QHPS Solo Pipers Grading Panel
The purpose of the Solo Pipers and Judges Grading Panel is to ensure all pipers who compete in QHPS are assigned an appropriate grade. These gradings will now replace the previous PBA/PBQ solo gradings. A QHPS Judges List will also be maintained by QHPS.
As the standard of solo piping in Queensland continues to progress higher, the new 2026 grading systems for both players and judges have been developed in a very similar way to the systems currently and successfully used in New Zealand (NZ Piping and Dancing Association) and Victoria (Victorian Pipers Association) and we thank these strong organisations for their assistance in developing our grading systems in Queensland.
The Grading Panel will comprise of the QHPS President and two appointed senior and experienced solo pipers/adjudicators;
2026 Grading Panel:
Jim Allan (QHPS President)
Jamie Hawke
Sandy Dalziel
Grading Goals
QHPS Grading is based on giving all pipers and drummers an equal opportunity to compete at the correct and most suitable level. This ensures fair competition between participants of like standard, this creates the challenge and rewards of healthy competition and promotes and retains high standards of bagpipe musicianship in Queensland. The QHPS has all current member musicians best interests in mind and grading is applied on a fair and knowledgeable basis.
Grading Standards
The QHPS endeavours to grade appropriately to maintain a healthy local solo competition scene and also allow all pipers and drummers the opportunity continue their solo development by competing interstate and overseas at the appropriate, accepted and expected level.
The QHPS has an obligation to its pipers and drummers to ensure that they are correctly and most suitably graded to further their individual playing standard in the short and long term, while fostering fair and equal competition.
Pipers will be given a grade for Light Music and/or Piobaireachd. A piper’s grade may differ between disciplines.
Re-Grading
Grading Assessment will be conducted twice yearly, after the Maclean Easter solo competitions have concluded and at the end of the QHPS season.
The QHPS Grading Panel will review the grading of all its pipers and assesses the current standard of solo competition in Queensland.
The assessment and regrading of all pipers in D Grade, C Grade, B Grade and A Grade will be determined using the following information:
-QHPS competition record for the current/previous season
-Any interstate or international results
-Assessment of player standard, (not only in Queensland but with national and international standards in mind).
-Where applicable, received input from an adjudicator/s throughout the season
-Where applicable, feedback from tutors
-Via appeal process.
-Via recording assessment process.
Winning competitions and/or Champion of Champions does not equate to automatic upgrading. Regrading is based on the criteria and considerations above.
Review of Grading
A piper, tutor or parent, may appeal their allocated grade by emailing the grading committee.
A review of the grading will take place as soon as reasonably possible, based on the regrading criteria as above.
Review of grading may include:
– Submitting current video/audio recordings
– Organising a live performance for the Grading Panel
– Direct consultation with the piper and tutor
All decisions made by review are final, and in the best interest of the piper for the current period.
Applying for Grading
All QHPS competitors must have a current QHPS grading. All competitors who have competed at QHPS last year will be assigned grades for the upcoming year. If a piper does not yet have a grading, then they must submit a recording via email. The recording should consist of a bagpipe performance of:
Light Music relevant to the grade requirements for which the piper is applying.
Piobaireachd relevant to the grade requirements for which the piper is applying.