Piper Donald hopes to inspire young musicians
donald mackenzie
WORLD class piper Donald MacKenzie is hoping to inspire the next generation of players to take up the bagpipes in the run up to St Andrew’s Day on November 30.
Donald (38), from Bearsden, is due to pipe at a number of prestigious corporate events in Glasgow, but is worried many of the younger generation are not taking up the instrument.
The father-of-two said: “There is a big shortage of pipers at the top level in East Dunbartonshire.
“The scene is not what it used to be a decade or more ago.”
Donald has been playing the pipes since he was six.
He says that apart from fellow Bearsden piper Willie McCallum, there is a distinct lack of good solo pipers around.
The ex-pipe major of Milngavie Pipe Band, who is the resident piper at Glengoyne Distillery in Strathblane and plays with the Dublin band Saint Laurence O’Toole (SLOT), reckons more youngsters need to be encouraged to take up the instrument.
The musician has now set up his own tuition classes and has a number of local pupils.
He added: “I want to give something back to the local community. My proudest achievement to date was when I was pipe major of Milngavie Pipe Band.
“Over the space of two years while I was in charge we won The Cowal Championships in 2008.”
For anyone interested in learning the pipes Donald can be contacted at donald@mackenziebagpiping.com
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Weather for Milngavie
Monday 20 May 2013
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