My work.
In these interesting and unique times, we often turn to new pursuits or dust off the old ones and give them another look in. Piping and drumming, dancing and travel - any and all of these things are covered in my new online platform on Patreon. Every month you'll get new lessons on the chanter, information on topics from buying your instrument and where to get uniform parts, to how to plan a trip or an event - and with music, guest players' advice and lots of different recordings added in, you'll have lots to keep you both busy and challenged.
For only $50 Canadian per month, you'll get all this and more - previews to shows, pre sale of tickets, early information on interesting trips and when you sign up, know that your monthly payment will help with supporting Celtic work in many communities. You'll pay it forward while learning yourself - a most worthwhile endeavor!
Register at www.patreon.com - look for 'Champion Bagpipes' and you'll find me.
Or, use the red logo below, and come join our community. It's big, loud, and a lot of fun!
For only $50 Canadian per month, you'll get all this and more - previews to shows, pre sale of tickets, early information on interesting trips and when you sign up, know that your monthly payment will help with supporting Celtic work in many communities. You'll pay it forward while learning yourself - a most worthwhile endeavor!
Register at www.patreon.com - look for 'Champion Bagpipes' and you'll find me.
Or, use the red logo below, and come join our community. It's big, loud, and a lot of fun!
Certifications and awards
Throughout my playing career, I have had the wonderful opportunity to study alongside some of the world's best players and study under the world's best teachers. In my teens, I traveled to South Porcupine, Ontario, to spend 2 weeks each summer at the Northern Ontario School for Piping and Drumming - known as the Timmins School! We spent 10 days doing comprehensive study in many aspects of the Celtic arts, and there was dancing too - and what a grand time we had! During my 4th year, I was asked to take on a small group of 10 beginner students in addition to my own studies, and I happily said yes - and at the age of 17, I was now on the roster teaching alongside such greats as Seumas MacNeill, Murray Henderson, Harry McNulty, Alex Duthart and Bert Barr. Nothing better, and nothing has stopped the teaching since then.
I have spent time advancing my personal work by traveling to Glasgow to study at the world renowned College of Piping under Rab Wallace and his staff. Here are the certicates I earned, and one certificate awarded to me by our own Prime Minister at the time, PM Stephen Harper.
I have spent time advancing my personal work by traveling to Glasgow to study at the world renowned College of Piping under Rab Wallace and his staff. Here are the certicates I earned, and one certificate awarded to me by our own Prime Minister at the time, PM Stephen Harper.
Upon our father's passing, we wanted to honor his wishes to keep supporting the Celtic arts all over the world, and we decided with the help of our mum to put all donations in his name into a fund which helped pay for renovations at the College of Piping in Glasgow, and a plaque in his name which proudly hangs in the school.
Social Media.
My discography
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A Royal AnniversaryFor the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, we sent a card. They returned the gesture, and how lovely is this!
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Scotland Trip Journey, 2005
Poppy Campaign Parade, October 2018, Ottawa
Myself and former RCAF Pipe Major Bill Gilmour at the Army Officers Mess, Ottawa 2017.
Magnificent memories.
Her Majesty The Queen.
So much to celebrate. Please enjoy this video from CTV Ottawa about our corgi parade and pipe band performance. Here.
The Twitter Feed.
Listen to Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion's breaking interview with Alan Neal on CBC's All In a Day where she describes what it was like to meet and perform for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, August 19th, 2013
Check out the piece aired by CBC News Ottawa: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/Ottawa/ID/2399839028/
As well as a clip from CTVs Canada AM:
http://canadaam.ctvnews.ca/canadian-bagpipers-prepare-to-play-for-the-queen-in-scotland-1.1399472
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There are times when you get to meet famous people, or make friends with famous people through your fabulous friends.
During the recording of my 1997 cd 'The Romance of the Pipes' I got to work with sound engineer Barry Ainsworth from London who's worked with some of the most notable names in rock and roll, and some of their well-known tracks. I got to learn that Barry worked with David Bowie, Queen, and Genesis, Supertramp, Rush, The Kinks and Deep Purple.....and it was through Barry that I got to talk to Phil Collins, who's an amateur piper and now fan of the band. I sent Phil a band t shirt, and he sent us an autographed drum head from his kit. A tradition was born..... |
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Met Roger Hodgson through my pal Trevor. Roger had a piper on his track 'Along Came Mary' which is a great tune, and I kept in touch with him over the years so when his tour brought him to Ottawa he invited me to play onstage with him. My entourage of 2 was massive and very happy to be there with me, and I with them, and the night was amazing. This man is a gentleman and great talent, and am looking forward to playing with him again.....and the fact that 'Breakfast in America' was engineered by Barry Ainsworth is an interesting coincidence....the world is small and surprising.....
Over the years, I have played with local bands in Ottawa including Flow 14, Royal Ottawa and Great Scott. After playing at the Hamilton Military Tattoo in 1996, I was invited to be part of the "Romance of the Pipes" and also signed to Valentine Music in London. Bandleader now controls my print sales worldwide of my music!
Roger Hodgson, former lead singer of Supertramp
Sometimes you get a magnificent opportunity to be part of a project that celebrates people from coast to coast. In 2000, the great Johnny Bagpipes, piping comedian from British Columbia came up with an idea to interview people who all held interesting day jobs but had piping in common. That project became the documentary 'They Pipe Among Us' and the subsequent 'They Pipe Among Us Too' was interviews and out takes from the first one. And there were a few....please watch and enjoy! Oh, and keep piping.
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The fiddling giant Ashley MacIsaac - having met Ashley in Winnipeg back in 1998, we had the chance to play at WestFest as his opening band, and it was just fantastic to be asked to play that great festival. We hope to be back in 2016 to perform again!
The boys from Sloan. Love their music, and were honoured to open for them and the Mahones at Beau's Oktoberfest in 2013 - what a night that was!!
On April 7, 2006, the pipe band became the first one to ever play at the famed CBGB Lounge in NYC.
I get asked to play with bands around Ottawa including 'Royal Ottawa', 'Flow 14' and 'In Heat' - its so great to be asked, and every show and band is unique. Rock and roll!
When the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band travelled to Scotland and Ireland in August, 2015, we had the great honor of performing alongside our friends in the 'Canadian Massed Pipes and Drums' Pipe Band which had players from every province and territory in Canada. After the concert on August 19 at Balmoral Castle which included Her Majesty The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Earl and Countess of Essex and their children, the officers of the massed band were invited to meet Her Majesty and have a quick conversation. Having been to Balmoral just 2 years previous, I was welcomed with a warm smile and a lovely hello from Her Majesty. A wonderful occasion which I spoke about upon our return on Canada's national tv morning show, Canada AM. I welcome you to have a look at the clip here....can you catch me talking about Princess Charlotte looking like a 'Maple Leaf Sausage'? Live tv....! CANADA AM
Our wonderful friends in Scotland, Canada and Australia put together a monthly newspaper called 'The Scottish Banner' which has loads of terrific information on Scottish history, events, memories, recipes - with lovely photos and contributors. They are a great supporter of the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, and terrific folk! Pick up your copy at your local newsagent, and enjoy a great read!
