Testimonials

The GDMT were represented at the 20th MG ALBA SCOTS TRAD MUSIC AWARDS at the Caird Hall, Dundee on Sunday 4th December 2022. A great evening of Scottish music and wonderful folk.

The GDMT sponsored the “Original Work of the Year” and the winner was ‘Talamh Beo-Living Land, commissioned by Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership Scheme’.  The award was presented by Chris Duncan on behalf of the GDMT.

Ian Duncan, our Chair, stood in on behalf of GDMT Trustee Ian Green of Greentrax, who sponsored the last award of the evening, the “Live Act of the Year”. Ian presented the award to the worthy winners ‘Skerryvore’.  A great cèilidh followed the awards with lots of dancing.

Bu toil leis a’ Chomuinn taing mhòr ag ràdh ri Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust a th’ air taic-airgid a chumail ri farpaisean pìobaireachd a’ Mhòid am bliadhna. Abair deagh latha a bh’ ann le tòrr pìobairean air leth tàlantach.

An Comunn Gàidhealach would like to express our gratitude to the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, who have kindly helped support the Mòd piping competitions this year as sponsors. It was a wonderful day, full of talented pipers.

The year 2022 was a great year for me in life and in piping. I must thank The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust for their continued support towards my aims and goals in piping.

I am continuing with my lessons from Willie Morrison on a weekly basis, my main focus is with pibroch. I also continue with my band playing with Shotts & Dykehead at grade one. Furthermore, I am continuing my study in second year at ‘The Royal Conservatoire’ in Glasgow, on the piping course.  I would like to add some of my achievements and experiences of 2022 in piping.

I joined the ‘Competing Pipers Association’ in early 2022 in grade ‘C’ at the end of the year I have been promoted to grade ‘B’.  I have won many events but my most memorable were winning the intermediate MSR at the ‘Argyllshire Gathering.’  And my first open class win in Pibroch at the Luss Highland Games. I continue to teach others and pass on my skills in piping at my local Boys Brigade hall in Chryston.  Furthermore, I’m always thinking of others, I have helped to contribute towards two charitable events. The first was in Northern Ireland for kids with cancer (Belfast hospital) with the Shotts pipe band. Secondly, I was involved with some pipers and drummers playing in some chosen Glasgow pubs (cash for kids). On both occasions, four figure sums were raised.  Looking forward to a new exciting year in piping 2023.

Thanks again for you support at The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust.

The money that the GDMT provided the music school really helped see the project through the summer months. The money went towards providing the pupils of the music school tuition and helped the see the project through to the end of the year. This allowed the band to complete their first ever competition season then leading the project to then be nominated for the Trad Awards 2022 for best community project (results still awaiting). The money went a long way and allowed pipers, drummers and clarsach to benefit from consistent tuition from the music school and contribute more towards their local community. A big thank you to the GDMT to helping this to happen.

I am very grateful for the support from the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust this year.  I have used my award to promote and create a distinctive personal voice as a piper in relation with Scottish Traditional Music.  I have also been working on my performance and development with other instruments and musicians.  This year, I have also had more of a focus on music theory and digital literacy.  I have also been successful with limited online competitions and playing on the Big Rab Show and playing at piping live.  I am also continuing to take lessons on a weekly basis for my long term tutor Willie Morrison.  I am very grateful for the support in my piping career and my study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Thanks to everyone at the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust.