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    Learning the Bagpipes

    With many different ways you can learn, whatever your level, you can take your piping forward with our World Class instructors.

The National Piping Centre exists to promote the study of the music and history of the Highland Bagpipe.
Patron HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, KG, KT, GCB.
Founders: Sir Brian Ivory CVO CBE FRSE MA CA - Lady Ivory DL MA ARCM FRSA - Sandy Grant Gordon CBE MA.    Read More

Evening Classes

The National Piping Centre’s Evening Class courses provide top class tuition in small groups.

Suitable for everyone from complete beginners to advanced pipers, these weekly classes in small groups will provide a supportive and fun learning environment. 

Autumn Evening Classes for 2020 will be conducted online. Check back shortly for full dates and information.

 

 

 

 

**The information below is about our in-person classes, which we will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.**

We run classes in our two venues at McPhater Street and Otago Street. You can now book for each location through the Book Now button, by selecting your Location first, then age category and preferred day/time all on the form. Please ensure you pick the correct options for you. 

City Centre - McPhater Street Lessons 

The classes last for 50 minutes and start on the hour from 5pm - 8pm* Monday to Thursday and at 10am, 11am and 12pm on Saturday mornings. Lessons are given in small groups where the students will be of similar standard. You will be taught by one of our expert teachers using The National Piping Centre’s Tutor Book. 

West End - Otago Street Lessons

Lessons here are held between 7pm - 9pm on Monday and Tuesdays, with 10am -12 noon on Saturdays. Students are given a 20 minute individual lesson. Mixed age groups attend these sessions, therefore Children under 16 should be supervised by a parent of guardian throughout their session.

 

Plan the dates for your diary now, as our Evening Class terms will be: 

 

Spring Term 2: 25th January to 2nd April
Summer 2020: Term 3: 18th Apr to 25th June
Winter 2020: Term 1: 26th Sept to 10th Dec (extra week due to Oct break) 

For this 10 week course, the fees are: 

  • £90 Adults 
  • £80 U16

Book Now

What you will need 

If you are new to the Evening Classes and the instrument, you will need to purchase our Tutor Book and a chanter. A starter pack is available from The Bagpipe Shop for £55 which includes both these things. 

We can take registrations once the course has started, however the full 10 week price will still apply. We can only take new registrations until week 2 of the new course. 

These 10 week courses are run over 3 terms a year. Term 1 is a 10 week term typically running between September and December with a mid term break. Term 2 is a 10 week term which commences January until Easter and Term 3 is a 10 week term which normally runs from Easter until July. For further information about our evening classes please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0141 353 0220.

* Please note that the main doors to The National Piping Centre McPhater Street close at 7pm. After this time, please enter the building through The Pipers' Tryst Hotel & Restaurant.

Cancellation Policy 
If you give cancellation notice 14 working days before first lesson of the booked course, a full refund will be given. If you give notice  within 14 working days of first lesson of the booked course, a 25% refund will be given. No refunds are available after the first lesson of the booked course.

Hearing Protection

The National Piping Centre requires all students to use hearing protection at all times when playing pipes. Hearing protection is available for purchase in our shop or free of charge from the earplug dispenser in both our piping school venues. 
Find out more

To find out more download the Evening Class brochure here.

REGISTER FOR EVENING CLASSES NOW!

 

The Piping Centre Evening Class Levels

This is a guide to the standards of each of our levels in the evening classes.

Beginner: Complete beginner, never played before

Level 1: Not a beginner, can play scales, g gracenotes, strikes and simple melodies and can read music. (Currently working on Chapters 7 – 9 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book)

Level 2: Able to play D Throws, High A and High G Doublings, G,D,E’s (Currently working on Chapters 10 – 13 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book)

Level 3: Able to play most movements including all doublings, G strikes, grips. Is just about to go onto the pipes (currently working on Chapters 14 – 20 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book).

Level 4+: Able to play all movements including birls, taorluath, B strikes and beyond. Can play several tunes with reasonable sense of timing on the pipes (currently working on Chapters 21 – 27 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book).

For further information about our evening classes or for more guidance on the levels, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0141 353 0220.

Teachers

Willie Beveridge

Willie has been teaching at the National Piping Centre’s Evening Classes for a number of years and has become one of the most popular instructors because of his wealth of knowledge and entertaining approach. Previously, Willie has been a bagpipe instructor for the Royal Scots Regiment in the 1st Batt and has a huge amount of solo competition experience gaining a number of top awards as a member of the Competing Pipers Association.

One of Willie Highlights in his player career is having the honour of playing for the first President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda. Willie teaches at the City Centre - McPhater Street Venue

Stuart MacKenzie

Stuart began learning the pipes in the early 1960s and was tutored then by the highly respected teacher, Tommy Pierson, of the College of Piping in Glasgow.

