Willie McCallum

Willie McCallum
Born Campbeltown
Instruments Bagpipes
Website www.williemccallum.com

Willie McCallum is Scottish bagpipe player.

Life

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]

As a youngster he heard top solo pipers through the Kintyre Piping Society, which was set up by his father.[2]

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, as well as teaching and adjudicating.[3] He lives in Bearsden with his wife Christine, with whom he has a son and a daughter.[4]

Career

McCallum has won many top solo piping prizes several times, including:[1][4]

  • Bratach Gorm (3 times - 1991, 1999, 2002)
  • Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering (1995)
  • Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting (1989)
  • Glenfiddich Championship (8 times - 1990, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005)
  • Former Winners MSR, Northern Meeting (3 times - 2004, 2006, ????)
  • Former Winners MSR, Argyllshire Gathering (5 times - 1990, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008)
  • Silver Chanter (3 times - 1994, 1995, 1996)
  • Metro Cup (2 times - 2008, 2009)
  • Donald Macleod Memorial (7 times - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
  • Dr Dan Reid Memorial (7 times - 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008)

He has notably been invited to the Glenfiddich Championships 29 consecutive times as of 2016.[5]

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.[6]

Discography

He has recorded five solo albums, and featured in several other compilations.[7]

  • Pipers of Distinction - (Monarch, 1989)
  • Hailey’s Song - (Temple, 1995)
  • World’s Greatest Pipers Vol. 14 - (Lismor 2000)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About - Willie McCallum Piping". williemccallum.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  2. ↑ Robert Wallace (9 April 2016). "Willie McCallum Snr., Campbeltown". pipingpress.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "Willie McCallum leaves accounting for full-time piping". pipesdrums. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Willie McCallum: the pipes-drums Interview, Part 1". pipesdrums. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "London SPSL Bratach Gorm 2011". mccallumbagpipes.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "McC² Solo Chanter". mccallumbagpipes.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Piping Live! Week at The College of Piping". collegeofpiping.org. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
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