Winter piping workshop programme is 'fantastic'
Star piper Glenn Brown, who is travelling to Stornoway next week for the Lewis and Harris Piping Society’s second winter recital and workshop, said he is very much looking forward to it and has spoken about the ‘great work’ the piping society is doing in keeping the music alive.
Brown, a Canadian who won the piobaireachd competition at the prestigious Glenfiddich competition in October, will be playing in the Caladh Hotel in Stornoway on Saturday (January 18), at 7.30pm, with tickets available at the door.
He will be taking workshops during the day and is the second piper to be giving a combined workshop and recital this season, following Callum Beaumont who did it on November 9.
Brown, a native of Ontario who now lives in Scotland, has played in Stornoway before, having taken part in the invitational Pipe Major Donald Macleod Memorial competition twice.
He said: ‘I am very much looking forward to coming up to Stornoway for the recital/workshop on the 18th as it’s such a beautiful part of the world with the friendliest of people.
‘Part of what we as pipers look forward to about competing at the Donald MacLeod Memorial is the people and their appreciation for the music, the love of the instrument and the love for the man himself. How much he contributed to piping throughout the world is just unbelievable.’
Brown would have qualified for this year’s Donald Macleod competition by virtue of his win at the Glenfiddich, but is unable to make it as he is a groomsman at fellow piper Callum Beaumont’s wedding in Melbourne on the same day – April 3.
Brown added: ‘The work that the Lewis and Harris Piping Society is doing is just so great for piping in that part of the world and beyond.
‘These workshops/recitals will hopefully continue in future.
‘Unfortunately, I’m unable to compete there this year as I’ll be a groomsman at Callum Beaumont’s wedding. Hopefully, I’ll be asked to take part in future years, but I’m thankful to have been asked to take part in the workshop/recital.’
Anna Murray, also senior piping tutor for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for the Loch a Tuath area and the Nicolson Institute, said: ‘There’s so much interest in piping with the young players today – it’s really essential that they get to hear these top class players.
‘They were so inspired at the last recital, meeting Callum. The workshop was fantastic and he was so lovely to them but their reaction in the evening when they watched him play and heard what he could do with a set of bagpipes – their jaws hit the floor, they couldn’t believe their ears.
‘When you’re teaching, you can say to the children, “go and listen to this person or that person” but it’s no substitute for them actually being in the same room and hearing the top grade pipers.
‘After they’ve heard such amazing playing, they don’t need to be asked twice to practice when they get home, which is great. They’re just so enthused.
‘They are really looking forward to the next recital. It’s fantastic that the recitals are happening again and that it’s a series of recitals.’
Tickets for the recital will be £10, £8 concession, and under-16s get in free.