He joined the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band at age 17, later moving to another Grade 1 Band, British Caledonian Renfrew, in 1970/71. He rose through the ranks with B Cal, as they came to be known, finally becoming Pipe Major of the Band’s successors, Babcock Renfrew, another well-known Grade 1 Band.

All three bands were successful in their own right, each winning competitions at local and Championship level on a regular basis.

Stuart has been teaching the pipes for many years now and is currently Pipe Major of The Royal Burgh of Renfrew Pipe Band. Stuart teaches at the City Centre- McPhater Street Venue

Daniel McDermott

Daniel is a recent graduate of the BMus (Hons) Traditional Music – Piping degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

He hails from Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and began his tuition with Iain MacDonald and has most recently received tuition from Willie McCallum on the RCS degree. He has been a member of the Inveraray and District Pipe Band since the Autumn of 2009, playing with the Juvenile band in 2010 and 2011 before progressing into the current Grade 1 band and playing in his first Grade 1 major championship at fifteen years old. He rates the bands pre-worlds ‘Ascension’ concert and the bands first World Pipe Band Championship win in 2017 as the most notable experiences to date.

Daniel had been a member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland from 2008 until February 2018 and served as Pipe Sergeant for nearly three years before becoming Pipe Major of the Senior Band for his last year. He appears on the bands ‘Illumination’ and ‘Thunderstruck’ albums and has been fortunate enough to have travelled with the band and has performed

throughout the country and abroad. Daniel actively competes as a solo player around the games circuit and had a very successful Junior career before progressing through to the adults and gaining promotion to B Grade light music for 2017.

He is currently a Piping Instructor at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh. Daniel teaches at the City Centre - McPhater Street Venue

Danny Hutcheson

Danny Hutcheson is a traditional musician from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire but lives in Glasgow while he studies music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Currently, Danny is a piper with Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band and has played with them for the last three years. One of his highlights to date is playing at the pre-worlds concert in 2017, which was recorded for CD release.

Danny is also the Pipe Sergeant of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. The band released its latest album

‘Thunderstruck’ in December 2017 and made history as the first ever pipe band to record Gordon Duncan’s famous arrangement of the tune. In February 2019 the band performed in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections.

As well as this, Danny is also a piper in Drums n Roses and is preparing for a busy 2019 with the band.

If that wasn’t enough, Danny is in high demand as a piping instructor; he travels to Germany many times a year to help the City of Bremen Crest of Gordon Pipe Band. He also teaches at the National Piping Centre evening school as well as having his own private students that range from the USA to Israel and many countries in-between.Danny teaches at the City Centre - McPhater Street Venue

John Dew

John Dew is from Crieff and learned his piping at school from Anne Spalding beginning at age 10. In secondary school he was taught by Cameron Drummond and later by Craig Muirhead. During this time he began composing pipe and whistle tunes and has since broadened his scope considerably, creating suites and arranging material for folk and classical ensembles – and film scores.

As a competing piper he has won both Scottish schools senior Ceol Beag and Ceol Mor championships as well as some junior success. He was runner-up in the MacGregor Memorial piobaireachd event at Oban in 2015 and third in the same contest in 2016. He was a Pipe Idol finalist during Piping Live! in Glasgow in 2017. He continues to ascend the ranks as a competitive piper and clearly has a bright future ahead of him. In His adult career he won the Professional Scottish Pipers' Association Strathspey and Reel Contest as well as coming third in the March and Ceol Mor. His most notable success was winning the overall at Lochearnhead Highland Games and Overall B grade winner at the Captain John Memorial Competition 2017.

In 2014 John joined Inveraray and District Pipe Band under P/M Stuart Liddell and has been with the band during their recent championship runs. This included winning the World Pipe Band Championships in 2017 and three successive Champion of Champion titles. At the time of this writing, John lives in Glasgow and is working toward a B.Mus in traditional music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he is being taught by Willie McCallum and Finlay MacDonald. John teaches at the City Centre - McPhater Street Venue

Jonathan Lamberton

Jonathan has been part of the Otago Street teaching team since 2013. He has had experience teaching from a young age, as he was encouraged to mentor and teach other young players in his band, and they were very keen to help each other progress. He has found from a young age that by teaching others, it can also improve your own piping.

He started piping in 2000 at 10 year old with Monkstown Mossley Pipe Band. In 2004, aged 13, he joined Ballycoan Pipe Band where he played for 4 years. He then joined Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band in 2008, since which time he has won all the RSPBA championships including 6 World Pipe Band Championships and 2 Grand Slams to date.

