Welcome to the 4th time this event has been staged. The concept of this event is that, although it is a contest, it is first and foremost a recital. Our aim is to allow the recitalist to relax and play the music they enjoy without the usual restrictions that sometimes govern contest performance. We ask that during their 25-30 minute performance they include a March, Strathspey and Reel as well as the Ground of a Piobaireachd. The judges, who are dotted around the hall, are asked to simply give a result judged on who they judge to have given the best overall musical performance. They are not necessarily taking into account minor technical blemishes in the performance.

We hope you enjoy the evening.

Jack Lee

For 30 years, Jack Lee has been regarded as one of the world’s leading pipers. His accomplishments as a Solo Piper, Pipe Band leader and Teacher cause him to be much sought after as a performer, lecturer and teacher throughout the world.

As a Solo Piper, Jack has won all the top awards available including the Gold Medals at Inverness and Oban, the Glenfiddich Championship, the Clasp at Inverness, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban, the Silver Star for former winners MSR at Inverness (twice) and the Bratach Gorm. At home Jack has won a record 15 times the B.C. Pipers Association Annual Gathering In 2001 Jack was voted Competitive Piper of the year by Piper and Drummer Magazine.

Jack as the Pipe Sergeant and co-founder of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. In 2001, the band won its 4th World Championship. The band has been an extremely consistent prizewinner at the World during the past 20 years, having won either 1st or 2nd on eleven occasions. The band has recorded 10 CDs and 2 Videos, including CDs at New York’s Carnegie Hall and the magnificent Sydney Opera House.

Jack’s dedicates 20 hours per week to private instruction of boys and girls in British Columbia. Two of them have gone on to win the Gold and Silver Medals in Inverness, Scotland. Jack teaches at many workshops and piping schools throughout North America and beyond each year.

Jack, and his brother Terry, were both awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 1999 for outstanding service to the country. We are delighted that Jack is returning to take part in the recital.

Angus MacColl

Angus MacColl hails from Benderloch near Oban in Argylishire and began piping as a young boy, initially taught by his late father. He comes from an illustrious piping family and is the Great Grand Nephew of the legendary piper and composer John MacColl. With years of piping still ahead, Angus’s contribution to the MacColl dynasty is certain to rival that of his forebears.

Angus has a tremendous track record in competitive piping and has won virtually every award in piping. His long list of achievements includes the Gold Medals at Inverness and Oban, the Glenfiddich Championship, the Clasp at Inverness three times, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban three times, the Silver Star for former winners MSR at Inverness and the former winners MSR at Oban on several occasions.

He excels as an entertainer and is constantly in demand at recitals throughout the country as well as being demand as a teacher at several piping schools in North America.

We welcome Angus back to the Todd to defend the title he has won each of the last three years.

Roddy MacLeod MBE

Roddy appears at the Todd for the first time. Roddy has won all the major solo piping awards including both Gold medals at Inverness and Oban, three Glenfiddich Championships, three Silver Chanters, four Bratach Gorms, two Clasps at Inverness, the former winners MSR at both Inverness and Oban. The list of Roddys other solo wins is huge, his most recent success being this year’s Donald Macleod Memorial in Stornoway.

Roddy’s piping style is known to be driven by a love of the music and his bagpipe and technique are second to none.

Roddy is Principal of Scotland’s National Piping Centre and is at the forefront of many exciting developments to promote standards within piping and widen popular appreciation of the instrument. Roddy’s drive was very much instrumental in the development of the Piping Live festival.

Roddy was Pipe Major of the Grade 1 Scottish Power Pipe Band for ten years, a band he has been involved with for over twenty years, retiring from the post last Autumn after guiding the band to a championship win at Cowal.

In October Roddy was awarded the MBE by the Queen for Services to Piping. In 2004 Roddy was Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards for music in recognition of his contribution to piping and Scottish traditional music.

Gordon Walker

Gordon, from Cumnock in Ayrshire, is one of the world’s most popular premier solo pipers and recitalists His first piping tuition, was from Pipe Major David Kay. He enlisted as a boy soldier with The Royal Highland Fusiliers and had piping instruction from Pipe Major lain M. Morrison and Captain Andrew Pitkeathly. Gordon Walker gained his Pipe Major’s Certificate (with distinction) in 1989, went on to win the gold medals at both the Northern Meeting and the Argyllshire Gathering.

He left the Army in October 1999 having served in the Gulf war in 1991 and operational tours of duty in Bosnia. Gordon’s change of career means time is spent passing on his knowledge. Gordon was a senior instructor at the National Piping Centre and spent five years there. In January of 2005 he left The Centre to take up the post as piping instructor with St Columba’s school’s piping programme in Renfrewshire.

He is now Pipe Major of the 52nd Lowland Regiment Pipe Band.

A seasoned competitor and major prize-winner he has won virtually every prize that exists, including both and Oban, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban, Bratach Gorm, former winners MSR at Oban and Inverness on many occasions.

He is known internationally as a competitor, recitalist, teacher and adjudicator. Gordon is well known for his flamboyant style and we know you will be royally entertained.