2026 Scottish Performing Arts Classic

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Robert Burns Society

Robert Burns Society of Charleston

The Robert Burns Society of Charleston, a local non-profit that supports and promotes Scottish-American history, heritage, and culture, announced today that the charity is bringing four Scottish prize competitions for bagpipes, harp and fiddle to Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto on June 5 and June 6, 2026 at South Carolina Society Hall, 72 Meeting Street. Tickets are on sale now for $35 per event (or a daily bundle for $60) at www.burnscharleston.org. The Classic is brought to Piccolo through a partnership between The Robert Burns Society of Charleston and the Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts.

As part of the Piccolo Spoleto series, this year’s 2026 Scottish Performing Arts Classic showcases world-class performers competing during four events at the 2026 Scottish Performing Arts Classic for the Angus Katie McDonald Memorial Prize for Ceol Beag (Bagpipes), the Joseph MacDonald Memorial Prize for Piobaireachd (Bagpipes), the Princess Margaret of the Isles Memorial Prize for Clarsach (Harp), and the Dan Rory MacDonald Memorial Prize for Scottish Fiddle (Fiddle).

Bagpipe Competitions Friday, June 5, 2026 1:30pm & 4:30pm at 72 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC:

The Angus Katie McDonald Memorial Prize for Ceol Beag (Bagpipes) is set for 1:30pm-3:30pm and The Joseph MacDonald Memorial Prize for Piobaireachd (Bagpipes) competition is scheduled from 4:30-6:30pm.

Four renowned competitors for both prizes include prominent prize recitalist Angus J MacColl of Oban, Scotland who is considered one of the premier recitalists in Scotland; major prize winning soloist Bruce Gandy, a Canadian bagpipe player and composer and former World Pipe Band Champion with the 78th Fraser Highlanders; professional bagpiper Derek Midgley, a full-time piping instructor based in Monmouth County, New Jersey who works to improve the piping community all along the east coast; and gold medalist Greg Wilson, who began piping at the age of nine and has had considerable success on the solo competition boards in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Scotland, earning dozens of major prizes and over 30 New Zealand championship titles.

Both June 5th bagpipe competitions will be judged by Bob Worall, who has been selected to judge the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on 14 occasions. For the last 12 years, he has been the colour commentator for the BBC’s broadcast of the World Pipe Band Championships. He is a member of the Piobaireachd Society’s Senior Judges list and has adjudicated major competitions throughout the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Brittany and South Africa.

Harp Competition Saturday, June 6, 2026 1:00pm at 72 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC:

Tickets are also on sale now to experience the 2026 Princess Margaret of the Isles Memorial Prize for Clarsach (Harp) Competition during Piccolo Spoleto. Four outstanding harpists including Grace English, James Ruff, Riko Matsuoka Komura, and Chad MacAnally will perform and compete on June 6 from 1-3pm at 72 Meeting Street.

Scottish Fiddle Competition Saturday, June 6, 2026 4:00pm at 72 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC:

The society’s final event is the 2026 Dan R. MacDonald Memorial Prize for Scottish Fiddle Competition. Four outstanding nationally recognized fiddlers including Louise Bichan, Shane Watson, David Gardner, and Paula Johannesen will compete for the coveted Dan R. MacDonald Prize from 4-6pm at 72 Meeting Street.

"Prepare to be amazed by the exceptional international talent performing on clarsach (harp), fiddle and piobaireachd (the classical music of the great Highland Bagpipe),” exclaimed COL (Ret.) Wayne Morgan, President of The Robert Burns Society Charleston. “The 2026 Scottish Performing Arts Classic brings together world-class musicians competing for prestigious prizes for their skill and artistry. Join us at Piccolo Spoleto for this unique opportunity to engage with Scottish heritage, learn about its artistic history and connect with the community.”

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.burnscharleston.org. For more information on The Robert Burns Society of Charleston and its upcoming events, visit www.burnscharleston.com.