He also competes in the solo scene, mainly back in Northern Ireland where I progressed to the senior grade. He also competes in Scotland winning up prizes in the c/b and open grade competitions. Jonathan teaches at the West End - Otago Street Venue

Donald Lindsay

Donald Lindsay teaches the Bellows Piping Evening Class which runs on Tuesdays. Donald WG Lindsay is a Scottish musician and singer, and musical instrument designer/inventor.

His first instrument is now one of his own design, the Lindsay System Scottish Smallpipes, an instrument which offers a range more than double that of the traditional Scottish Smallpipes while still maintaining the traditional fingering techniques and preserving (and extending) the characteristic voice of the Scottish Smallpipes. Donald also plays the whistle & low whistle, both now of his own "Qwistle" design.

Having spent the period 2010-2016 developing his instruments, Donald returned to live performance during 2016, appearing on STVs The Riverside Show with Alasdair Roberts, and taking part in Shane Connolly's show "From Taiko to Txalaparta" as part of Celtic Connections 2017. During 2018 he developed the show “Standard Habbie”, with piper Fin Moore, singers Alasdair Roberts, Iona Fyfe, and Neil Sutcliffe, violinist Roo Geddes, and saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski. “Standard Habbie” explores the myth and music of Habbie Simpson, the famous and lamented Piper of Kilbarchan, and formed part of the programme of Glasgow’s Piping Live festival in August 2018. Further performances planned for 2019.

Donald is Scottish Smallpipes tutor at The National Piping Centre in Otago Street, Glasgow (formerly The College of Piping), along with Malin Lewis. He is currently convener of the Lowland & Border Pipers Society, and founder & memberof The Glasgow Smallpipers. Donald teaches at the West End - Otago Street Venue for the Bellows Piping classes

 
 
 

Finlay MacDonald

Finlay MacDonald has blazed a trail as one of the country’s finest exponents of contemporary and traditional Piping. He has worked with many leading artists in the traditional music scene including Fred Morrison, The Unusual Suspects, La Banda Europa, Old Blind Dogs and Chris Stout. He combines the mastery and dedication of traditional Piping with a true sense of musical adventure and creative collaboration producing a unique musical voice which can be heard on numerous recordings and projects. His Compositions and arrangements have been played by many leading artists including The World Champions, Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.

Always driven by collaboration and innovation, Finlay’s passion for the music he has grown up with has led him to the post of “Head of Piping Studies” at the National Piping Centre and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he continues to inspire and develop the very best of new Piping talent.

“Finlay MacDonald has emerged as one of the leading lights in the current crop of young pipers with deep roots in the pipe band tradition, but grafted on to a distinctly contemporary musical sensibility to produce a compelling hybrid.”

Kenny Matheison, The Scotsman 12/5/07
 

 
 

David Wilton

David Wilton started learning at the age of 6 under the instruction of P/M Willie Whyte in Montrose R.B.L. Pipe Band. He soon begun solo piping lessons with Walter Drysdale, competing successfully in the junior solos circuit until progressing into the senior level at 17. David has enjoyed solo success over the years; most recently winning the first Capt MacLellan Memorial Piobaireachd medal in the P/A grade; P/A Highland and Island Piobaireachd competition in Oban and the A Grade Rams Horn Snuff Mull Piobaireachd competition in London.

Previously he has placed 3 times in the silver medal at Oban and Inverness before moving up to the Gold medal. David has won the former winners March, Strathspey and Reel Competition at the Scottish Pipers Association competition and has won a prize on every occasion that he has been invited to the Uist and Barra competition as well as continuing to be a force on the Scottish Highland Games Circuit, winning many aggregate titles over the years.

David has a long running pipe band career playing with City of Brechin Pipe Band, Drambuie Kirkliston Pipe Band, The Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band and ScottishPower Pipe Band and Halifax Citadel Pipe Band. During his time he has been part of 2 World Championship winning bands and has 2 Champion of Champions titles amongst other titles. Currently, this is David's first year as Pipe Major of Grade 2 Lomond and Clyde Pipe Band. 

As well as being one of Scotland’s leading pipers, David has, in parallel with his piping career, enjoyed a successful Highland Dancing Career. He has 192 major championship titles including 7 World Championships, 10 Commonwealth, 13 British Championships and has won championships in Scotland, England, Ireland, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. David retired from dancing as the reigning World Champion and had only been beaten 3 times in his senior career, finishing 2nd each time. He is one of the most sought after dance pipers and lecturers in the field, regularly travelling the world imparting his knowledge of music and dance.

In 2011, David graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with 1st Class honours in Scottish Music – his principal study being the bagpipes with other studies in guitar, whistles and border pipes. During his time at the RSAMD he excelled in course modules such as techniques of teaching, which looked at teaching methods for all ages including children and adults with learning difficulties. As well as a full time instructor of the National Piping Centre, David assists in the co-ordination of CLASP competitions with Margaret Dunn and is on the Board for Piping and Drumming Qualifications.

