The Hosts: Aughintober Pipe Band

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2 The Hosts: Aughintober Pipe Band As Chairman of Aughintober Pipe Band, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all. If you re reading this then you have managed to embrace the new digital age! There is no doubt that as an audience, we will be treated to a fine night of music in a fantastic venue. I would encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy some of the worlds finest musicians and exponents of Scottish traditional Music. It would be remiss of me not to thank those who have brought this event together. Colin and Anita from Wonderland Productions NI for their help, support and patience over the past seven months. The Waterfront Hall staff who work so professionally. Glenn and Ashley who have shouldered a lot of the work on behalf of the band and last but not least those fine musicians taking the stage tonight. ScottishPower Pipe Band are not only one of the Worlds best but certainly one of the busiest. In the last few months the band has played at events ranging from St. Paul s Cathedral in London to Galicia in Spain! Without doubt this busy band is reflective of their Pipe Major Chris Armstrong. Chris has been piping through the USA, Malaysia and New Zealand recently and has been extremely helpful in preparing for tonight s concert. ScottishPower are joined tonight by some of Scotland s finest musicians and to them all we say THANK YOU! We hope you enjoy the concert. On leaving please support our charity collection for Friends of the Cancer Centre who do sterling work for everyone in Northern Ireland. Noel Ferry Chairman Aughintober Pipe Band

3 Compere: Roddy MacLeod Roddy MacLeod, MBE, is one of the most distinguished and widely accomplished pipers of his generation and needs no introduction. A student of the late Duncan Johnstone, he played with the Red Hackle and British Caledonian Airways Pipe Bands, the last of which became the ScottishPower Pipe Band. In 1995, Roddy became its Pipe Major and led the band for a decade. In 2008, he led the star studded Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band to the Grade 1 final at the World Pipe Band Championship. A feat that was the subject of a documentary movie called On the Day. As a soloist, Roddy MacLeod has an impressive list of titles to his name. A multiple prize winner in both light music and piobaireachd. He has won the Gold Medal at both the Northern Meeting and Argyllshire Gathering, the Glenfiddich Piping Championship three times and the piobaireachd event a record eight times, the Bratach Gorm five times, the Silver Chanter six times, the Northern Meeting Clasp on two occasions, Bi-centenary medal (1988) and Former Winners MSR, the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering twice and the Former Winner MSR twice and the Gillies Cup Open Piobaireachd in London nine times. As Director of The National Piping Centre for over 15 years he has been a prominent driving force behind the BA (Scottish Music - Piping), degree programme, the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland and Piping Live!, Glasgow s International Piping Festival that celebrates 10 years this year. Just this month he launched The National Piping Centre E-Learning service In 2003, he was made a Member of the British Empire in recognition of his services to piping. A true piping great.

4 ScottishPower Pipe Band With international acclaim, worldwide honours and global experience, the ScottishPower Pipe Band is one of the top ten band s in the world. The leading, Grade 1 Pipe Band combines the finest of Scottish musical tradition with intrinsic creative flair in vibrant performances that have earned them an international following. ScottishPower became the title sponsor of the band in 1989 and are immensely proud of the band who are great ambassadors for the ScottishPower brand. Led by Pipe Major Chris Armstrong and Drum Sargeant Barry Wilson, the ScottishPower Pipe Band has won most major championships over the years and is regularly placed in the World Pipe Band Championships. Twice winners of the Scottish Championships and the Cowal Championships, the Band has also held the All-Ireland title and secured second place in the World Pipe Band Championships on two occasions. Under the direction of the Pipe Major, the pipers and drummers of the ScottishPower Pipe Band are committed to musical excellence and maintaining the proud tradition of the Highland bagpipe. But the Band is also renowned for musical innovation, delighting audiences with new compositions and exploring new frontiers through collaboration with selected artistes, ranging from Sir Paul McCartney, to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. On its latest album, Cathcart, the ScottishPower Pipe Band performs with two of Scotland s leading performers, musician Phil Cunningham, MBE and vocalist Karen Matheson. Other tracks on this highly original album feature session musicians, providing yet another new dimension to the band s music. The Cathcart CD and other titles by the ScottishPower Pipe Band are available via the website: Prestigious Performances The ScottishPower Pipe Band has performed to audiences all over the world, including in the US, Canada, Japan and China. In 2002 the Band led nearly 8,000 massed pipers and drummers through New York City on Tartan Day, marching with the Mayor of New York City and legendary Scots actor, Sir Sean Connery. The Band has played for Her Majesty The Queen at Braemar and at the 75th Royal Variety Performance at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, as well as performing at events such as the Lord Mayor s Show in London. They have played with Sir Paul McCartney at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and performed by invitation at the Vatican s Christmas Concert. Acting as ambassadors for ScottishPower, Band members have played at the New York Stock Exchange and at a Burns Supper attended by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. The ScottishPower Pipe Band played at the opening of the Scottish Parliament and has supported numerous fund-raising events. The Band has appeared on TV networks throughout the world and continues to be in demand in the UK and internationally. Continuing Success In addition to excellent standards of piping, the ScottishPower Pipe Band is renowned for the quality of its drummers and Drum Sergeant Barry Wilson lifted the title of World s Leading Solo Drummer in 2007 and retained the title when he competed again in October The Band is always immaculately turned out and on top of its musical awards it has in the past been voted Best Dressed Pipe Band. The pipers and drummers wear the distinctive ScottishPower tartan, which was created specially for them by designers at the Scottish College of Textiles in Galashiels Contact Details Website address: enquiries@scottishpowerpipeband.com

