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When did I start?

    I started piping back in 1993 when I was 11 years old. Everyone always asks me, "Why bagpipes Myles?", and I simply answer by saying, "Because I love it!". As the parade used to go by during our local festival, I would always stay alert , waiting for the pipe band to come by. It was my favourite part of the parade and now I am the one in the parade with the band.  People don't seem to understand everything that is involved with piping, the fun, the friends, the travelling and even if you are lucky, the fame.

How did I get started?

    Luckily for me, I have one of the most knowledgable Pipe Majors in the world, living right in my town. When I told my mother that I wanted to start piping, she said sure and she gave Pipe Major William(Bill) J. MacLeod a call. Mr. MacLeod gladly said sure to the request and I ordered a chanter and started attending practises. I started going once a week and now I go twice a week for at least 1.5 hours. The amazing thing is, Mr. MacLeod has never charged me one cent for a lesson, something I am truly grateful for. To find out more about Pipe Major W. J. MacLeod, please click here.
 

What have I accomplished?

    On the solo side of things, I think I have done quite well. I have been competitng since February of 1996. I started out knowing absolutely nothing about the competition scene but eventually I became more aware of it.
    I started out playing as a grade 4 piper. Because I wasn't involved with competitions beforehand, I was at a high enough level to skip the Chater Class and Novice. I spent the entire '96 and '97 seasons competitng in grade 4. Once winning aggregates throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan, I thought it was time to move up to grade 3.
    I competed in grade 3 for the duration of 1998. I ended up winning many aggregates throughout Manitoba and Sackatchwan, becoming the Saskatchewan Champion and narrowly missing the Manitoba Champion Supreme because I didn't make it to one competition.
    In 1999 I competed at the more challenging grade 2 level. I was fortunate enough to win the Manitoba Champion Supreme as well as competing successfully within Saskatchewan. At the present time I am now competing at the grade 1 level.

                                                                                                                                                                       *Grade 3 aggregate, Regina Highland Games

Over the years I have competed in the following competitions:
 

• The Winnipeg Scottish Festival

• The Brandon Highland Games

• Scottish Heritage Days(folded)

• The Manitoba Highland Gathering

• The Regina Highland Games

• The Moose Jaw Highland Games

• The Spokane Highland Games

• Couer d'Alene Summer School Competition
• Macalester Scottish Country Fair

    I am also a Piobaireachd player. I have graudually moved up over the years starting in Novice, then Junior and now Senior. I was furtunate enough to recieve the Manitoba Champion Supreme award for Junior Piobaireachd for 1999. I have played such Piobaireachds as:

• "The Lament for the Old Sword"
• "Macintosh's Lament"
• "The Massacre of Glencoe"
• "The Lament For Mary MacLeod'
• "Lament for the Children"

What's next?

    I am looking forward to broader horizons. I would like to establish a strong showing in grade 1 as well as Senior Piobaireachd. I would like to eventually attend such contests as; The Canmore Highland Games, Maxville and hopefully something out on the East Coast. (As time and finances permit).