 
 

Alisdair McLaren

Alisdair is from Perth, Western Australia. He began piping at Trinity College, Perth at the age of 13 where he also received tuition from local pipers June Corcoran, John MacMurchie and Malcolm Brown. In 1996 which was his final year of high school, he was promoted to Pipe Major of the Trinity College Pipes & Drums where he led the band to various juvenile championship wins in Western Australia. In the same year he was also a member of the Grade 3 Armadale City Pipe Band when they won the Australian & South Pacific Pipe Band Championships.

Alisdair joined Western Australia Police Pipe Band (WAPOL) in 1997 and was a part of a very successful period for the band winning the 1998 Grade 2 World Championships, 2001 Grade 1 American Championships and a 10th place at the 2004 World Championships Grade 1.

In 2005 whilst still living in Perth, Australia, Alisdair became the first fly in guest player for the world renowned Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, 12 times winners of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Associations World Pipe Band Championship. In 2006 Alisdair was appointed to the position of Pipe Major of the Western Australia Police Pipe Band which he held for 12 months before relocating to Glasgow in October 2007.

Alisdair is also an accomplished solo piper having won many prizes throughout Australia. At the end of 2008 he joined the ranks of the 11 time World Champions, Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band where he has won every Major title including the Scottish, British, European, Cowal, Ulster, All Ireland and World Pipe Band Championships. In 2011 and 2013 Alisdair was a part of the band that completed the “Grand Slam” winning all 5 major championships in one season including the World Pipe Band Championships.

In 2018 Alisdair was appointed Pipe Sergeant of the Glasgow Police Pipe Band where he is currently developing his skills as a leader of one of the UK’s premier pipe bands.

Outside of the competition arena Alisdair is also the Pipe Major of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s house pipe band, The Pipers Trail and has lead the band throughout the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in both 2017 and 2018. In 2017 he was very honoured to have been selected to perform as the lone piper for one of the shows. As a part of the Pipers Trail Alisdair has led the band at the Musikfest Der Bundaswehr, Dusseldorf, Germany 2017 & 2018 and also at the Norsk Militaer Tattoo, Oslo, Norway 2018.

Aside from  piping Alisdair is a keen Triathlete having raced in many events throughout Western Australia and Scotland. Since 2014 Alisdair has completed the Ironman UK 70.3, Ironman Edinburgh 70.3, Ironman Wales, Ironman Western Australia and twice raced Challenge Roth in Germany. Recently,  Alisdair completed Ironman Austria which took place in the beautiful town of Klagenfurt.
 

 
 

Margaret Dunn

Margaret began learning the pipes at age 8 and was initially taught by her father Con Houlihan and Stephen Power (ex Scots Guards).

She moved to Scotland in 1998 to attend 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 joined the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band, under P/M Robert Mathieson, and with them won the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 1 in 2000.

Margaret returned as Pipe Major of her local home band, Cullen, in 2006 and in 2007 the band won the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 3B. The band progressed to grade 2, where they won the All Ireland Pipe Band Championships in 2013.

Margaret is a qualified examiner for the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board exams (SQA approved) after passing the Institute of Piping Graduate Certificate with distinction in 2004.

Margaret has competed regularly around the Scottish Highland Games circuit and at the Argyllshire Gathering, London and the Northern Meetings. She has also competed in many knockout competitions through-out Scotland. Here are some of her prizes to date include:

  • 1st MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd (22 and under) Argyllshire Gathering 1999
  • 1st B Grade March, Argyllshire Gathering 1999
  • 1st Strachan Memorial A Grade March Strathspey & Reel, London 2000
  • 1st Duncan Johnstone Memorial Piobaireachd 2001
  • 1st A Grade Strathspey and Reel, Argyllshire Gathering 2003
  • Winner of the Silver Medal at the Northern Meetings 2007
  • 1st A Grade March at the Argyllshire Gathering 2007
  • 5th Former Winners MSR London 2007
  • 5th Former Winners 2/4 March London 2007
  • Islay Inn Knockout Winner 2011
  • Piping for Pints Knockout, Aberdeen 2013
  • Scots Guards Club Knockout Winner 2014
 
 

Captain (Retired) Stuart D Samson MBE

Stuart Samson was born in Laurencekirk and has been playing the pipes since the age of 8. He enlisted into the Army in 1978, as a junior piper and joined the Drums and Pipes of The Gordon Highlanders in 1980. He was appointed Pipe Major of the Gordon Highlanders from 1990 – 1994 and then went on to carry out several Pipe Major appointments including the Pipe Major of the Highlanders and the Warrant Officer Class One Senior Pipe Major at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming. 

