2025 Murray Henderson Clasp to the Comunn na Piobaireachd Gold Medal for Piobaireachd – New Zealand

Greg Wilson

The Robert Burns Society, together with the Clan Donald Trust for the Gaelic Performing Arts, is delighted to announce that Greg Wilson has been named the winner of the 2025 Murray Henderson Clasp to the Comunn na Piobaireachd Gold Medal for Piobaireachd in New Zealand.

Greg began learning the pipes at the age of nine under the instruction of Fergus Matheson and Airdrie Stewart, later continuing his studies with Donald Bain and, more recently, Murray Henderson. He has achieved notable success as a solo competitor in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Scotland. Among the major highlights of his piping career are the Gold Medals at the Argyllshire Gathering and The Northern Meeting, as well as three Clasps to the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting.

After leaving school, Greg enlisted in the New Zealand Army, completing training at Duntroon in Australia before commissioning into the Royal New Zealand Engineers. He departed the army in 1998 to become Coordinator of the National Schools Piping Project at The Piping Centre in Glasgow (1998–2001). He rejoined the NZ Army in 2002 and served in Iraq with British forces from 2003 to 2004. Greg now operates a successful bagpipe reed–making business and works as Director Programme Delivery for Crown Infrastructure Delivery (a Crown company).

His competitive record includes an extensive list of major achievements, among them:

• Gold Medals at Oban and The Northern Meeting
• Three Clasps to the Gold Medal at The Northern Meeting
• The Dunvegan Medal and four consecutive Colonel Jock MacDonald Clasps
• Three consecutive Silver Chanters (Dunvegan Castle)
• Bratach Gorm (Blue Banner, London) — twice
• Gillies Cup (London)
• Four Braemar Gold Medals
• A Grade March, The Northern Meeting
• A Grade MSR, The Northern Meeting
• Runner-up, Glenfiddich Championship
• NZ Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal and 18 Clasps to the Gold Medal
• Canadian Gold Medal and Clasp
• R U Brown Gold Medal and R U Brown Clasp, Australia
• Over 30 New Zealand championship titles

Greg has also been deeply involved in the New Zealand pipe band scene, performing with the City of Dunedin Pipe Band, the Manawatu Scottish Society Pipe Band, and the Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band. Beyond performance, he contributes significantly in leadership and administrative capacities, serving as:

Member of the RNZPBA Music Judges Selection Committee

Convener of the Pipers and Judges Grading Committee for the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand

Secretary of the Comunn na Piobaireachd Music Committee

Principal (Piping), RNZPBA College of Piping and Drumming