Annabel Charlton

Annabel Charlton is a piper from Pitlochry, Perthshire and is a 2nd year Bachelor of Music (Hons) student at the University of Aberdeen. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Derek Ogston Music Scholarship at university.

She started learning the chanter at age 6 in 2012 and advanced onto the bagpipes in December 2013. Her piping journey began with the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band where she competed in Grade 4B. She then competed with Edradour Pitlochry and Blair Atholl Pipe Band in Grades 3B and 3A where they placed 2nd at the World Pipe Band Championships (Grade 3B) in 2022. Most recently, Annabel was a member of Police Scotland Fife Pipe Band in 2025, placing 5th at the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 1.

Annabel’s pipes have taken her to many countries including Canada, Northern Ireland, Switzerland and Germany where she has had the opportunity to play at the Avenches Tattoo in Switzerland and the Berlin and Bremen Tattoos in Germany. She looks forward to returning to these events later this year.

Annabel receives private tuition from Mr Jack Lee, a world-renowned piper from Vancouver, Canada who has had an extremely successful solo piping and pipe band career. He is often regarded as one of the world’s leading pipers and has won all the top solo prizes available, often on multiple occasions. She has received his tuition since September 2022.

A regular on the solo competition circuit, Annabel recently won the U18 March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR) and Piobaireachd at the 2024 All Ireland Solos in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, followed by 2nd place in the B grade Piobaireachd at the 2025 All Ireland Solos. She looks forward to joining the senior ranks this year, competing in C Grade competitions across Scotland with the Competing Piper’s Association (CPA) as well as travelling to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to compete in competitions there too.