He was commissioned in 2002 and was appointed the Director of the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming in April 2003. He was responsible for providing all the structured musical training for pipers and drummers in the British Army as well as advising the Higher Command and Commanding Officers regarding Pipe Band matters. 

During this time he was also responsible as the Director of Army Bagpipe Music, for coordinating the musical programme and display for the Massed Pipes and Drums at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He has considerable experience in this field having first performed in the Tattoo in 1979 and many times thereafter as a piper and Pipe Major. 

Stuart has also been successful on the solo piping circuit over the years, winning the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1988 and being placed second in the Gold Medal in both Inverness and Oban in 1995 and 1998 respectively, gaining an invitation to the Glenfiddich Championships in 1998. 

Stuart completed his Army service in April 2008 having served 30 years and was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June of that year in recognition for services to Army Piping and a distinguished career. Stuart is currently a part time Instructor at the National Piping Centre teaching on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA Scottish Music – Piping Degree. In addition to this Stuart is also the Director of Music for the Massed Pipes and Drums at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, which takes place annually in July.

Stuart Samson is not available for lessons and teaches only on the BMus Piping Degree. 
 

 
 

Clare Lynas

Clare Lynas started piping at the age of seven in her local pipe band, Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia with PM Bob Martin. Throughout her piping career she has received tuition from Ian Speirs, Ian MacFadyen, Tom Speirs and most recently Roddy MacLeod MBE.

An experienced Grade 1 piper, Clare has played with ScottishPower, 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel and is a current member of Lomond and Clyde pipe band.

Clare enjoyed a successful solo piping career in the junior circuit gaining entry in to the Silver Medal aged 18. She was a student of The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music based in Plockton, after which she went on to complete an undergraduate degree in Classical Music at Edinburgh Napier University graduating with First Class Honours. Before starting at the National Piping Centre, she gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Scottish Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Her performance background includes piping at the opening of the Scottish Parliament, finale soloist at the Norwegian Military Tattoo and playing an own composition, commissioned by Alexander McCall Smith, at St. Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh University. Clare’s vast experience ranges from solo piping, pipe bands and folk ensembles playing whistles, clarinet and piano.

 
 

Roddy MacLeod MBE

Roddy MacLeod MBE is the Principal of The National Piping Centre. One of the world’s most accomplished competitive solo pipers, Roddy was tutored by piper and composer Duncan Johnstone and has won all of solo piping’s most coveted awards, many of them several times over. He is in keen international demand as a recitalist, judge and instructor. 

He was Pipe Major of the World renowned Grade 1 ScottishPower Pipe Band from 1995 – 2005 during which time he led them to over 45 Grade 1 Championship prizes in major competition including the Cowal Championships and the All-Ireland Championship. In 2008 he led the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band to the final of Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships after bringing together a group of the worlds top solo pipers and drummers together for a short period of intensive practice. In 2016 the Spirit of Scotland reformed with Roddy at the helm once more, with lead drummer Jim Kilpatrick. They competed at all 5 major championships, winning prizes at British, UK and European Championships, and qualifed for the final of the World Pipe Band Championships, finishing 8th overall. 

With a strong background in teaching, a dedication to the promotion of standards within piping and a zeal to widen popular appreciation of the pipes, he exemplifies the role, task and standing of The National Piping Centre. Roddy is also a Director and a Founder of Piping Live!, the Glasgow International Piping Festival.

Achievements Include:

  • Awarded MBE for Services to Piping 2003;
  • Winner of the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Music 2004;
  • Winner, Kishmul Banner composition competition;
  • Inducted into the Traditional Music Awards Hall of Fame 2012

Solo competition prizes include:

  • Glenfiddich Piping Championship, overall winner (5 times), MSR winner (twice), Piobaireachd winner (10 times);
  • Northern Meetings, Inverness – Highland Society of London Gold Medal, Bicentenary Gold Medal and Clasp (2), Former Winners MSR;
  • Argyllshire Gatherings, Oban – Highland Society of London Gold Medal, Senior Piobaireachd (2), Former Winners MSR (2), and Open Jigs;
  • Bratach Gorm (7 times);
  • Silver Chanter (7 times);
  • Gillies Cup Open Piobaireachd, London (9 times);
  • London Medallion Former Winners MSR (5 times);
  • Scottish Piping Society of London overall champion (7 times);
  • National Mod overall champion (5 times);
  • Uist and Barra overall winner (5 times);
  • Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition overall winner (3 times);
  • Springbank Invitational Overall Winner;
  • Dunvegan Medal;
  • Dunvegan Colonel Jock MacDonald Clasp (4 times);
  • Dr Allan MacDonald Cup for overall winner at Skye (3 times);
  • Highland Society of London Gold Medal, overall winner (Skye) (3 times);
  • Dr Dan Reid Invitational overall winner (3 times);
  • G.S McLennan Invitational overall winner;
  • Scottish Pipers Association overall winner (4 times);
  • Scottish Pipers Association Piping Times Knockout winner;
  • Highlands and Islands Festival Invitational Piobaireachd winner (4 times);
  • Clan Donald Quaich winner (twice);
  • Lochaber Tuagh Or Invitational Piobaireachd winner (3 times);
  • Haddo House Quaich Invitational winner;
  • Scotway Garden Festival 20th Century Piobaireachd winner;
  • Scotway Lord Provost of Glasgow’s Competition MSR (3 times);

