Pipers in Fyne tune for Inveraray workshop
World-class tuition is once again on offer to pipers from across the globe, as the Inveraray Piping Workshop hopes to return following the success of last year.
Open to pipers of all levels, over the age of 18, the 2020 workshop will be led by instructors Bruce Hitchings, Alasdair Henderson, Stuart Liddell and Murray Henderson.
New Zealand-born Bruce Hitchings started playing the pipes at the age of 11. By the time he was 16 he was playing with the New Zealand champions, the City of Wellington Pipe Band.
In 1977 Bruce joined the Black Watch Territorial Army as a piper and enlisted as a regular into the Queen’s Own Highlanders in 1978. In 1986 he became the Battalion Pipe Major, and during this time was awarded the British Empire Medal. In 2000, he was rewarded with the Member of British Empire Medal for services to army piping.
Taught
Inveraray’s Stuart Liddell started piping at the age of nine and was originally taught by his grandfather, the late Pipe Major Ronald McCallum M.B.E. and later, Arthur Gillies.
Stuart is the founder and Pipe Major of Inveraray and District Pipe Band, winners of the World Pipe Band Championship in 2017 and 2019. Previously he was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band for seven years, thereafter joining the Simon
Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver with whom he played for 11 years.
Alasdair Henderson, from Dunoon, moved to Glasgow in 2006 to study music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He joined Inveraray and District Pipe Band in the autumn of 2009, having previously played with the Scottish Power Pipe Band.
Alasdair is a piping instructor at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh and is also the
Pipe Major of their Novice Juvenile band.
Murray Henderson was born in New Zealand and was first taught by his father, and then the late Donald Bain. He moved to Scotland in 1973, and won the Inverness Gold Medal in 1975. Since then he has been one of the most prolific prize-winners, including six Inverness Clasps, five Bratach Gorms and five
Silver Chanters. Having retired from competitive piping in 2012, Murray is a senior adjudicator for the SPJA.
Sight reading
Last year’s workshop saw 16 pipers from Dunoon, England, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands gather at Inveraray Primary School to learn sight reading, rhythms, fingerwork, tuning and tone and a selection of tunes including marches, Strathspeys and reels and piobaireachds.
With limited spaces left organisers are encouraging those interested in the workshop weekend, which will run (coronavirus permitting) from April 17-19, to register online now.
Giving a taste of what’s to come, an instructors recital will take place on the Friday night.
Open to all, the recital will take place at the Inveraray Inn starting at 7pm. Tickets will be sold at the door for £5, with entry free for under 18s.
On Saturday evening, following the day’s classes, participants of the Inveraray Piping Workshop are invited to perfrom at the Inveraray Inn from 7pm. This informal evening will give performing participants the opportunity to not only entertain friends and family but to also gain professional feedback.
Blending with the piping there will also be a chance for a whisky tasting, hosted by Loch Fyne Whisky Shop, as part of the evening’s entertainment.
Further details and the full weekend schedule can be found at www.inveraraypiping.co.uk