Support for Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming and The Balmoral Classic is made possible by the following foundations, public agencies, sponsors, businesses, donors, volunteers and staff:
Foundations and Public Agencies
The Heinz Endowments
One of the largest and most innovative independent foundations in the country, The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work.
RK Mellon Family Foundation
The RK Mellon Family Foundation has maintained a commitment to southwestern Pennsylvania since 1978.
Clan Donald Educational and Charitable Trust
The Trust was created for the improvement of the happy relationship existing between Scotland and the United States of America by such educational, literary, scientific, charitable and religious means as the Trustees may from time to time deem appropriate.
Principal Sponsors
McCallum Bagpipes
One of the best known and most advanced bagpipe manufacturers in the world today, McCallum produces the highest quality bagpipes, smallpipes, chanters and piping products. The McCallum Bagpipes brand of Great Highland Bagpipes are the instrument of choice for many of today’s top soloists and pipe band competitors. McCallum Bagpipes is the maker of the overall prize for the Balmoral Classic’s US Junior Solo Bagpiping Championship.
Inveran Bagpipe Makers
Inveran prides itself in preserving the traditional methods of bagpipe craftsmanship, in kindred spirit with makers of old — MacDougall, Lawrie, Henderson & Glen — where each instrument is turned by the hands of skilled craftspeople. With Inveran, you are choosing to purchase quality and a tailored instrument built for you to fit you. No copy machines. No mass production. This is what sets Inveran apart. Inveran is the maker of the first-place piobreachd prize for the Balmoral Classic’s US Junior Solo Bagpiping Championship.
Henderson Imports
Henderson stocks over 100 sets of Highland bagpipes and smallpipes, including Dunbar, McCallum, Gibson, David Naill, John Walsh, RG Hardie, Peter Henderson, and Shepherd. Henderson also stocks Pearl, Premier, and Andante snare, tenor, and bass drums, plus uniforms, practice chanters, reeds, and piping and other supplies. Henderson Imports is the supplier of the overall prize for the Balmoral Classic’s US Junior Solo Drumming Championship.
Additional Sponsors
Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society
Since 1976, Calliope has been a nonprofit educational and presenting organization that promotes and preserves traditional and contemporary folk music and its allied arts. Calliope programs are unique to western Pennsylvania, including its concert series, music school, and annual festival.
Hillman Center for Performing Arts, home of The Balmoral Classic
On the campus of Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, the Hillman Center is available to the community for concerts, recitals, weddings, banquets, courses, rehearsals, galas, and more. Includes the state-of-the-art 641-seat Rauh Theater, the 110-seat Kountz Black Box theater, and 40-seat Wean Room.
Ligonier Highland Games
One of the oldest (over 50 years) and largest Highland games in the US. The Ligonier Highland Games are held on the first weekend in September after Labor Day. Saturday’s events take place in Idlewild Park located three miles west of Ligonier, Pennsylvania and 45 miles east of Pittsburgh.
MacLellan Bagpipes
Custom makers of the most unique, distinctive and highest quality bagpipes and chanters. Instruments are handcrafted from the finest materials, using traditional skills learned in Scotland. Custom engraving on silver and nickel.
Meade Custom Drumming Supplies
Meade Custom Drumming Supplies began in the early 1970s when a bass and tenor drummer noticed the thin selection of mallets available to pipe band drummers. Seeing nothing he liked on the market, Robert Meade made tenor and bass sticks for his own personal use. Soon, he was making custom mallets for other pipe band drummers. Over the years, he has refined his techniques and his product lines have expanded to include workshops, music writing, and instructional materials, including a book, a video, and a DVD.
Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band
The purpose of the pipe band is to represent all of the past and present members of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local No. 1. The pipe band is open to fire fighters, family members and friends. Professional instruction is available for those interested in learning to play the pipe or drums. The band is available for parades, weddings, funerals, etc.
