Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion
If you've ever been to Kanata, Ontario, you'd know how quiet it is. So, Beth’s family quickly became known as the bagpiping family on the corner with the pub in the basement. Beth is the the fourth person in her family to play the pipes. It made complete sense. Beth started out as a highland dancer, and seeing that her brothers and father all played the pipes, it was only a matter of time and growth before she started playing. Beth felt like she was running to keep up; the boys had been playing in the cadets, and her brother Lochie had been to Edinburgh Castle for a course, so she didn't have the same opportunities. What Beth did have, though, was a brilliant instructor who taught her well, and taught her more about life, strength, and perseverance than anyone else. Morag Jamieson was and still is her mentor. Morag is one of the best, and everyone who's ever known her will tell you the same.
Beth attended the summer school of the College of Piping in Timmins, Ontario, where she was very fortunate to meet and take instruction from such piping luminaries as Pipe Major Harry McNulty, Seumas MacNeill, James MacIntosh, and Murray Henderson, and with seminars taught by Bert Barr and the immortal Alex Duthart. Beth soon grew interested in drumming, which she learned later on. At Beth’s last summer at the college she was asked to teach, and Beth and her sister both won scholarships to the school. Being her first foray into the world of 'pipe majoring', it opened up a new world for her.
Beth has played in various bands over the years, including Ogilvy's, the Cameron Highlanders, the Special Service Forces, the Ottawa and District Composite Pipe Band, Air Command Pipes and Drums, WestJet, and now the Sons of Scotland. Beth was appointed pipe major of the Sons of Scotland thirteen years ago, and as a mandate, has tried to build membership, offer more instruction, and maintain the level of piping and camaraderie that was established long before she joined. Beth says “I am proud of the people in the band, of the work that we do, and I am looking forward to many great seasons of competition and parades.”
Beth took the band to Scotland to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in 2003- the first time since 1974, again each summer after that and in 2005 the band saw a magnificent opportunity in the band's performance at Balmoral Castle for Her Majesty The Queen and Princess Beatrice. The band and dancers put together a champion 40 minute show which was met by great approval by Her Majesty, and it was a terrific day for the families and guests who attended along with the performers. 2006 saw the band returning to Scotland and included a show at Belfast City Hall as part of their journey. Culloden, Inverness and Loch Ness were on the agenda, as were a performance at Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of HolyroodHouse and Caledonian Brewery. In 2007, the band played once more at Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of HolyroodHouse, at Drummond Castle for the 75th Anniversary of the charity Blesma, and took time to stop in Dunblane where some played the lovely tune written by the House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Major Robert Mathieson 'The Bells of Dunblane' in honour of the tragic events of 1996. The band also performed on behalf of the Lothian Bus Company, and played at some great venues for their friends at the Caledonian Brewery.
Expanding on membership both in Canada and Scotland is constantly happening, so world-class instruction and constant support is key to further development. Bringing instructors to Ottawa from Scotland and Toronto are always in the works, as are return trips to New York City, Scotland and the US. The Sons were the first pipe band to ever play at legendary rock club CBGB's in New York City in April, drawing a huge crowd of spectators who were in disbelief of the volume!!! Beth has been a soloist or participant on 15 cds including her newest - a compiliation cd titled '25' released October 19, 2011, with a portion of the proceeds going towards her school ,and took part in the Bravo documentary 'They Pipe Among Us' featuring piping comedian Johnny Bagpipes. The Sons of Scotland pipe band also performed in support of the ACDC tribute band Great Scott, of which the Pipe Major was the rock band's piper, and she also plays with local punk band Pop Culture Icons and Iron Lung. Beth has also acted as producer of the annual 'Scotland Tonight', 'B in the Park' and the National Tartan Day events, and organizes special events of interesting and historical significance for the band. Shows at the Canadian War Museum, being the piper for the National Citizenship and Immigration Ceremonies here in Ottawa, and playing for rockstars is what helps keep this game of piping interesting! Beth teaches fulltime and is a highland dance piper and lead drummer in the Sons grade 5 band. 2013 is shaping up to be another exciting year with many great performance opportunities, a return trip with the band and many guests to Balmoral Castle in their 2nd private performance for Her Majesty The Queen in August as part of their annual journey to Scotland - and shows at Blair Atholl, Stirling and Edinburgh Castles along with the Palace of HolyroodHouse in Edinburgh will complete their agenda, after competing at the World Pipe Band Championships on August 18, at Glasgow Green. Bethany has also just received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in the Scottish community.
