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Willie McCallum

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Willie McCallum
BornCampbeltown
Instrument(s)Bagpipes
Websitewww.williemccallum.com

Willie McCallum is Scottish bagpipe player.

Life

He was born in Campbeltown, Kintyre. He was mainly taught by his uncles Ronald and Hugh A. McCallum, but also by Ronald McCallum, MBE, Piper to The Duke of Argyll .[1]

As a youngster he heard top solo pipers through the Kintyre Piping Society, which was set up by his father.[2]

Prior to 2010, he worked as an accountant at the University of Strathclyde. He now has his own business and acts as a consultant for McCallum Bagpipes, as well as teaching and adjudicating.[3] He lives in Bearsden with his wife Christine, with whom he has a son and a daughter.[4]

Career

McCallum has won many top solo piping prizes several times, including:[1][4]

  • Bratach Gorm (3 times - 1991, 1999, 2002)
  • Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering (1995)
  • Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting (1989)
  • Glenfiddich Championship (8 times - 1990, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005)
  • Former Winners MSR, Northern Meeting (3 times - 2004, 2006, ????)
  • Former Winners MSR, Argyllshire Gathering (5 times - 1990, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008)
  • Silver Chanter (3 times - 1994, 1995, 1996)
  • Metro Cup (2 times - 2008, 2009)
  • Donald Macleod Memorial (7 times - 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
  • Dr Dan Reid Memorial (7 times - 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008)

He has notably been invited to the Glenfiddich Championships 29 consecutive times as of 2016.[5]

With the ScottishPower Pipe Band he has been runner-up at the World Pipe Band Championships twice, and in 2008 and 2016 he played with the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.[1]

He plays 1900 Henderson drones that have been passed through his family with a McCallum McC2 solo chanter.[6]

Discography

He has recorded five solo albums, and featured in several other compilations.[7]

  • Pipers of Distinction - (Monarch, 1989)
  • Hailey’s Song - (Temple, 1995)
  • World’s Greatest Pipers Vol. 14 - (Lismor 2000)

References