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 rock band Royal Ottawa.
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 was 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. And just when you thought it couldn't get nicer, the band accepted an invitation to play once again for Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Balmoral Castle as guests of the Canadian Massed Pipes and Drums in August of 2015. It was another amazing opportunity that a lot of people got to enjoy! The band returned to play for Her Majesty again in 2018 and it was a magnificent trip including stops in the north of Scotland.
Her site at www.championbagpipes.com offers a lot of information on music, travel, and so much more - go visit it too! And in honor of the contributions to Ottawa's Celtic community and a biography of the band experiences she has had, this article on the PPBSO Ottawa page is very thorough. Enjoy!
Band manager donald Macdonald
I learned how to play the bagpipes after university when I was looking for “something completely different” from my day job, which was architectural drafting and design. I was really lucky as my first bagpipe teacher was the late Dr. Kenneth Bruce Macdonald (Culross Township) who gave me excellent basic tuition at the Ottawa Folklore Centre for several years during the mid-eighties. My family was quite surprised that it caught on with me as we did not have a tradition of the Great Highland Bagpipes, but I told them that I had to do something ‘Scottish’ with a name like Donald Macdonald.
I started in the Sons of Scotland under the care of the late Pipe Major Allan Quinn who also taught me so much. After some years of raising a young family I took lessons (including Piobareached) from Brian Williamson and rejoined the SOSPB in 2005.
In addition to the parades, concerts and competitions that the Band offers, I have always enjoyed social piping for ceilidhs, sessions (on small pipes), curling matches, weddings, funerals, Burns suppers and the like. For the past few years I have been enjoying learning the fiddle to complement my love of Scottish and Irish Music.
I have recently retired from the Government as a project manager and architect on Parliament Hill. I am very pleased to be able lend my skills as Band Manager and I hope to take the Band to new heights!
I have always found the Sons to be a super friendly and welcoming organization, well known in its service to the community both locally and internationally. In the past few years I have enjoyed two trips to Scotland and one to France with the Band. I recommend the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band to all in the community who want to develop their musical skills, meet great people and have lots of fun.
I started in the Sons of Scotland under the care of the late Pipe Major Allan Quinn who also taught me so much. After some years of raising a young family I took lessons (including Piobareached) from Brian Williamson and rejoined the SOSPB in 2005.
In addition to the parades, concerts and competitions that the Band offers, I have always enjoyed social piping for ceilidhs, sessions (on small pipes), curling matches, weddings, funerals, Burns suppers and the like. For the past few years I have been enjoying learning the fiddle to complement my love of Scottish and Irish Music.
I have recently retired from the Government as a project manager and architect on Parliament Hill. I am very pleased to be able lend my skills as Band Manager and I hope to take the Band to new heights!
I have always found the Sons to be a super friendly and welcoming organization, well known in its service to the community both locally and internationally. In the past few years I have enjoyed two trips to Scotland and one to France with the Band. I recommend the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band to all in the community who want to develop their musical skills, meet great people and have lots of fun.
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 dave nuttall
A man of few words and lots of talent, the band is so pleased to have Dave back in the ranks to help us build the drum corps and continue our success. Dave comes with lots of experience and knowledge of all aspects of drumming and we are very lucky to have him back in the band.