Another Royal performance is in the works for fall of 2013, and a wonderful opportunity to pipe at the Toronto International Film Festival is on the horizon.
As Director of the Ottawa City Piping College, she has now branched out to have 2 other Ottawa pipers join her as tutors following the College of Piping curriculum and she is pleased to be able to provide tuition to people all across the Ottawa region.
Band Manager Bob Derry
Band Manager Bob Derry Bob, a high school Latin and French teacher, has been a stalwart member of the Sons of Scotland since 1993. In addition to being the Band Manager, Bob is a competitor in the Grade 4 band, a star in the film 'They Pipe Among Us', and a terrific contributor to the band's music. Bob is the one man who keeps the band organized, in step, and always contributing to our community with a great sense of humour and much kindness.
Pipe Major Lochie Bisaillion
My father was a piper, and on many a school night I vainly attempted to get some sleep while pipes were blasting in the basement. One afternoon I went downstairs and saw the odd looking octopus in tartan pajamas lying on the work table. I blew some air in the blowpipe and watched it get fat, then did C.P.R. on the bag before it deflated. Scared the hell out of our 2 corgis that followed me downstairs. It was so funny I had to do it again. My dad came down to investigate, and construed my dog scaring as a fervent desire to learn to play bagpipes, and promptly shipped me off to Morag Jamieson for pipe lessons. This was 1976, I was 12, and she scared the hell out of me. (good Pipe Major material) I then met and got lessons from Seamus MacNeill from the College of Piping, who was even scarier (is that a word ?), and they both taught me that you must focus on the basics, and get them right, or you'll get nowhere.
I piped in Army Cadets and was lucky enough to meet Archie Cairns, who reminded me to focus on the basics, stating he'd rather listen to Scotland The Brave played slowly and well, the 50 Hornpipes played fast and poorly. He shipped me off to Edinburgh Castle on a piping course, and the hook was set. This would be a way of life for me. More than 30 years later I'm still having fun, and learning, and reminding myself to focus on the basics. I'm thankful my dad "persuaded" me to learn the pipes, they have been rewarding in so many ways I can't even begin to describe. I'm also thankful that I have an opportunity here in "The Sons" to pass along some of what I have learned, as a way of giving back to piping. (Did you know that bagpipes float ?)
To any new piper wanting to join the band, there are a few things to remember...and I remind myself daily.
Rule #1, The Pipe Major is always right.
Rule #2, Focus on the basics and get it right. Massacre Jigs on your own time.
Rule #3, Never forget, there is always somebody new wanting your uniform....
I piped in Army Cadets and was lucky enough to meet Archie Cairns, who reminded me to focus on the basics, stating he'd rather listen to Scotland The Brave played slowly and well, the 50 Hornpipes played fast and poorly. He shipped me off to Edinburgh Castle on a piping course, and the hook was set. This would be a way of life for me. More than 30 years later I'm still having fun, and learning, and reminding myself to focus on the basics. I'm thankful my dad "persuaded" me to learn the pipes, they have been rewarding in so many ways I can't even begin to describe. I'm also thankful that I have an opportunity here in "The Sons" to pass along some of what I have learned, as a way of giving back to piping. (Did you know that bagpipes float ?)
To any new piper wanting to join the band, there are a few things to remember...and I remind myself daily.
Rule #1, The Pipe Major is always right.
Rule #2, Focus on the basics and get it right. Massacre Jigs on your own time.
Rule #3, Never forget, there is always somebody new wanting your uniform....
Drum Sergeant Megan Bisaillion
Megan began her career in highlandry in the same way her brothers and sisters did, as a highland dancer. When the time came for her to do other pursuits, she took to drumming. In her early days, Megan can count among her tutors Sheila Jamieson, John Kerr, Harry Madden, Alex Duthart and Bert Barr. She travelled to the Timmins Summer School where she learned a lot over the summer sessions, and won the scholarship for drumming one year. She has been a member of the Ogilvy and Sons of Scotland Pipe Bands, and is now proud that her daughter is in the band too. She works very hard at supporting her corps and being a stalwart and hardworking teacher and band officer, and the band is proud of its success under her direction.