Recordings include:

  • World’s Greatest Pipers, Volume 6;
  • Pipers of Distinction series (KRL);
  • Piping Centre Recital Series;
  • RSPS “The Last Piper”;
  • Hebridean Piper video.
  • Roddy MacLeod MBE Piobaireachd Volume 1
 
 

Finlay Johnston

Finlay began learning the pipes at the age of 8 with his Grandfather (Alastair Sinclair) during a summer spent with him at his home on the Isle of Tiree. He began receiving lessons from Ronnie McShannon shortly afterwards and continued to do so since.

Finlay has been surrounded by piping his whole life – His mother (Anne Johnston) was a very successful solo piper, being the first woman ever to win the Silver Medal. His father (Tommy Johnston) was also a successful pipe band drummer and played under Leading Drummer Alex Duthart.

Finlay has played in several pipe bands over his career, most recently with Inveraray & District under Pipe Major Stuart Liddell during their rise from Grade 2 to the top end of Grade 1. Prior to this he played in The Spirit of Scotland Pipe band under Pipe Major Roddy MacLeod.

Prior to joining The National Piping Centre, he worked as a reed maker and is a time-served Mechanical Engineer.

Some of Finlay’s main results include:

  • Glenfiddich Overall Winner 2018
  • Donald MacLeod Memorial Overall Winner 2019
  • Uist and Barra Overall Winner 2019
  • Northern Meeting Clasp 2016
  • Northern Meeting Gold Medal 2015
  • Argyllshire Gathering Gold Medal 2012
  • Northern Meeting Silver medal 2006
 
 

John Mulhearn

John's piping career began in earnest at the age of nine, under the watchful eye of his father, Brian, and former double Gold Medallist and Pipe Sergeant of the the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, Angus J. MacLellan. Alongside close attention to the technical intricacies of the chanter and pipes, a deep appreciation for the music and traditions was instilled at an early age. This rigorous grounding has gone on to influence what has become a wide and varied career as a professional piping teacher and performer. 

As a teacher, John's first experiences were gained at Glasgow's College of Piping as an evening class and summer school instructor. This formative experience gave an early insight into the wide variety of ages, backgrounds and learning needs of piping students. Since 2008 John has been a full time member of the National Piping Centre's teaching faculty. The diversity of students attending individual lessons, courses, summer schools, workshops, seminars and online courses at the National Piping Centre, at home and abroad, has enabled John to develop a thoughtful, intuitive and responsive approach to teaching. Equally comfortable teaching the complete basics of holding the practice chanter, through to expressing the nuances of piping's classic repertoire, or mentoring pipers in search of a new approach to their playing, John's teaching style and experience caters for the individual needs of each student. In addition, as a holder of the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board SCQF Level 8 certificate John is an approved examiner for all PDQB examinations.

As a performer and composer/arranger John's background is varied, showing an equally deep appreciation for the competitive traditions of solo piping and pipe bands as for more contemporary forms of expression. In terms of solo competition John has been a successful competitor on the annual highland games circuit from a young age, winning many awards over the years and in 2012 was runner-up in Highland Society of London's Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering, one of solo piping's most prestigious competitions. Having been involved in a number of pipe bands since the age of twelve John is currently a member of the 'all-star' Grade 1 band Spirit of Scotland. It is in electronic music production that John has been able to stretch his creativity and find new avenues for exploring traditional music, with a number of critically acclaimed releases. John is also a founding member of The Big Music Society, a multifaceted project with the express aim of helping to foster new and creative approaches the piping's 'classical' tradition, Ceol Mor. 

 
 

Wilson Brown

Wilson is originally from Crieff, Perthshire, where he started piping at the age of 8, taught by the late P/M John MacKenzie Dunblane. He received tuition from him for the next 28 years.

Wilson played for the local Strathearn Pipe Band in Grade 4, before joining the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band where he enjoyed success in Grade 2 and 3. Having joined Strathclyde Police in 1982, Wilson was a member of the police pipe band winning the Grade 1 World Championship on 5 occasions. He later became a member of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.

