National Piping Centre

Last updated

The National Piping Centre
National Piping Center Logo.png
MottoEnriching Lives Through Piping
FoundersSir Brian Ivory, Lady Ivory and Sandy Grant Gordon CBE
Established1996
FocusTo promote the study of the music and history of the Highland Bagpipe.
StaffDirector: Finlay MacDonald . Head of Piping Studies: John Mulhearn
Key peoplePatron: King Charles III
Location
30-34 McPhater St, Glasgow G4 0HW, Scotland, United Kingdom
Coordinates 55°52′02″N4°15′24″W / 55.86715°N 4.25654°W / 55.86715; -4.25654
National Piping Centre
Interactive map of The National Piping Centre
Museum of Piping
National Piping Centre 03.jpg
Entrance to the National Piping Centre and Museum of Piping on McPhater St
Location map Scotland Glasgow Central.png
Red pog.svg
Location within Central Glasgow
Type Music museum
Key holdingsIain Dall Mackay Chanter [1] [2]
Public transit access Glasgow Subway.svg Cowcaddens
Website www.thepipingcentre.co.uk
Listed Building – Category B
Official name30-34 McPhater Street and 3 and 5 Larbert Street, The Piping Centre, Cowcaddens Former Free Church and Hall
Designated15 December 1970
Reference no. LB32755

The National Piping Centre is an institution in Glasgow, Scotland, dedicated to the playing of the bagpipes, to include not only the Great Highland Bagpipes, but also the Scottish smallpipes and Irish uileann pipes, as well as other traditional musical instruments.

Contents

The institution includes practice spaces, an auditorium, and the Museum of Piping.

In 2018, the National Piping Centre formally merged with the College of Piping, another historic Glasgow-based piping institution, to become the National Piping Centre incorporating the College of Piping, further consolidating its role as a central hub for piping education and heritage in Scotland. [3]

It is located in the Cowcaddens district of the city, in the former Cowcaddens Free Church. The building is Category B listed. [4] Following the merger with the College of Piping, it obtained the College's building on Otago Street, in Glasgow's West End.

The Museum of Piping

The Museum of Piping displays a rich collection of bagpipes and related artifacts, tracing 300 years of piping heritage. It features Scottish bagpipes from the 18th century, European bagpipes, and items related to famous pipers like John MacColl and Robert Reid. The museum also highlights the competitive tradition of Highland bagpipes. [5]

See also

References

  1. "Oldest Highland pipe chanter comes home to Scotland's National Piping Centre". pipes|drums. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  2. "The Museum of Piping at The National Piping Centre". VisitScotland. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  3. "Glasgow College and Piping Centre merge". pipes|drums. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  4. "Piping Centre". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  5. "Visit the Museum - The National Piping Centre". www.thepipingcentre.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2023.