Pipe Sergeant John Virag
When I was a kid in Toronto, my father was a musician with the 48th Highlanders military band. In those days, the military band and the Pipes and Drums used to put on concerts in the park most weekends and naturally, I was dragged along. Despite not a drop of Scottish blood in me, that early exposure to the beautiful music sparked a love for the sound of the pipes. Unfortunately, my youthful laziness prevented me from actually learning how to play at that time, but the love of the bagpipes never went away! Much later, after a career in military communications, I became a public servant and good fortune found me in Australia for an exchange posting. My understanding wife saw an ad in the local paper one day, from a Pipe band looking for new members and suggested I finally pursue my life-long dream. The City of Queanbeyan Pipe Band took me on as a student and at the age of 53, I became a piper. My remaining 2 years in Australia were filled with band events in many beautiful venues throughout New South Wales, including a trip to the
Australian Championships, all in the fellowship of a wonderful group of people. In 2009, we headed back to Canada, with a detour to accompany our Queanbeyan mates on a band tour through England, Scotland and Ireland, before sadly bidding them farewell and turning west. Back in Ottawa, the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band accepted me into the fold and I’ve since had the pleasure of continuing my piping experience with a whole new group of great people. Among the great times was the first time piping in Massed Bands at Maxville, an event I watched many times. Piping has brought great joy to my life and I’ve been grateful every day (well, except the days my fingers don’t work or the pipes decide to be unco-operative) that I finally took the plunge. It’s never too late!
Australian Championships, all in the fellowship of a wonderful group of people. In 2009, we headed back to Canada, with a detour to accompany our Queanbeyan mates on a band tour through England, Scotland and Ireland, before sadly bidding them farewell and turning west. Back in Ottawa, the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band accepted me into the fold and I’ve since had the pleasure of continuing my piping experience with a whole new group of great people. Among the great times was the first time piping in Massed Bands at Maxville, an event I watched many times. Piping has brought great joy to my life and I’ve been grateful every day (well, except the days my fingers don’t work or the pipes decide to be unco-operative) that I finally took the plunge. It’s never too late!
Drum Corporal Cory Hilliard
Even in my earliest memories I have always loved the pulsing beat in music. One of the most amazing styles of drumming that I enjoyed most I heard during Christmas parades when the pipe bands would march by. I would follow the band down the street so I could listen to the drums for as long as I could. I could care less about some fat guy in a sleigh! For me, parades were all about those cool drums! I would have joined the pipe band long ago, but I thought you had to be in the military, be a pure-bred Scot with an incomprehensibly thick Scottish accent and have a closet full moth-eaten kilts that were passed down from 900 years of great-grandfathers.
It wasn't until the age of 32 my friend Jesse, knowing I loved drumming, invited me to join the Picton Legion Pipes & Drums with him. My reaction to the invitation was, "OH MY GOSH, LET ME GRAB MY SHOES!" then I ran out the door before even putting them on. The band hired MWO Doug Craft (at the time from the Royal Military College in Kingston) to come up from Kingston to instruct us. It only took one lesson and I was totally hooked! I went home with one single rudiment for homework and practised my doubles for about 3 hours a day for two weeks straight, on Doug's return I was given triplets. I went from practising 3 hours a day to about 5 hours a day. Doubles and Triplets. I couldn't get enough of it! I wanted more!!!
Doug was an amazing teacher, but because of his demanding schedule and the fact that we were over a full hour drive away, he was unable to continue. This left our band without a drum instructor again, so I took over as teacher. I had learned the two most important lessons in drumming, that doubles and triplets are the basis of all other rudiments and practising rudiments was the key to perfecting a score. From those valuable lessons, I created structured lesson plans and set challenges for myself and my students to build skill and to achieve these goals. By teaching them what I was learning and correcting their mistakes, it allowed me to learn at an accelerated rate. I am happy to say that while under my care, the drum corps students grew from only 4 students to 33!
I have recently moved to the Ottawa area and am studying Computer Engineering / Computer Science at Algonquin College. I am blessed to be a part of the The Sons of Scotland family. My desire is to be the best drummer I can be and to build up as many drummers as I can. I am grateful to SOSPB for allowing me the opportunity to help them perfect their drum corps.