Wilson was a police officer for 30 years before retiring from the force in 2012. He was a Chief Inspector and was the Area Commander responsible for delivering policing in East Ayrshire. One of the highlights of his career was as a member of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid Team where he was responsible for the security planning.

Wilson has a BA in Police Studies and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Event Management from Glasgow Caledonian University

In his solo career, Wilson won the Silver Medal, A Grade Strathspeys and Reels and the Gold Medal at the Northern Meetings. He retired from competitive piping in 1996 to focus on his police career. In 2016 he returned to the competition circuit where he competed in the Clasp at the Northern Meeting for the first time.

On retiring from the police, he worked as a part time instructor at the NPC teaching a range of students working towards SCQF qualifications.In 2016, he became a full time instructor, he holds a level 8 SCQF and is an approved assessor. He is a member of the PDQB and is the PDQB Training Co-ordinator for the NPC.

 
 

Dan Nevans

A native of Airdrie north Lanarkshire was taugh his piping from his father John before recieving lessons from Bob McFie, Jim Semple, Logan Tannoch, James Wark, Donald MacPhee and William J Morrison. 

Dan was one of the first members of the national youth pipe band of scotland and holds a degree in applied music from the university of strathclyde. 

In 2006 Dan joined then Robert Wiseman diaries Vale of Atholl pipe band and began his grade one career. Since 2010 Dan has been a member of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band. Winning the world pipe band championships in 2015. 

 
 

Ross Ainslie

Ross Ainslie is one of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians and composers, playing pipes, whistles and cittern. He is renowned for his highly acclaimed solo material, and as a skilled performer and prolific collaborator who performs regularly with bands Treacherous Orchestra – of which he is a founding member – Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Ali Hutton, Jarlath Henderson, Charlie Mckerron, India Alba and has performed with Kate Rusby, Blue Rose Code, Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu, Capercaillie, Shooglenifty, Carl Barat, Papon, Karsh Kale, Flook, Breabach, Soumik Datta, Tim Edey, Patsy Reid and Hamish Napier.

Born in Perthshire in 1983, Ross began his career as a member of the Perth and District Pipe Band, before joining the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, where he was mentored by piper Gordon Duncan. Hugely influenced by Gordon’s fearlessly innovative spirit and groundbreaking compositions, Ross began exploring his own abilities as a composer and writing his own tunes, and in 2002 he was a finalist in the prestigious BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition.

Ross has 3 solo albums to date Wide Open in 2013, Remembering in 2015 and Sanctuary in 2017, he is currently working on his 4th which is due out in spring 2020.

Prestigious industry recognition has come in the form of a multitude of awards,

Won Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards with Ali Hutton in 2017 and Nominated for the same award in 2018.
Nomination for Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2013, 2016 and 2018.
Nomination for Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards with Jarlath Henderson in 2014.
He’s also received various awards at the Scots Trad Music Awards,
Nomination for Instrumentalist of the year in 2010.
Nomination for Live Act of the year with Jarlath Henderson in 2008 and with Treacherous Orchestra in 2009 and 2010.
Nomination for Album of the year in 2013.
Treacherous Orchestra won Album of the year in 2015
Ross was also Composer of the year in 2015.
His debut album ‘Wide Open’ was voted 9th out of 50 Top Scottish Albums of 2013 in the Sunday Herald.

 
 

Willie McCallum

Willie is a native of Campbeltown, where he learned piping primarily from his uncles Ronald and Hugh and P/M Ronald McCallum, Piper to the Duke of Argyll.  His roots go right back to the early days of piping competition and his 4 times great grandfather, John MacAlister, won the Prize Pipe in 1782.

This season has seen Willie involved in the normal circuit of competition where he won some of the major events at the Metro Cup NY, Donald MacLeod Memorial, Springbank Invitational as well as major prizes at Inverness and Oban. His most recent success was winning the MSR contest at the Glenfiddich for the 8th time.

Some other notable career wins are the Gold Medals at Inverness and Oban, Senior Piobaireachd Oban (3), Bratach Gorm (4), Silver Chanter (3), Former Winners MSR Oban (5), Former Winners MSR Inverness (4), P/M Donald MacLeod Memorial (9), Springbank Invitational (9), Dan Reid Memorial (7), Donald MacDonald Quaich (3), Former Winners MSR London (5).

He runs his own piping business, Willie McCallum Piping, which involves teaching, as well as selling bagpipes, being consultant to bagpipe maker McCallum Bagpipes Ltd, in Kilmarnock and similarly involved at Bannatyne Ltd, Pipe Bag maker, working on developing bags and moisture control devices.

