Pipe Major Donald Mackay

Donald started piping in Alness in the Highlands of Scotland at the age of 10, under the instruction of Pipe Major John D. Burgess MBE. He joined the Queen's Own Highlanders in 1989 (now an amalgamated regiment known as The Highlanders) and attained the Pipe Major's Certificate at the Army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle in 1996. He is a regular competitor on the solo piping circuit, having taken 2nd place in the Silver Medal at Oban in 1999 and won the 'B' Grade Strathspey & Reel at the 2002 Northern Meeting. Donald just one the Dunrobin Castle Gold Medal for piobaireachd last month, he was appointed as Pipe Major of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band in October 2004. In his first year in charge of the band he kept top 6 placings at all the major pipe band championships receiving a 2nd, two 3rds and two 4ths.

Piping Courses

CLASS 1 SENIOR PIPERS	ARMY SCHOOL OF PIPING	MAY 1994
PIOBAIREACHD COURSE	ARMY SCHOOL OF PIPING	JUNE 1995
PIPE MAJORS COURSE	ARMY SCHOOL OF PIPING	SEPT 1995
GRADUATE CERT	COLLEGE OF PIPING, GLASGOW	OCT 1996
SENIOR TEACHERS CERT	COLLEGE OF PIPING, GLASGOW	OCT 1996

He has performed and competed with many bands and as a soloist on numerous occasions both in the United Kingdom and abroad. He has also played to huge audiences, including royalty, and was privileged to be selected as the Lone Piper of the Edinburgh Tattoo in 1993 and 1998.