Alastair the Alberta Bagpiper

Saturday • 1:00 pm | New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue) - Parking Lot

Alastair’s love for the bagpipes came at the early age of three when his uncle played outside his bedroom leaving him with a memory that embedded the haunting and melodious sound of the bagpipes which resonated down to his core. After playing recorder, piano, double bass and snare, Alastair finally got his start on the chanter, the instrument to learn of all the intricate fingering and embellishments to transition onto the Great Highland Bagpipes. Alastair began bagpiping in 1986 and he has cultivated a profound connection with this great Scottish art. The Edmonton Boys Pipe Band, now known as the Edmonton Youth Pipe Band had some terrific instructors over the years and helped get his passion for piping on the right track. His dedication to the craft is evident with the hardware he earned over the years. In his teen years, Alastair joined the cadet program and was invited to be a part of the Banff National Army Cadet Pipes and Drums and was named the best cadet piper in Canada, not to mention doing this while learning a few brass instruments and playing in his school jazz band. After aging out of the cadet program and the Edmonton Boys Pipe Band, Alastair moved on to the Grade1 Edmonton Caledonia Pipe Band which eventually turned into ALCAL, the Alberta Caledonia Pipe Band. On more of a contemporary note, Alastair has recorded albums Wutpa with the Wajjo African Drummers and more recently, The Storm with Celtic Fusion Illusion. These experiences highlight Alastair's versatility and unwavering passion for the pipes, marking him a significant figure in the bagpiping community while promoting bagpipes to the public at a very high standard.

albertabagpiper.ca