Pipers Cove
Suppliers of fine Scottish and Irish goods, Pipers Cove is a family owned and operated business serving all aspects of the Scottish and Irish cultural community. The owners are John and Joan Nisbet. John is from Musselburgh, Scotland and has a deep involvement in the bagpiping world, having competed individually and as a bandsman in both Scotland and the USA. Joan is from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and is very knowledgeable in all things Irish; she also speaks fluent Gaelic.
Piper’s Pub
A taste of the British Isles on Pittsburgh’s Southside. Open seven days from 11 AM to 1 AM. Full service kitchen Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 11 PM. Sunday brunch from 9 AM to 3 PM. Vast selection of single-malt whiskies, cask-conditioned ales, and draught and bottled beer. Sponsor of the the whisky tasting at the Balmoral Classic’s October Gathering at the Duquesne Club.
Pittsburgh Snax & Nut Company
An old and established importer, roaster and processor of nuts, dried fruit, trail mixes and confections, Pittsburgh Snax & Nut Company’s mission is to continually provide its customers with the highest premium quality product available. Using state-of-the-art cooking technologies and packaging formats, Pittsburgh Snax & Nut Company products embrace a “cook to order” philosophy, thus assuring absolute freshness.
The Priory
Carefully restored and renovated to modern standards, The Priory is a 24-room European-style hotel on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. It features all of the appointments of a large establishment, and the personality and personal service that only a small boutique hotel can offer. The Priory Hotel has been named as one of the world’s top 10 hidden gems by Hotels.com.
St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh
An organization founded and dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Scottish heritage and traditions through educational, philanthropic and social endeavors, primarily in the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Sandy St. James
Distributor of authentic Scottish kilts, bagpipes, Premier drums, pipe chanters, doublets, Scottish Highland dance shoes plus piping, drummming and dancing accessories, Sandy St. James also does kilt alterations and repair.
The Saturday Light Brigade
Award-winning public radio for kids and adults, live from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Every Saturday, 6 AM to noon, on WRCT 88.3 FM Pittsburgh, WIUP 90.1 FM Indiana, WMCO 90.7 FM Muskingham, WSAJ 91.1 FM Grove City, WNJR 91.7 FM Washington, WCUC 91.7 FM Clarion, and slbradio.org. Archived broadcasts available online.
The Voice
The USA’s first and finest piping and drumming magazine, The Voice is the internationally acclaimed publication of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. The Voice focuses on the education of pipers and drummers across the US and international piping and drumming scenes, offering educational and informative articles by some of the world’s top performers and authorities.
Foundations
The Balmoral Classic is supported, in part, by grants from the Howard Heinz Endowment of Pittsburgh, the Clan Donald Educational and Charitable Trust, RK Mellon Family Foundation, and The Sage Foundation. We very much appreciate their vision and generous support.
Thanks to the donors of the US Junior Solo Championship prizes
Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming
Henderson Imports, Ltd.
Inveran Bagpipe Makers
MacLellan Bagpipes
McCallum Bagpipes
Meade Custom DrummingSupplies
Pipers Cove
Sandy St. James
Scott’s Highland Services, Ltd.
Thanks to the donors of auction items for Tartan Day and Balmoral Classic
Birdsfoot Golf Club
Caliban Book Shop
Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society
Claddagh Irish Pub
Irish Design Center
Lynette Castelucci
Little Creek Fine Arts (Paul Jay, potter)
Max’s Allegheny Tavern
Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle Irish Pub
Nemacolin Woodlands
Pittsburgh Flight Training Center
Pittsburgh Snax & Nut Company
Emerson Ray
St. Brendan’s Crossing
Scottish Life
Peter Shefler
The Parador
The Priory
Thistle & Pine
Many thanks to Drew Topping of Piper’s Pub for the whisky tasting.
Non-Profit Supporters
Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society
Clan Donald Educational and Charitable Trust
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh
Ligonier Highland Games
Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band
Pittsburgh Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums
St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh
Saturday Light Brigade Radio Productions, Inc.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Business Sponsors
Bruegger’s
East End Food Coop
Mychael Morohovich
Peppi’s
Sodexo
Soergel Orchards