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.
Hosting events in Ottawa means too that you can come and join us, or get information on how to host your own where you live - now or in the future, and all with the details already considered and often tried and tested! But you can join us for the upcoming summer events - National Tartan Day, B in the Park, and more - visit us here for basic info, join Patreon for private details, and go to www.sospb.com to see our calendar for updates.
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, click this link to go directly to the page. You'll love all the loud, joyful work!
Hosting events in Ottawa means too that you can come and join us, or get information on how to host your own where you live - now or in the future, and all with the details already considered and often tried and tested! But you can join us for the upcoming summer events - National Tartan Day, B in the Park, and more - visit us here for basic info, join Patreon for private details, and go to www.sospb.com to see our calendar for updates.
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, click this link to go directly to the page. You'll love all the loud, joyful work!
The Belfast Tattoo, 2024 - listen to the Big Rab show podcast and hear my interview at the 40 minute mark. What a good time we had!
Anarkilt. Fashion that gives back.
Being part of highland history
If you want to sponsor a trophy, it's easy. Visit the Ottawa Highland Dancing Association at www.ohda.ca and see how you can take part, with very affordable pricing at all levels. And with Scotdance Canada 2025 coming to Ottawa, that's another chance to sponsor a trophy, and more. Come back for updates. Cheers!
National Tartan Day 2024
National Tartan Day 2023
The Queen in Ottawa
There is a wonderful pictorial tribute to Her Majesty The Queen outside the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa right now, celebrating her visits to Canada. I paid a visit, and took photos of the prints they put up. Go and see it if you can, but if not, here they are.
A mention in the UK press....
With the very sad news of Her Majesty's passing, my friend and wonderful singer Michaela Foster Marsh did an interview about her performance on August 17 for The Queen at Balmoral Castle. She smartly sang a song that I wrote, and she did a great job. Read the full article here.
In memory of The Queen, we had the lovely honour of celebrating her life in many ways. Here are some of the links to those events.
In memory of The Queen, we had the lovely honour of celebrating her life in many ways. Here are some of the links to those events.
The Platinum Jubilee Weekend
We had a tremendous weekend celebrating the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's ascension to the throne. We enjoyed piping, dancing, song and more - with groups from Ottawa, Kingston and Hamilton, everyone came together to celebrate and entertain the many people who came to Sparks Street in Ottawa for this historic weekend. We have cards for Her Majesty, we enjoyed lovely cupcakes, and we loved the corgi march which was a huge highlight. We hope you enjoy these photos and videos of the weekend, and we wish Her Majesty The Queen all the very best on her wonderful legacy.
BBC coverage of the corgi march....
BBC coverage of the corgi march....
The Social Media
You can post about our event and share your own stories using the hashtag #PlatinumJubilee which has a worldwide audience. We will be posting live to Facebook as well so you can join in from where you are and enjoy the programming!
Our participants
We are grateful for the support of the City of Ottawa with their Arts Funding program.
Nous sommes reconnaissants du soutien de la Ville d'Ottawa avec son programme de financement des arts.
Nous sommes reconnaissants du soutien de la Ville d'Ottawa avec son programme de financement des arts.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
Ce projet est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
Travel with the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band
Every year, the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band take some very special trips to play their music. We invite you to visit the band site at www.sospb.com for information on these trips, and how you can join in.
Drumming Program
Calling all drummers! Our program for beginner and intermediate snare drummers is filling up quickly - with only a few spaces left, we want to hear from you and we want to get you in on this terrific program. During lockdown we have added a number of beginner exercises and more to the website so that anyone can give this a start.
Get in touch with us very soon at [email protected] and we can add your name to the list. Drumming is great fun, and so rewarding. Opportunities for performances, travel and being in a kilt are all on offer - what could be better!
Get in touch with us very soon at [email protected] and we can add your name to the list. Drumming is great fun, and so rewarding. Opportunities for performances, travel and being in a kilt are all on offer - what could be better!
