CelticFest Performer Bios

The British Columbia Regiment Irish Pipes and Drums were formed in 1992. Formerly, it had existed as the Irish Fusiliers Pipe Band of the Irish Fusiliers of Canada Reserve Regiment based at the Stanley Park Armoury in Vancouver. The Regiment and Pipe Band were disbanded in 1964 after the destruction of the Armoury in a fire 3 years previous.

In June 2002, The Irish Fusiliers of Canada and the British Columbia Regiment were formally merged to preserve the Battle Honours and name of the Irish Fusiliers. With the merger, the BCR Irish Pipes and Drums have become a visible symbol of the Irish heritage of these two outstanding regiments.

The British Columbia Regiment Irish Pipes and Drums are one of five serving Irish regimental pipe bands in the world and appear under the direction of Pipe Major, Jordan Seguin, and by the kind permission of Lt. Col. Bell. The band, which is an all-volunteer band made up of civilian women, men and youth of diverse ethnic origins is based out of the Beatty Street Armoury of Vancouver.

www.irishpipesanddrums.com

Andrew Carlisle of Ballygowan, Northern Ireland, has been described as “one of the most exciting and talented young pipers to be found anywhere in the world today.” He started piping when he was seven years old, tutored by Samuel Connolly and made his way via Broomhedge and Ravara Pipe Bands to the ranks of Field Marshal Montgomery, who are currently the World Pipe Band Champions. He is possibly one of the youngest pipers ever to have competed in grade one…aged ten with Ravara.

Since joining Field Marshal in 2003, he has shared in the success of fourteen major pipe band championships, including three world titles in 2004, 2006, and 2007. He has also been a featured soloist at many of the band’s sell-out concerts, and can be heard on Montgomery’s latest album “Re-charged,” recorded live at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in August 2007. He can also be heard on the solo-piping album "The Young Ones," under the Monarch Label of KRL, alongside good friends Alen Tully and Callum Beaumont.

On the solo platform, Andrew has won the Gold Medal at the Dunrobin Castle invitational competition, the Duncan Johnston Memorial, the Highlands and Islands Young Piper of the Year, the MacGregor Memorial and the B Grade Strathspey & Reel at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban, as well as Ulster and All-Ireland Championships at every level. He has performed as a soloist in festivals throughout USA, Canada, South Africa, St. Lucia, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Spain, Gibraltar, Macedonia and Czech Republic. Andrew has also performed with many top traditional ensembles and orchestras.

At the "Celtic Connections" festival in Glasgow, Andrew was the winner of the big March, Strathspey and Reel at the first ever Gordon Duncan Memorial Invitational Competition, an invitational event for nine European top pipers…three Scottish, three Irish and three Breton. Such a list of achievements is more than most pipers have known, especially given that Andrew is only twenty-one years of age. Andrew will say that the late Fred Russell, Andrew Wright and Richard Parkes MBE can all share in the credit of his guidance, however, “it is quite clear that Andrew is the proprietor of an immense natural ability.”

He served with the Royal Irish Regiment, and played in the Regiment's "Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums," which was the largest military ensemble within the British Army, and toured world wide with them. In 2005, he was acclaimed the finest piper in the British Army, being the first ever winner of the British Army Piping Championships in Edinburgh. As part of the regiment, Andrew had the honour of playing in front of many heads of state and VIPs all around the world, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Pipe Major James Knox joined the 9th Battalion Ulster Defence Regiment in 1978 and has been a Pipe Major since 1990 with various Battalions. The 2nd Battalion Pipe Band under P/M Knox was the most successful of any Home Service Battalion Pipes and Drums and was Home Service Champions 2000 -2006.

The Pipe Band also won the Medley Competition in the Army Pipes and Drums competition in 2005, held at the Army School of Piping in Edinburgh. P/M James Knox is the Pipe Major on the much touted CD, “Last of the Great Whales”, leading the 9th Battalion Pipes & Drums of the Royal Irish Regiment in this CD produced in 2001.

P/M Knox was initially taught by Pipe Major McCombe when serving in the 9th Battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment and also by Captain Andy Pitkeithly (The then Director of Army Bagpipe Music). Subsequently he has studied under the direction of Major John Allen and Major Gavin Stoddart, and to date has served 17 years as Pipe Major in the Royal Irish Regiment.

He was made an MBE in 1998 for services to piping in the Royal Irish Regiment.

Robert MacDonald is by turns a writer, boat builder, and kiltmaker.

As Chairman of “A Swarm of Drones” (Vancouver’s Alternative Bagpipe Gathering) he conducts seminars, workshops and concerts for a wide range of drone instruments.

www.westcoastkilts.com