5 Pipe Major Chris Armstrong Originally from Bathgate, Chris started learning to play at the age of 6 with the Torphichen and Bathgate Pipe Band in At this time he received solo piping tuition from the late Pipe Major John Matheson BEM who lived in Bathgate and taught most of the local youngsters the ropes of solo competition. After a few years with the Novice Juvenile band he stepped up to play with the then grade 2 band in 1990 where he played for a season. At the end of that season he moved with the Pipe Major and a few other players to start up the defunct Seafield and District Pipe Band. Chris then decided to spend a bit of time on his solo playing and left the bands for a couple of seasons and was very successful in the junior piping competitions around the games circuit. It was then that he made a return to bands playing with Coalburn IOR and then he joined the grade one Eden Pipe Band in Northern Ireland under Pipe Major David Caldwell and played there for a season. He then made the move back closer to home and joined the Dumbarton and District Pipe Band where he eventually became Pipe Sergeant. Following this he went full circle and ended up back at T orphichen and Bathgate Pipe Band again as Pipe Sergeant where he played for another 2 years. Chris then made the decision to focus his energies into his solo piping again but this time in the senior age groups. Between 1998 and 2004 Chris piping achievements led to him becoming a full time instructor at the National Piping Centre in Chris holds the PDQB Level 6 and Senior Teachers Certificate. Renowned for his electric finger technique and outstanding tonal bagpipe his past successes have included winning the Bratach Gorm, J. B. Robertson Rose Bowl and the Overall Champion Piper at the Scottish Piping Society of London in st 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, he has also placed 2nd in the Former Winners MSR at the Northern Meeting twice. 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. In 2004 Chris was asked to become the Pipe Major of the David Urquart Travel Pipes and Drums which he accepted and spent 2 seasons building the pipe corps from scratch and at the end of the 2005 season he decided to step down from the post with the intentions of joining another band as a player. At this time Roddy MacLeod had announced his retirement as Pipe Major of ScottishPower Pipe Band and Chris was approached and asked if he would be interested in interviewing for the post which he did. After the interviews had been conducted Chris was offered the Pipe Major position which he accepted. Chris has 3 albums to his name Notes in ma Heid, Quantum Leap and the last one Xtreme, to follow these up he has also released 3 books full of his own compositions Notes frae ma Heid volume one and two and his latest digital only collection Re:Tradition.

6 Leading Drummer Barry Wilson You can t have a great pipe band without a great drum corps and ScottishPower has one of the best drummers around to make sure this happens. Barry is the 4 time World Solo Drumming Champion, winning his four titles in succession from 2007 to 2010 which in itself is an achievement that no other drummer has ever accomplished. His pipe band achievements are impressive too. During his drumming career to date he has accumulated 24 Major Pipe Band Championship wins, including three World Championship titles. This success on the band front however has been surpassed on the Drum Corps front with an accumulation of a massive 40 Major Drum Corp Championship wins, including 12 World Drum Corp Championships. 11 of these World Titles were won consecutively, another record that has been unsurpassed. Barry began drumming around 1981 with Mauchline & District Pipe Band in Grade 4 where he learned his trade as a young boy. From here he moved to Killoch Colliery Pipe Band in Grade 3 and in 1987 he moved to Grade 1 and the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band. This final move to Grade 1 would prove very fruitful and he would remain there till 2002 at which point he took over the reigns as Leading Drummer at ScottishPower Pipe Band. Barry is also a 3 time World Solo Drumming Junior Champion. After gaining a 5th place in his first attempt in 1987 aged 15, Barry went on to win in 88, 89 and 90 and in his first year in the senior grade placed 4th. A dream of his was realised in 2007 where his own brand of drum sticks, Baztix by Barry Wilson, went into manufacture and continue to be played by an international array of drummers and drum corps throughout the globe. When Barry isn t playing with the band he continues to hold down his day job as Commercial Director for an Interior Fit Out Company, WorkSmart Contracts Ltd, along with juggling family life with his partner Kineta Mordaunt and their son Charlie who was born in 2009.