The Stray Dog Brewing Company
I know the nicest people. One of them is my friend Marc Plante, who along with his friend Justin MacNeill, started Brew Dog Brewing Company in July, 2017 in Ottawa. They have enjoyed tremendous success and wanted to work with us to help us celebrate 50 years of organized piping and drumming in our region. They have donated a portion of their new beer, Scottawa, to our work, and we are so pleased to have their awesome support. I was happy to learn it sold out, and I thank all my beer drinking friends for their support!
The PPBSO 50th anniversary series
I am honored to be profiled in this series - thank you to the PPBSO and all my amazing friends who have made this journey so wonderful and memorable! All the best to you all!
Helping, learning and fellowship.
In these uncertain times, we hope to help each other with positive actions and future opportunities for fun and friendship. We are here to help, to give back and to offer some music where it's needed most. Maybe you have decided it is time to learn the pipes or drums, and with time on your hands, it's a great time to start - we can help you at all steps of the journey from finding a chanter to competing online - and everything in between.
Online lessons for pipes are available now - I have a school on Patreon and there are lots of exclusives on it - join the many who are learning and having fun! Link is here: https://www.patreon.com/championbagpipes
Get in touch, and do check back in for updates here on upcoming events. Always working on great things, and looking for great people to join us. We are here, we are here to help, and we are with you! Email me at [email protected]
Online lessons for pipes are available now - I have a school on Patreon and there are lots of exclusives on it - join the many who are learning and having fun! Link is here: https://www.patreon.com/championbagpipes
Get in touch, and do check back in for updates here on upcoming events. Always working on great things, and looking for great people to join us. We are here, we are here to help, and we are with you! Email me at [email protected]
THE OTTAWA PIPING CLUB
The Ottawa Piping Club was an important and wonderful part of the piping and drumming community in our city for many, many years. I am proud to have been part of this great organization as both a competitor and member, and later on as its President. Please enjoy this article on the club and its origins and many great memories! https://www.ppbso-ottawa.org/post/installment-1-the-ottawa-piping-club
Lessons on the Great Highland Bagpipes
Launching now on Patreon, you can do your lessons online and enjoy a lot of great information, updates, and so much more. For $50 a month, you'll get access to exercises, tunes, guest players and interviews, trip updates, show announcements, and previews to lots of great things! Visit www.patreon.com and look up Champion Bagpipes and join me in getting going on lessons and everything else Scottish!
If you have always wanted to learn to play the bagpipes, now is the perfect time to start. Anyone at any age, regardless of their musical knowledge when starting out, can become proficient with the right tutor and lesson plan - and we can get you started.
You will need a chanter, manuscript paper and about 20 minutes per day to get started, and we can help you along the way with so much you'll need to know and want to learn!
Drop tutor Bethany Bisaillion a line at [email protected] to get started - excellence and fun guaranteed!
Are you looking for a unique gift for that person keen to learn pipes or drums?
We have gift certificates for lessons, and advice on where to buy your equipment to begin.
Get in touch anytime - makes a lovely gift any time of year!
You will need a chanter, manuscript paper and about 20 minutes per day to get started, and we can help you along the way with so much you'll need to know and want to learn!
Drop tutor Bethany Bisaillion a line at [email protected] to get started - excellence and fun guaranteed!
Are you looking for a unique gift for that person keen to learn pipes or drums?
We have gift certificates for lessons, and advice on where to buy your equipment to begin.
Get in touch anytime - makes a lovely gift any time of year!
History in the making - every day for 125 years!
Do the work, have the fun!
This is Rick Mercer from CBC
Sometimes you get to work with very interesting and wonderful people who aren't in pipe bands. If you're lucky, you get asked to be part of their day, and you come away with fantastic stories to tell.
These are some of the people I've had the great pleasure of meeting.
