By Paula Glendinning
The 2026 Nicol-Brown weekend began with an exceptional judges’ recital in Rockville, Maryland on Friday evening, October 9. Skip Cleavinger entertained an appreciative audience with several sets on the Highland Bagpipes, and then more music on the uilleann pipes, accompanied by his wife, Rebecca Baumbach on the fiddle. Skip and Rebecca are two members of a new trio called North Channel, focusing on the shared musical traditions of Scotland and Ireland. After the Nicol-Brown competitors were introduced, the crowd was treated to 45 minutes of music from Double Gold Medallist Craig Sutherland, Pipe Sergeant of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. Every minute of the entire concert was brilliant and inspiring.
The contest on Saturday, October 10 was a full day of events: 6/8 Marches; Piobaireachd; and March, Strathspey, and Reel. The nine competitors received valuable comments and musical analysis from the judges on their score sheets, and the winners were given incredibly generous prizes from donors around the world.
2026 Nicol-Brown Competitors:
Luke Baltrusaitis (Waterloo, Ontario)
Greg Bowen (Waterloo, Ontario)
Olivia Corcoran (Gaithersburg, Maryland)
Logan Gorsuch (Auburn, California)
Liam Horne (Wise, Virginia)
Jack Martin (Pender Island, British Columbia)
Hazen Metro (Williamstown, Vermont)
Colin Richdale (Coquitlam, British Columbia)
Brady Webb (Westville, Nova Scotia)
Unable to attend due to illness: Abby Long (Houston, Texas)
The 2026 Judges:
Craig Sutherland (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Skip Cleavinger (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
Mark your calendars for October 8–9, 2027. The Nicol-Brown competition is held each year on the Saturday of Columbus Day Weekend / Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend.
The 2026 Overall Nicol-Brown Championship
1. LIAM HORNE (20 points)
2. JACK MARTIN (15 points)
3. LOGAN GORSUCH (8 points) Piobaireachd preference
4. COLIN RICHDALE (8 points)
5. HAZEN METRO (6 points) Piobaireachd preference
The Robert Nicol-Robert Brown Chalice for Piobaireachd
1. LIAM HORNE (9 points) – Lament for the Iolaire
2. JACK MARTIN (7 points) – Fair Honey
3. LOGAN GORSUCH (6 points) – The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute
4. HAZEN METRO (5 points) – Lament (Salute) for the Young Laird of Dungallan
5. COLIN RICHDALE (4 points) – The King’s Taxes
William Ross Challenge Targe MSR Competition
1. JACK MARTIN (8 points)
Knightswood Ceilidh, Inveraray Castle and The Smith of Chilliechassie
2. OLIVIA CORCORAN (6 points)
Donald MacLellan of Rothesay, Susan MacLeod and Alick C. MacGregor
3. LIAM HORNE (5 points)
Dugald MacColl’s Farewell to France, Lady Louden and Broadford Bay
4. COLIN RICHDALE (4 points)
Mrs. John MacColl, Blackley of Hillsdale and The Sheepwife
5. BRADY WEBB (3 points)
Brigadier General Ronald Cheape of Tiroran, The Bob of Fettercairn and Lt. Col. D.J.S. Murray
Donald MacLeod Memorial 6/8 March Competition
1. LIAM HORNE (6 points)
P/M Donald MacLean of Lewis and Mrs. Lily Christie
2. GREG BOWEN (4 points)
Tom Speirs’s Welcome to Glenalmond and The Dundee City Police Pipe Band
3. LUKE BALTRUSAITIS (3 points)
Mardick and Mrs. MacDonald of Uig
4. LOGAN GORSUCH (2 points)
Lady Dorothea Stuart Murray and Redford Cottage
5. HAZEN METRO (1 point)
Dr. Peter Pern and Bruce Gandy’s Farewell to the Iron Horse
Dress and Deportment
1. COLIN RICHDALE
This prize is a special recognition for the effort and thought put into the presentation of performances, showing respect for the contest, the judges, the audience, and love of the music.
The prizes awarded and more details are available online: https://nicol-brown.org/results.html