WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Yes. We did it! As a member of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, we were crowned World Pipe Band Champions last Saturday August 16 in Glasgow. For video and audio, please visit SFU Tube. It's very exciting, and after several years of placing 2nd and 3rd it's great to back on top of the world! "The Worlds" is the pipe band world's version of the Super Bowl -- the biggest event of the year and the most prestigious to win. The news story at pipes|drums.

The Worlds is one of the biggest events of the year in Scotland with over 20,00 spectators. You'll find plenty of video of the competition and the victory march of the champions on here on YouTube.

Here I am with the Championship Trophy (aka The Spike).



And the entire winning team.



Additional great news, Seattle's own Keith Highlanders Pipe Band placed 3rd in the Grade 4B category at the Worlds. I have taught and coached the Keith Highlanders for several years and watched their dedication and improvement. A local news story on the band.

New Book of Pipe Music

My composition, The Merry Wedding Hornpipe, has been published in Iain MacDonald's new book of pipe tunes, Along the Road.

I wrote the tune a few years ago for the wedding of my friends Colin & Inge Merry, and was very pleased to learn that Iain selected it for his long-awaited book of tunes.  Iain was a friend and student of the legendary piper and composer Donald MacLeod.  In this new book, Iain shares with the world several of Donald's previously unpublished compositions.  Donald is considered by many to be the greatest composer of pipe tunes.  He published six books of his own prior to his passing in 1982.  Donald's pipe tunes have become classics.  His strathspey Susan MacLeod (named for one of his daughters) was selected as the greatest pipe tune of all time by pipesdrums.com.  So, the fact that this book brings new Donald MacLeod tunes to the light of day is an historical rarity and a remarkable event.  That my hornpipe composition was chosen for the collection is a true honor.

More info and how to purchase on Along the Road.

The Merry Wedding Hornpipe is also available from my Downloadable Tune Lessons.