SCHEDULE AND RULES 2026
The Williamson Hall
27a Duff Avenue, Elgin
on
Saturday 30th May 2026
commencing at 9.00 am
Adjudicator – George Davidson
Please find below a schedule of the competition classes.
PLEASE NOTE THAT CLASS 8, THE FREESTYLE MEDLEY IS
NOW OPEN TO PLAYERS OF 13-18 YEARS OF AGE
Please note also that there is now no minimum age applied to Classes 2, 6, and 7
Please click here for the application form to complete return back to the Festival Secretary at louisemclean56@gmail.com
Entries for Performance Classes should be e-mailed by Monday 25TH May 2026.
Entries for the Own Composition Class should be e-mailed by Saturday 2nd May 2026.
In any class where there is only one entry, the adjudicator’s standards must be satisfied before an award can be made.
If you have any questions about the Festival please contact Louise McLean, the Festival Secretary on 07825 686 929 or at louisemclean56@gmail.com
We would like to thank Rotary Elgin for their continued support of the Festival.
Class 1: 9 years and under – commences 9.00 am
Scottish Air and March - All tunes should be Scottish
Kim Murray Trophy
Medals for first three places
Bill Brian Memorial Trophy awarded to the most promising player in Class 1 or Class 2 who has not been awarded a medal.
Captain George Douglas Trophy awarded for the best individual performance by a resident of Moray who is 12 years and under
Class 2: 12 years and under
Scottish Air, March and Reel – All tunes should be Scottish
McKerron Cup
Medals for first three places
Pat Cameron Chambers Trophy awarded for the best Scottish Air
Bill Brian Memorial Trophy awarded to the most promising player in Class 1 or Class 2 who has not been awarded a medal.
Captain George Douglas Trophy awarded for the best individual performance by a resident of Moray who is 12 years and under
Class 3: Primary Schools Orchestral
Own choice of tunes - All tunes should be Scottish
Maximum playing time 5 minutes
No limit on number or type of instruments
Members of the Orchestra do not have to come from the same school
Sound & Vision Trophy
Class 4: Secondary Ensemble – commences 12.45 pm
Own choice of tunes - All tunes should be Scottish
Maximum playing time 5 minutes
This class is limited to fiddlers, with a maximum of 5 fiddlers in any group. If desired, ensembles may also include one accompanying instrument.
Members of the Ensemble do not have to come from the same school
Frank Collins Trophy
Class 5: Secondary Orchestral
Own choice of tunes - All tunes should be Scottish
Maximum playing time 5 minutes
No limit on number or type of instruments
Members of the Orchestra do not have to come from the same school
Fochabers Cup
Class 6: 16 years and under - March, Strathspey and Reel
March, Strathspey and Reel - All tunes should be Scottish
George Moir Trophy
Prize money: 1st £20 2nd £15.00 3rd £10.00
Class 7: 16 years and under - Slow Air
Slow Air - All tunes should be Scottish
McDonald Cup, Rutherford Shield and Strathisla Shield
Prize money: 1st £20
Classes 6 and 7
The Rotary Elgin Trophy will be awarded for the best individual combined performance in the 16 years and under Classes by a resident of Moray. The Andy McCormack Trophy will be awarded to a player showing great promise over both Classes 6 and 7 apart from the Class winners.
Class 8: 18 years and under - Freestyle Medley
Own choice of tunes – entrants are asked to play a medley of tunes written in a “Scottish idiom” and lasting no longer than 6 minutes.
In addition to playing skills, the adjudicator will also take account of the variety of the styles of the tunes included in the medley and the entertainment value of the set as a whole. The adjudicator will keep an open mind on how individual tunes are played.
The Moray Gaelic Society Quaich
Prize money: 1st £20 2nd £15.00 3rd £10.00
Class 9: Senior (17 years and over) - March, Strathspey and Reel
March, Strathspey and Reel - All tunes should be Scottish
Entrants in this Class may not enter the Championship Class
John Barr Cochrane Trophy
Prize money: 1st £25 2nd £15.00 3rd £10.00
The Maria Senk Rosebowl will be awarded for the best overall performance in Classes 9 and 10 by a member of the Elgin Strathspey and Reel Society.
Class 10: Senior (17 years and over) - Slow Air
Slow Air - All tunes should be Scottish
Entrants in this Class may not enter the Championship Class
Elgin Town Council Cup
Prize money: 1st £25 2nd £15.00 3rd £10.00
The Maria Senk Rosebowl will be awarded for the best overall performance in Classes 9 and 10 by a member of the Elgin Strathspey and Reel Society.
Class 11: Open Orchestral
Own choice of tunes - All tunes should be Scottish
Maximum playing time 5 minutes
No limit on number or type of instruments
Duncan Pirie Cup
Class 12: Championship Class
Slow Air, March, Strathspey and Reel - All tunes should be Scottish
This Class is open to competitors who have previously won a first prize in an open solo competition at any festival.
William Macpherson Trophy
Prize money: 1st £100 2nd £50.00 3rd £25.00
Class 13: Composers’ Competition
Your entry for the 2026 Festival should be a Strathspey.
Entries should be e-mailed as an attachment along with the entry form and should be sent to Louise McLean by Saturday 2nd May.
The music attachment should include the name of the tune, but not the name of the composer.
If you are using a music-writing programme, please send a PDF copy. If you are submitting a handwritten copy, please scan it rather than photographing it.
The Society reserves the right to circulate any tunes submitted to the Festival, publish them on its website and play them at its concerts.
Effie and Harry Glasgow Trophy
Prize money: 1st £25
Class 14: Evening Orchestral Competition – commences 7.00 pm
Orchestras will play two sets. The first set will be a warm-up set of Scottish tunes which should not exceed five minutes and which will not be judged. The second set will be the competition set comprising Scottish tunes of your own choice which should include a Slow Air and which should not exceed eight minutes.
The Elgin Strathspey & Reel Society Trophy