7 Guest Musicians Chris Stout is a hugely dynamic and charismatic fiddle player, composer and producer from Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. His diverse background, deeply rooted in both traditional and classical styles, has brought him to collaborate with musicians across the globe. He recently featured as a soloist on the soundtrack to the Disney s blockbuster Brave. A hard working composer, performer and producer Chris has singlehandedly penned the string arrangements for the concert as he draws on his ability a variety of violin styles, drawing on a range of influences from folk, jazz, electronica and classical. Finlay McDonald started piping at the age of ten and has travelled the world playing at concerts and festivals as far afield as Japan, China and Russia. A student of Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Finlay has been popular as a session musician, releasing his first solo album in 2000 and has his own band the aptly named Finlay MacDonald Band. This band combines piping with Jazz, Funk and Dance influences. The album Pressed for Time was released in 2003 and Reecho in 2007, the band became one of the top acts on the World folk scene. Finlay is currently Head of Piping Studies at The National Piping Centre/Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Catriona McKay is a diverse musician who pushes one of Scotland s traditional instruments - the Scottish harp, to its limits. Through her composition and performing worldwide she is widely recognized for her unique style, inventiveness and daring rhythmic use of the Scottish harp. Guitarist Ross Martin is from West Lochaber, an area blessed with music, culture and outstanding beauty. A founding component of Gaelic super-group Daimh (One of the most exhilarating acoustic bands on the Celtic map Irish Music Magazine) and a full time member of the Karan Casey Band (the most soulful singer in Irish music today the Herald) Ross finds his playing in constant demand both in Scotland and Ireland.

8 Concert Running Order* First Half Set Title Composer / Arranged by 1 The Bob of Fettercairn The Bob of Fettercairn Arr. John Wilson Loch Carron Arr. John Wilson 2 Kitchen Piper Set From Maui to Kona The Kitchen Piper 3 The Blue Lagoon Set Blair and the Hurricane Pitlochry High School Centenary The Blue Lagoon The Electric Pumpkin 4 2/4 Marches Caradale Bay PM Willie Gray s farewell to the Glasgow Police Bob Worrall Neil Dickie Chris Armstrong Gordon Duncan Peter MacLeod Jnr Chris Armstrong George McIntyre Trad. 5 Breton Set 6 Quartet Back on Track 7 New 2013 Medley Castle Dangerous The North Star TheMillstead Salute to Jack Henderson Struan Robertson The hag at the churn HanterDro Golden Brown 8 The Flying Scotsman Set PM Calum Campbell s Caprice The Flying Scotsman Mark Saul James Haugh Arr. Chris Armstrong R. S. MacDonald Chris Armstrong Trad. Arr. Finlay MacDonald Arr. Finlay MacDonald Kyle Warren Joe Wilson David Barnes *Correct at time of publication

9 Concert Running Order* Set Title Composer / Arranged by 9 Donald MacLean Set Michael MacDonald s Jig Jim McGillvary Donald MacLean Trad. Chloe s Passion Dr. Angus MacDonald The Shaggy Grey Buck Arr. Donald MacLeod. 10 Drum Fanfare Jim McGillvary Second Half 11 Oran Canntaireachd Chris Armstrong 12 7/8 Set From Maui to Kona The Kitchen Piper 13 The Blue Lagoon Set The Gibber The A Lister Ward s 14 3/4 Marches The 8th Argyll s crossing the river Po The Highland Brigade at Magerfonstain PM Angus MacDonald 15 Dusty Millar Reels The Dusty Millar Mo Chuachag Laghach Thu The Duke of Perth s Reel Bob Worrall Neil Dickie Finlay MacDonald Kyle Warren Arr. Finlay MacDonald Trad. Trad. Allan MacDonald Arr. MacDonald/Armstrong Arr. MacDonald/Armstrong Arr. MacDonald/Armstrong 16 MacKay s Memoirs Martyn Bennett 17 The School House Reels Covered in Soot The School House The Country Girl and the Hungarian Fiddler Chris Armstrong Arr. Chris Armstrong Arr. Chris Armstrong *Correct at time of publication

10 Get ready for a pipe band The Belfast Tattoo has its roots firmly based in the history, music and dance traditions of the Ulster Scots people who have spread their wings around the world and have gone on to have such a major influence and direction on those countries and people they have come into contact with around the world. Ulster has, per head of population, more marching bands than anywhere else in the world. Some of these bands have reputations which extend around the world for their excellence in competition and also produce musicians that have gone on to be world leaders in the chosen field of music. In this the first year of the Belfast extravaganza! Tattoo, which will go on to be an annual event, the Tattoo will focus on those bands that are at the top of their field playing the instruments which are central to their tradition as well as highlighting those people who strive to keep the Scottish Highland Dance tradition as part of the culture of the Ulster Scots people. The Tattoo will also reach out to highlight and include the culture and life of those people who have also had an effect on the life and culture of the Ulster Scots people. It is a happy coincidence that 2013 is the year that the Tourism bodies in Ireland are reaching out around the world to encourage people to return home to their roots to discover what made them the people they have become. By drawing together some of the most dynamic and creative talent from within Ulster today, using innovative production, heart stopping sound, imaginative graphics and state of the art lighting, the show will captivate a cosmopolitan audience and throw a bright light on the culture of the Ulster Scots using hundreds of pipers, drummers, singers, dancers and will showcase a percussion piece specially commissioned for the Tattoo. The show will be brought to an emotional and poignant close, each evening, by a Lone Piper playing a haunting lament high in the ramparts within the body of the arena.