspired, and most of all – together – by allowing us to bring in top level artists to work with our people. We have hosted Chris Armstrong, Kerr McQuillan, Jill Watson, and Calum MacCrimmon who have all worked with our band and our players. This has been the opportunity of a life time, introducing our players (young and old) to some of the best performers in the world, and encouraging them to aim for excellence. Thank you so much to the GDMT for their care and support at what was such a difficult time for us all, and for ensuring the survival of a pipe band that has been active for over 90 years.

The GDMT sponsored and supported the National Piping Centre’s St Andrew’s Day Charity Ball 2024, held on 30 September 2024.

Funded in 1996, the National Piping Centre is at the center of today’s dynamic piping tradition, a cultural hub for traditional music in the heart of Glasgow. The NPC Charity Ball brings together like-minded individuals, organisations and businesses to help support their vital charitable work providing platforms for people of all abilities and ages to play bagpipes, hear bagpipes and be part of our community.

The third annual Ardmore Cup Invitational Solo Piping Competition was held in St Declan’s Village Hall, Ardmore, Ireland, on the 22^nd February 2025. Both the MRS and Medley competitions were won by Finlay Johnston, with Willie McCallum runner up in the MSR and Angus J McColl runner up in the medley.

The Ardmore Cup was inspired by the success of the Sun Belt Invitational Solo Piping Competition in Orlando, Florida, and this year they held the first Junior and Novice Adult competitions which were sponsored by the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust.

The amateur events had a healthy entry of young pipers.

Results:

• Practice Chanter – Harry Bell, Hamilton.
• Novice Adult – Shea Toner
• 14 & Under (above) – Henry Spencer