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Our goal is to
provide you with a professional performance regardless
of the venue. It takes years of practice, and expert tutelage to become
a competent, quality piper. One must have an ear for tone as tuning of
the pipes is paramount to create a pleasing sound and performance.
Below is our training and experience.
I grew up to the
sounds of the pipes and drums as my late father John Lethbridge was an
accomplished drummer and played with The 48th Highlanders of Canada, The
Toronto Scottish and The Toronto Irish Pipe Bands. He taught me to play
snare drum, bass drum, and swing the sticks on tenor. Shortly after we
came to Lindsay my father, Ian Watt, and a few others formed The Pipes
and Drums of Lindsay. This is where my interest in the pipes grew.
I was taught
by the late
P/M Ian Watt in
1971. I learned from him that playing a tune was not just an event , it
was a journey. And when one followed the map (music) properly, and one
kept his ear to his pipe
(tuned properly)
people would stop to listen.
I played
my first wedding
in 1975. Competed with
The Pipes And Drums Of Lindsay
and in open solo competition.
I met my
beautiful wife
Margaret while
piping with the Lindsay Band. She is an accomplished piper and was
trained by Capt. Bruce Anderson and P/M Jamie York, so we also offer
duet piping as an
option.
We played
with the
C.G.E. Pipe Band
from Peterborough in 1980. We then joined the
Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Pipe Band
in 1981 where we were tutored and polished by C.A.F.
P/M CWO Whatley.
Pipe Major Whatley is a great teacher and forever my mentor and good
friend.
I played the part
of the piper in a live theatre production of Brigadoon directed by Diane
Nylan Proctor at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay.
I have
played weddings at
Casa Loma in
Toronto as well as many more in the City of Kawartha Lakes,
Peterborough, and The
Durham Region area.
I had the
extreme honour of playing for
my son's wedding
on July 1st 2006.
I have piped in
dignitaries for conventions, dinner parties, curling bonspiels, as well
as service clubs and other organizations. I have played at many
weddings, funerals, birthday parties, hogmanay, Robbie Burns suppers,
whiskey nosing, and opening ceremonies.
I am the resident piper for
Oakridge Golf Club
tournaments and have piped for the members tournament at Coppinwood Golf
Club.
So if you
wish to add
the sounds of the highlands
to your event, we have 38 years experience to offer for any occasion. |
