We’re excited to welcome two current champion competitors to Washington Pipers’ Association competitions this Saturday, J. Reid Maxwell and Brian McKenzie
Drumming will be judged by J. Reid Maxwell, certainly one of today’s most decorated drummers. When the SFU Pipe Band captured the Worlds in 1995, Reid became the first person in history to lead the drum corps of two different bands to be named World Pipe Band Champions (his other victory being in 1987 with Toronto’s 78th Fraser Highlanders, also the 1987 World Drum Corps Champions). And all this was preceded by two World Pipe Band Championships and four World Drum Corps Championships as a teenaged member of Scotland’s Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band!
With the band’s capture of the 2008 and 2009 World Pipe Band Championship and World Drum Corps Championship, Reid obtained his 16th World Championship, an amazing feat by any standard. In 2000, Reid placed second in the World Solo Drumming Championship. His ability to produce exceptional drum corps and his dedication to the instruction of young drummers is held in high regard worldwide.
Piping will be judged by 2010 United States Silver Medalist at the Midwest Highland Arts Fund “Winter Storm” contest, Brian McKenzie.
Brian McKenzie started playing the bagpipes when he was 10 years old. Raised in the highlands of Scotland where they are fortunate to have a bagpipe instructor in every school.
He learned from Pipe Major Andrew Venters who was in the military for 22 years and Pipe Major of the Queens Own Highanders for 6 years.
After sweeping the boards as a junior competitor Brian entered the senior professional level and started to gain a reputation very quickly. He has had numerous prizes at events all over Scotland and still competes every year in the Northern Meetings and the Argyllshire Gathering events in Scotland, the two elite solo competitons in the world.
He has travelled extensively with the bagpipes from playing in Norway for a Robbie Burns night to Malaysia for St Andrew’s night celebrations.
He currently resides in the Seattle area having moved across from Scotland in late 2005.
Photos by Weatherly Schiele
