piob. Means "a pipe" in Scottish.

pìob mhór. Means "a bagpipe" in Scottish. Pronouced "peep vore." You may also see "a' phìob-mhór" which means "the bagpipe" and is pronounced "uh feep vore."

piobaire. Means "pipe player" in Scottish. Pronounced "PEEP-uh-thuh."

piobaireachd. (noun) Used to describe the traditional music of the pipes, sometimes referred to as "the classical music of the pipes." Composed of a ground (or "urlar") which is the first part of the tune, followed by doublings and or variations which substitute embellishments or phrases for those that appear in the ground, then the tune returns to end with the ground or a portion thereof. (Some piobaireachds call for the urlar to be played between each doubling/variation movement.) Complete piobaireachd tunes typically run 6 to 15 minutes in length. Sometimes referred to as "ceol mor." In Scottish, the term "piobaireachd" roughly means "bagpipe music" or "bagpiping." Pronounced "pee-brock."

Excerpted from Andrew Lenz’s Bagpipe Dictionary

Most of us won’t make it past the traditional Gaelic pronunciations of the Great Highland Bagpipes!  For those who choose to pick up the Pipes and enter the uniquely complex and challenging world of becoming a “Piobaire” (check above, in case you forgot!), that is just a tiny crack at the door of the journey to mastery. 

A Solo Piping Competition allows the Pipers to show off their skill, talent and passion for the Pipes as this ancient and mysterious tradition comes alive at the Festival on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  Make a point of stopping by and cheering on your favorite Piper…well, maybe just smile and wave; it’s not like they’ll hear you!

WUSPBA Solo Form          TCFA Entry Form

Below are the information/links for competitors to sign up for a WUSPBA number necessary to become a competitor.

     There is an online or a paper option to be found at:                    The direct online link is: