May 20, 2011 Jefferson County High School Graduation Ceremony- Bagpipes

May 20, 2011 Maryville College, Smokey Mountain Highland Games- Bagpipes

May 24, 2011 JCHS Patriot Singers will perform at the Smokies Baseball Game

May 27, 2011 Greenville SC Highland Games- Bagpipes

June 3, 2011 Lilly Barn Townsend Wedding- Bagpipes

June 4, 2011 Anniversary Party Gatlinburg TN- Harp

June 5, 2011 Willow Creek Golf Tournament - Bagpipes

June 24, 2011 Gettysview Country Club Golf Tournament- Bagpipes

September 30, 2011 Wedding at the Knoxville Zoo- Harp/ Bagpipes

October 8, 2011 Wedding at Norris Marina- Harp/ Bagpipes

October 14, 2011 Stone Mountain Highland Games- Bagpipes

A few Gigs that are scheduled for the year!

I will be playing bagpipes with the Knoxville Pipes and Drums for the opening ceremony.  The opening will begin at 12 noon.  The Knox. Pipes and Drums will perform a concert at the Lowland stage at 12:30 P.M.  I will play a solo concert on the Celtic harp at 6:00 P.M.  At 9:10 P.M. I will be the Lone Piper on the Douglas Lake Dike with spotlight and perform Amazing Grace to close the festivities.

Other guest artists include:  Thistledown Tinkers, Colin Grant-Adams, Claire McMillan (Highland Dancer) and Mickle-A-Do.

I look forward to seeing everyone there.  It will be an event to remember!

‘A Hundred Thousand Welcomes’

The Scottish Society of Knoxville, celebrated the 250th birth of Robert Burns.  The dinner was a total success with one hundred and seventy-five Scotts in attendance.  Congressman Duncan was among the distinguished list of guests. 

The evening began with the Pipers Call To Dinner at 6:00 P.M.  Following a short welcome and ceremony in honor of the Haggis, I played various selections of Celtic music on the harp.  Music filled the air and added a feeling of times past as guests enjoyed a lovely dinner followed with toasts to the lassies and the lassie’s reply. 

The Feature of the evening was Scottish Dancer, Clair McMillan I played the bagpipes for her to dance.  Clair performed the Sword Dance and the Earl of Errol Dance.  I played Ghillie Calum, the traditional Sword Dance tune and Simple Gifts for the Earl of Errol Dance.  This is the first time I have played for a dancer.  I look forward to playing the bagpipes for dancers in the future.  Clair and her Mother Jean are a wonderful pair!  The experience was a class act and I have found a new group of friends in the process.  

The Burns dinner was a great experience shared with good friends and new friends.

It was a great day! 

      Beginning at 7:30AM and ending at 9:45PM as the “Lone Piper”

The day started with individual bagpipe competition with 2 events.  I grabbed a quick drink of water and off to the noon parade with the pipe band.  The Knoxville Pipes and Drums marched in strength through the town of Dandridge with Scottish pride!  We performed a 30 minute concert following the opening ceremony.  We all assembled on the dyke overlooking loch Douglas for another concert at 3:30.  I played a solo Celtic harp concert on the lower stage at 5:30.  Then I had a while to rest and take in the festive delights of the festival.  I had a chance to check out the vendors and the food!  I listened to the talented groups and watched the dancers with their colorful costumes.  It was a treat and makes me proud to be a part of this great heritage.  While watching the closing entertainers, I began to prepare for my solo bagpipe performance for the closing ceremony.  As Colin Grant-Adams introduced me, my heart began to pound with excitement.  I struck the pipes in and they started to hum, still in great tune even with the night air.  The spotlight flashed on and my fingers were playing the old familiar tunes, Scotland the Brave into Amazing Grace.  I could feel the quiet emotion of the crowd.  This is always one of my most exciting experiences with the pipes.  I am very blessed to be involved with an event of this kind.  Check out www.MainStreetDandridge.com