His teaching career started in the early 1990s and since then he has been involved in teaching several champion pipers who have won Silver Medals, Gold Medals, Former Winners MSR, Clasps and the Silver Chanter.

Willie lives in Bearsden with his wife Christine and has two children, Hailey and Scott.

 
 

Andrew began learning the pipes at the age of 9 under the instruction of Pipe Major Archie Campbell at Strathendrick Pipe Band. He also received tuition from Jim Semple and Jim Wark.

Andrew has played in several pipe bands over his career, Black Bottle – PM Don Bradford, Boghall & Bathgate – PM Craig Walker, Clan Gregor – PM David Methven (Grade 2 World Champions), the 52nd Lowland Regiment – PM Gordon Walker and most recently with Lomond & Clyde - PM David Wilton.

In 2008 Andrew was Pipe Major of Dunbarton and District Novice Juvenile Pipe Band winning the Cowal Championships and coming second in the World Championships, winning the piping.

Andrew is also a music instructor for Stirling Council.

 
 

Iain is originally from Carlisle, Cumbria and started piping at 12yrs old receiving tuition from his local pipe band.

He joined the Scots Guards in 1984 completing his training at the Guards Depot in Pirbright. During this time he was taught by PMaj’s Dixie Ingram and Jimmy Banks at the Guards Depot Piping School where he completed his first Edinburgh Tattoo in 1985. Iain joined the 1st Battalion Scots Guards soon after and served with the Regiment for 26yrs, being posted in Pirbright, Germany (x2), Windsor, Edinburgh (x3), Wellington Bks in London, several tours of Northern Ireland and the Gulf War. He Served under PMaj’s Rodgers, MacInnes, Webster, MacKinnon, Donaldson and Selwood. During this time Iain played for most members of the Royal Family, as well as Presidents and Heads of State of several countries. He passed his Army Pipe Majors Course at Edinburgh Castle under the direction of Maj Gavin Stoddart MBE, BEM and WO1 Bruce Hitchins BEM in 1997, and was appointed Pipe Major of the Regiment in 2006 after a year as Pipe Sgt at the ASBM & HD.

Iain had may highlights during his Army career playing in and leading the band during tours and Tattoos all around the world, competitions, concerts and many a Beating Retreat and Trooping the Colour.

After leaving the Army in 2010, Iain worked for five years with CVQO an education charity delivering and assessing BTEC Music Diplomas. During this time he also became a volunteer with the Army Cadet Force and took a role as a PMaj Advisor for the Tri Service Cadet Force Pipes and Drums. In 2014 he took over the position as Chief Instructor/Training Officer, and was promoted to Captain in December of that year. This is a role that he continues in today.

Iain is a qualified PDQB Assessor up to Level 8, and holds the PDQB Tutor and Teaching Certificates. He currently sits on the PDQB board, and is the PMaj of the Scots Guards Association Pipes & Drums (Scotland).

 
 

Willie Morrison was born and brought up in Locheynart, South Uist, and learned his piping from his grandfather, Donald John Morrison.

At the age of 22, Willie left South Uist where he was a crofter/fisherman to move to Ayrshire where he found work in the Johnny Walker Whisky Distillery and became a member of their famous pipe band. At this time Willie traveled extensively as a representative piper for the company.

As well as being a prolific composer, Willie has excelled in the competition area, winning many prizes including: Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel at the Argyllshire gathering, March Strathspey & Reel at the Glenfiddich Champioships, Strathspey & Reels, Jigs and Silver Medal at the Northern Meetings and The Piping Times Knockout Competition

 
 

Connor Sinclair is a piper from Crieff, Perthshire.

He started learning the Bagpipes from the age of 5, which led to an incredibly successful and varied piping career. An accomplished solo piper, Connor has won many prizes – including the Gold medal at the Northern meeting and winning the MSR at the Glenfiddich in 2019. Connor has also won the World Pipe Band Championships twice as a member of the Grade 1 Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band, in both 2014 and 2016.

Having graduated with a degree in Scottish Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Connor focused on bagpipes, whistle and flute, although he also enjoys playing the guitar and mandolin.

Connor’s musical influences are hugely varied and come from being immersed in Scottish music, culture, and history

Photo Courtesy of Derek Maxwell Photography

The National Piping Centre exists to promote the study of the music and history of the Highland Bagpipe.
Patron HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, KG, KT, GCB.
Founders: Sir Brian Ivory CVO CBE FRSE MA CA - Lady Oona Ivory DL MA ARCM FRSA - Sandy Grant Gordon CBE MA

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HRH The Prince Charles,
Duke of Rothesay, Patron

with Founders, Sir Brian and Lady Ivory and the Lord Provost Bob Winter on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Opening of The National Piping Centre.

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