It wasn't until the age of 32 my friend Jesse, knowing I loved drumming, invited me to join the Picton Legion Pipes & Drums with him. My reaction to the invitation was, "OH MY GOSH, LET ME GRAB MY SHOES!" then I ran out the door before even putting them on. The band hired MWO Doug Craft (at the time from the Royal Military College in Kingston) to come up from Kingston to instruct us. It only took one lesson and I was totally hooked! I went home with one single rudiment for homework and practised my doubles for about 3 hours a day for two weeks straight, on Doug's return I was given triplets. I went from practising 3 hours a day to about 5 hours a day. Doubles and Triplets. I couldn't get enough of it! I wanted more!!!
Doug was an amazing teacher, but because of his demanding schedule and the fact that we were over a full hour drive away, he was unable to continue. This left our band without a drum instructor again, so I took over as teacher. I had learned the two most important lessons in drumming, that doubles and triplets are the basis of all other rudiments and practising rudiments was the key to perfecting a score. From those valuable lessons, I created structured lesson plans and set challenges for myself and my students to build skill and to achieve these goals. By teaching them what I was learning and correcting their mistakes, it allowed me to learn at an accelerated rate. I am happy to say that while under my care, the drum corps students grew from only 4 students to 33!
I have recently moved to the Ottawa area and am studying Computer Engineering / Computer Science at Algonquin College. I am blessed to be a part of the The Sons of Scotland family. My desire is to be the best drummer I can be and to build up as many drummers as I can. I am grateful to SOSPB for allowing me the opportunity to help them perfect their drum corps.
Drum Corporal Shahna Summers
Taking up drumming in the spring of 2009 has been Shahna’s first foray into the world of piping and drumming. With family living in the Stormont, Dundas and Glengary counties though, she attended the Maxville Highland Games almost religiously with her family every summer, and decided fairly young that she wanted to play in a pipe band, particularly to play the side drum. The question though was, “How does one join a pipe band?!” It took College, camping, the application of a fine apple mead, and a couple of pipe band connected friends to get Shahna out to the Sons, not because she was unsure about joining, but because Pipe Bands had this shiny halo of musical GOODNESS! How does one learn how to do this? ( There are TEACHING BANDS?!!! WHAT?!!!) So, having put on her adventure shoes, she tripped on down to the practice hall and joined the party! Best. Decision. EVER.
In other news; Shahna has been playing Celtic and solo style guitar since she was a young teenager, and is trying valiantly to learn the bagpipes. She’s been known to tinker with tin whistles, sitars and hand drums now and again – not all at the same time, that would be silly- and just generally loves music. Sadly, she can’t dance, but tries to make up for it by playing good music for others to dance to! The experience of her lifetime so far, has been to go to Scotland with the Sons to make music with great people and good friends.
In other news; Shahna has been playing Celtic and solo style guitar since she was a young teenager, and is trying valiantly to learn the bagpipes. She’s been known to tinker with tin whistles, sitars and hand drums now and again – not all at the same time, that would be silly- and just generally loves music. Sadly, she can’t dance, but tries to make up for it by playing good music for others to dance to! The experience of her lifetime so far, has been to go to Scotland with the Sons to make music with great people and good friends.
Drum Major Patrick Jamieson
Patrick is a resident of the densely forested area on the Western outskirts of Ottawa. He is a descendant in a family of Scottish immigrants who have a history embracing the Scottish arts and has always had a passion for pipe bands. His grandfather and uncle were both pipers and his mother was a highland dancer. With his family's culture firmly entrenched, Patrick started highland dancing under the instruction of his mother. His training was not altogether conventional. Young Patrick could always be motivated to work a little harder by dancing in the kitchen at supper time with the promise of extra grub after a few flings for the family, a technique he continues to use to motivate himself to this day. After many years of dancing, he decided to retire from competition and pursue other interests in sports, education and work. Then, years later, after much contemplation and touring the highland games of our region, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and learn the pipes. During an extended stay in the refreshment tent at the Almonte Highland Games in 2009, he was fortunate enough to meet PM Bisaillion, who agreed to teach Patrick on the condition that he perform the highland fling for her. Depending on who you talk to, the fling may or may not have happened. Shortly after beginning lessons with Bethany, he was asked to assume the role of Drum Major with the band. Having long since mastered the art of walking and serving several years with The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, he has experience with drill and has also received instruction from Drum Major Paul Lawrenson. Patrick is grateful for the opportunity to be a member of The Sons of Scotland and looks forward to future adventures with the band.
