DUNOON piper Alasdair Henderson has reached the pinnacle of solo piping after being crowned overall champion at the prestigious 2026 Glenfiddich Piping Championship.
Alasdair claimed the coveted title for the first time at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, on Saturday, October 31, describing the triumph as the best day of his piping life.
Widely regarded as the most prestigious competition in solo piping, the Glenfiddich brings together just ten of the world’s finest pipers, each earning an invitation through success at major competitions throughout the year.
Alasdair booked his place among the elite after winning the Piping Live! Masters Solo Competition in August.
And he made the most of his opportunity, winning the Piobaireachd competition and securing third place in the March, Strathspey and Reel to clinch the overall championship ahead of runner-up Stuart Liddell and third-placed Iain Speirs.
Reflecting on his achievement, Alasdair said: “Receiving the award on Saturday was the best day of my piping life! I’ve worked an entire lifetime towards this and it feels fairly surreal at the moment.
“I was very happy with the way I played on Saturday and thought I put two really good runs together. I feel honoured to receive this prestigious title and trophy.”
The victory marks another remarkable milestone in a piping journey that began in Dunoon, where Alasdair was first taught by his uncle, Pipe Major Jim Henderson.
Piping runs deep in the family, with connections stretching back to renowned composer Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, whose works include Lochanside and The Road to the Isles.
McLellan was a relative of Alasdair’s and taught his uncle Jim as a young boy, establishing a family piping tradition that continues to flourish.
Alasdair joined Inveraray and District Pipe Band in 2010 and was appointed Pipe Sergeant just four years later, a position he continues to hold.
Now a piping instructor at Fettes College in Edinburgh, he is passing on his knowledge to the next generation while continuing to compete at the highest level.
His first Glenfiddich crown is the culmination of years of dedication, taking him from his earliest lessons in Dunoon to the very top of the solo piping world
