The bagpiper of the First Cider of the Years wins the MacCrimmon in Lorient

Diego Lobo was crowned today, August 10, as the winner of the MacCrimmon Trophy at the Lorient Interceltique Festival. This award, which welcomes the 8 best pipers of the Celtic nations, is a sign of excellence and professionalism throughout the world.

The 4 representatives of Asturies participated today in what is the event that begins the competitions. Diego Lobo, Daniel Meré, Nel Cortizo and Luis Enrique Sánchez traveled here, after a year working to qualify. In order to participate, they must first receive the approval of the Asturian Delegation, which follows their musical performance in the country; Afterwards, they have to prepare three pieces for the trophy: one from the traditional Breton repertoire, another from Galician and another from Asturian, from a selection.

Usually, the contestants change bagpipes depending on the interpretation; In previous editions, the also winner Fernando Vázquez Cárcaba (2022) did the same with instruments from his workshop, in order to adapt the fingering to the Galician bagpipe, just as María López Carballo (2019) did to play the Asturian style.

However, Diego Lobo, who opened the competition, chose to change bagpipes between pieces to adapt the tuning, but not the fingering system. This fact was key to bringing the award to the Ayer council and breaking the tie with his rival, the Galician Xesús Rodríguez. In 2022, Lobo performed all the pieces with a single bagpipe, and this difficulty did not favor his results.

The Ayeran, director of the El Gumial and Garulla bagpipe bands, recently founded, in the council of Xixón, the Saxum Bagpipe Band.

From here, we congratulate him for his work, which has now given us many joys.

*Pictures by Próspero Morán.
*Text by Aymara González Montoto.