Roddy MacLeod MBE
Roddy is the Principal of The National Piping Centre, a position he has held since the Centre opened in May 1996. During this time the Centre has grown to become a World Centre of Excellence for the teaching of the Highland Bagpipe through developing and implementing a number of initiatives such as the BA (Scottish Music - Piping), the National Schools Piping Project, the Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book and more recently the establishment of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.
Roddy has won all of the major solo piping events, many several times over including the Glenfiddich Piping Championship on 3 occasions and remains active as a competing piper. He was Pipe Major of the ScottishPower pipe band from 1995 until 2005 - one of the world’s leading Grade 1 pipe bands. Roddy was awarded the MBE for services to piping in 2003 and the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Music in 2004.
Gavin Stoddart (Major Retd) MBE BEM
Gavin was born in Hamburg, Germany where his father was serving with the Scottish Airborne Regiment. He received initial instruction from his father before going to Captain John A. MacLennan at Edinburgh Castle. In 1964 he became a guest piper with the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band before enlisting as a piper in the Scots Guards in 1966 under Pipe Major Angus MacDonald. Gavin became Pipe Sergeant of the 1st Battalion and remained with the Scots Guards until May 1979 when he was approached to transfer to The Royal Highland Fusiliers as Pipe Major.
Gavin didn’t start professional competing until 1980 and had a short but very successful competing career winning the following major events:
- March, Strathspey and Reel competition at the Glenfiddich Championship (3 times)
- Piobaireachd competition at the Glenfiddich Championship (2 times)
- Glenfiddich Piping Championship, overall winner (2 times)
- Glenfiddich Piping Championship, runner-up overall winner (3 times)
- Highland Society of London Gold Medal for Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering at his first attempt
- Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel at the Argyllshire Gathering at his first attempt
- Gold Medal for Piobaireachd at the Braemar Highland Gathering
- Highland Society of London Gold Medal for Piobaireachd at the Northern Meetings
- Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel at the Argyllshire Gathering (2 times)
- Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel at the Northern Meetings
Chris Armstrong
Originally from Bathgate, Chris during the earlier years of his piping career was taught by PM John Matheson BEM.
Chris is a full time instructor at the National Piping Centre.
Past successes include winning the Bratach Gorm, J. B. Robertson Rose Bowl and the Overall Champion Piper at the Scottish Piping Society of London in 2007, 1st in the Former Winners MSR at the Argyllshire Gathering and also the A grade MSR at the Northern Meeting. 1st in the PM Donald MacLeod Memorial MSR, runner up at the Scottish Pipers Former Winners MSR, placed 2nd in the Former Winners MSR at the Northern Meeting. He has been the overall champion in 2002/03 at the Cowal Highland Gathering and in 2003 he won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting.
Chris was appointed the Pipe Major of the ScottishPower Pipe Band in 2006.
Margaret Dunn BASM Hons
Margaret began piping at the age of 8 and was initially taught by her father Con Houlihan and when she was 10 she began taking lessons from Stephen Power (ex Scots Guards). Margaret moved to Scotland when she was 17. In 1998 she was accepted into the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama where she studied for 4 years and graduated with an Honours Degree in Scottish Traditional Music. While Margaret was at the Academy she also joined the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band and, with them, won the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 1 in 2000. She is now Pipe Major of Cullen Pipe Band, who won the World Pipe Band Championships in grade 3B this year.
In 2004, Margaret passed her Institute of Piping Graduate Certificate with distinction.
Some prizes won to date include:-1st MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd (22 and under) Argyleshire Gathering 1999, 1st B Grade March, Argyleshire Gathering 1999,1st Duncan Johnstone Memorial Piobaireachd 2001, 1st Strachan Memorial March Strathspey & Reel, London 2000, 1st A Grade Strathspey and Reel, Argyleshire Gathering 2003, Runner up in Silver Medal, Argyleshire Gathering 2003. Overall winner at Blair Atholl Highland Games & Crieff Highland Games 2005. Winner of this years Silver Medal at the Nothern Meetings and A grade march at the Argyleshire Gathering.
Paul Warren
Paul Warren served with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from 1978 - 1990, during which time he spent 2 1/2 years on operational duty in Northern Ireland, performed all over the world (including a 3 month tour of the USA), performed as the lone piper at the Edinburgh Tattoo, tutored and competed with the grade 2 competition band, and represented the Army in solo competition, winning first prize in Open Piobaireachd at Cowal Highland Games.
He was the first piper in the history of the regiment to graduate from the Army Pipe Major’s course with distinguished honours, as well as passing his Institute of Piping Graduate Certificate and Senior Teacher’s Certificate. After teaching at the Army School of Piping in Edinburgh Castle, Paul spent a memorable 3 months as piper to the Royal Guard at Balmoral Castle, during which time he was commissioned to compose a tune to celebrate the birth of Prince Harry. After leaving the Army, Paul was contracted to the Sultanate of Oman’s Royal Navy as Pipe Major and Senior Instructor, and spent the next 6 years setting up a pipe band school of music with a tailored training & examination syllabus, as well as forming two pipe bands - one operational band and one training band. Paul was awarded a special commendation for his dedication to duty and service to the Sultanate.
On his return to Scotland, Paul settled with his wife and family in his home town of Helensburgh. In 2000 he formed the Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band, and as Pipe Major has created a very successful organisation. The band currently competes in Grade 2.
Paul is passionate about his role as director of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, and enjoys the rewarding and challenging experiences in setting up and managing this innovative performance group.