The Caring Canadian Award
The band of the Sons of Scotland were proud to be presented with the Caring Canadian Award in April, 2014 by their Vice Regal Patron, Canada's Governor General David Johnston at a ceremony at Rideau Hall. The Pipe Majors were both given medals for their roles in supporting music and leadership, Band Manager Robert Derry for his many years in the educational system, Margaret Duffy for her help with seniors and veterans in the community, and dance teacher Katharine Robinson for over 45 years of highland dance instruction. What a great honour this day was, and the band wears and shares the pins amongst its membership very proudly.
This award has now been changed to the name the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers.
This award has now been changed to the name the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers.
Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in a ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa by Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2012. She was lucky enough to have her brother join her and her friend Kevin MacLeod, Canadian Secretary to the Queen read her biography in English, French, and Gaelic.
Great things of great importance
Bagpipes for sale
If you are looking for a good quality set of used bagpipes at a good price, drop me a line at [email protected] All come ready to play and in great condition.
We also want to hear if you have pipes for sale.
We also want to hear if you have pipes for sale.
Donating to the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band
If you want to support the work of the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, please visit the site at www.sospb.com to see the band's work, and email PM Bethany Bisaillion at [email protected] for more information. The band looks for support for their work in many ways. We have PayPal on the site now making donating even easier! We appreciate your support.
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Joining the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band
The Sons of Scotland Pipe Band's terrific drumming and piping program is accepting new players in the fall of each year and throughout the year depending on experience.
Drop us a line if you want to come out at [email protected] |
The Ottawa City Piping College - new location...
The Ottawa City Piping College now has a 2nd location in Montreal - contact us at [email protected] if you want information on beginner chanter lessons or live in Montreal and want assistance there - we can also help you hire a piper or a band in that city. We are pleased to support the Montreal Pipes and Drums and their good work. It's like a new cousin to the band!
60 - A Celebration of the Diamond Jubilee - June, 2012
A terrific concert held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to mark the 60th year of Her Majesty The Queen as our monarch. Thank you to everyone who came to take part ~ your support and participation were very much appreciated. Please visit the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band site at www.sospb.com for photos and video of the day's events.
The Royal Fascinator...
A long time after June 30, a list was posted for the Royal couple listing all the gifts they were presented on their overseas visit. Among them were the fascinator and vest made by Sons of Scotland piper Madeleine Thompson. It looks like a British journalist thgught the items were less than wonderful, and wrote just that. The story was picked up by the Canadian national newspaper The Globe and Mail, and Ms. Thompson decided to defend her position as gift maker and gift giver...and then the story took off even more! Having been part of the process the entire time, I can say with all certainty that the gifts were made well, they were very suitable, and well received by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Here is the link to the story in the Ottawa Metro on January 13:
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/canada/article/1070459--canadian-gift-to-royals-comes-under-scrutiny
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/canada/article/1070459--canadian-gift-to-royals-comes-under-scrutiny
A highland dance cd...
Bethany Bisaillion released her 15th cd on October 19, 2012 and it is a compilation cd with performances by herself with many fine musicians and solos from other projects - preorder yours today for only $15.00 with part of the proceeds going towards supporting the Ottawa City Piping College. Email [email protected] for your copy today - a limited number will be available.
Bethany also has a highland dance cd with 40 tracks from fling to Earl of Errol, varying speeds and all on bagpipes - 'Isean' is only $15.00 and will help with practice and presentation!
As one of the ScotDance series pipers, this is a great support project for any dancers preparing for the national championships being held in Ottawa, July 2021.
Bethany also has a highland dance cd with 40 tracks from fling to Earl of Errol, varying speeds and all on bagpipes - 'Isean' is only $15.00 and will help with practice and presentation!
As one of the ScotDance series pipers, this is a great support project for any dancers preparing for the national championships being held in Ottawa, July 2021.
The Royal Visit to Ottawa
Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion was pleased to be part of the Canadian Citizenship ceremony held July 1 at the Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec. She played and presented the tune 'St. Andrew's Courtship' for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
