As a soloist, Neil perfected his musical skills on the competition boards, and developed the poise and confidence needed to play well at your event. Piping judges have consistently praised him for his “great sounding pipe,” “excellent tone and tuning,” and “lovely, expressive playing.” As a band piper Neil played at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland multiple times. It is the most high-stakes, high-stress piping event anywhere, and is the ultimate test of a pipers’ mettle.
Neil has been instrumental in raising the profile of bagpiping in the Northwest. In 1998, he conceived and created the Masters of Scottish Arts Concert. He was the Producer and Director of this annual concert from 1998 through 2007. Under his leadership, the concert was the most well attended solo piping concert anywhere in the world. Through Neil’s teaching of fire and police pipe bands, the public presence of piping has grown significantly.
Piping is Neil’s number one passion. He has studied piping locally under Cameron Wylie and Jori Chisholm, and has attended schools and workshops to receive tuition from the greatest pipers in the world, including Jack Lee, Alasdair Gillies, Ian McLellan, Roddy MacLeod, Bill Livingstone, and Michael Cusack.
