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Willie McCallum is Scottish Highland bagpipe player.
Willie McCallum | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 April 1961 Campbeltown |
| Instrument | Bagpipes |
| Website | www |
He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, MBE, Piper to The Duke of Argyll.[1] The family is directly related to John MacAlister who won the Prize Pipe at the Falkirk Tryst in 1782.[2]
As a youngster he heard the top solo pipers in the world through the Kintyre Piping Society, which was revived in the 1970s by his father, also Willie.[3] These piping recitals featured the likes of P/M John D Burgess, Donald MacPherson, P/M Donald MacLeod, Iain MacFadyen, Hugh MacCallum, John MacFadyen, John MacDougall, Duncan MacFadyen, Duncan Johnstone, Angus J MacLellan and John Wilson.
Prior to 2010, he worked as an accountant at the University of Strathclyde. He now has his own business and acts as a consultant for McCallum Bagpipes and Bannatyne Pipe Bag Makers, as well as teaching and adjudicating across the world.[4] McCallum has taken part in a number of overseas piping schools, and in 2016 was appointed lead tutor at the National Piping Centre for B.Mus.Trad piping degree program offered by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.[2]
He lives in Bearsden with his wife Christine, with whom he has a daughter and a son.[5]
Willie McCallum has won many top solo piping prizes several times, including:[1][5]
- Bratach Gorm (4 times - 1991, 1999, 2002, 2011)
- Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering (1995)
- Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting (1989)
- Glenfiddich Championship (9 times - 1990, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2022)
- Former Winners MSR, Northern Meeting (4 times - 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012)
- Former Winners MSR, Argyllshire Gathering (5 times - 1990, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008)
- Silver Chanter (3 times - 1994, 1995, 1996)
- Metro Cup (3 times - 2008, 2009, 2015)
- Donald Macleod Memorial (9 times - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2015)
- Dr Dan Reid Memorial (7 times - 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008)
- Former Winners MSR London (5 times - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009)
He was notably invited to the Glenfiddich Championships 29 consecutive times between 1988 and 2016.[6]
With the ScottishPower Pipe Band he has been runner-up at the World Pipe Band Championships twice, and in 2008 and 2016 he played with the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.[1]
He plays inherited bagpipes that he believes to be Hendersons, with a McCallum McC2 solo chanter.[7]
He has recorded three solo albums, and featured in several other compilations.[8]
- Pipers of Distinction - (Monarch, 1989)
- Hailey's Song - (Temple, 1995)
- World's Greatest Pipers Vol. 14 - (Lismor 2000)
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