Follow-up

Well I was planning on following that last blog up a bit later. But luckily I have some readers who wanted to help me out.

In the last post I had mentioned Matt MacIsaac was in town playing for the new Airforce band here. Turns out I did know who Matt was, just didn't know he was that Matt MacIsaac.

So big thanks to Jamie Simpson for hooking me up with a link to Natalie MacMaster's webpage and bios of her band.

Turns out Matt is quite the decorated piper. Instead of me screwing up dates etc. I'm just gonna post some stuff from Natalie's webpage title Matt MacIsaac and you can get the info first hand. Enjoy the read:

Matt MacIsaac

BAND FUNCTION: Highland Bagpipes, Small Pipes, Whistles, Banjo
NATALIE RECORDINGS: Live, Blueprint
SOLO RECORDINGS: "The Piping Album" BUY ONLINE

Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Matt MacIsaac was exposed to and surrounded by piping at an early age. A great-grandson to Pipe Major John A. (Black Jack) MacDonald of the Cape Breton Highlanders, Matt has followed his traditional lineage as a piper just as his relatives have before him. He is truly a natural talent.

After spending his early childhood years listening to family members play the pipes at gatherings and ceilidhs, Matt began his formal training as a piper and received his first instruction from Scott MacAulay at the College of Piping in Summerside, P.E.I. Although born in Cape Breton Matt grew up in New Brunswick where he continued his piping tuition with the Fredericton Society of St. Andrews Pipe Band organization under the leadership of Pipe Major Sandy Gordon moving through the ranks quickly joining the grade 2 band by the age of 12.

After a two year stretch with Fredericton Matt relocated with his family back to Nova Scotia and joined the grade 1 Halifax Police Association Pipes and Drums under the direction of Pipe Major Doug Boyd and later Pipe Major John Walsh. Matt continues to perform and compete with this organization which is now known as the 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel (2003 North American Pipe band Champions).


As a solo piper Matt has won every major amateur championship in Atlantic Canada and beyond from novice juvenile to grade 1 including the March, Strathspey, and Reel at the prestigious George Sheriff Memorial Invitational in Ontario where he caught the ear of world renowned Pipe Major Angus MacDonald who recognized Matt's level of play as prize worthy in Scotland and encouraged Matt to travel to Scotland and compete at the international level. In 1997 Matt traveled to Scotland and proved what Pipe Major Angus MacDonald pointed out the year prior in Ontario. Competing in the open juvenile 17 and under category Matt won consistently at Abernethy, Perth, Crieff, Glenfinnan, Cowal, and won the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd contest at Oban. At Cowal, Matt became the first Canadian to win both the open juvenile 17 and under March, Strathspey, and Reel and Piobaireachd in the same year.

Matt's success in 1997 in Scotland earned him an invitation to play at the 1998 Silver Medal contests at Oban and Inverness. In Oban at the world famous Argyllshire Gathering Matt overcame a faulty fire alarm to win the Silver Medal. Later the same year Matt would place 2nd at the Silver Medal event in Inverness behind his friend and mentor Bruce Gandy.

After years competing solo and with pipe bands Matt now enjoys the best of both piping worlds as a professional touring musician. In 1999 Matt ventured into the world of folk bands touring with "Cuillin", giving him exposure to many other musicians, disciplines, instruments, and styles all of which have served to further his musical experiences and eventually land him his current job touring with Natalie. In December 2004, Matt released his debut solo recording "Matt MacIsaac - The Piping Album", and is currently working on his second album which will feature several different instruments, including the Irish high and low whistle, the guitar and banjo.
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So that's Matt, if you happen to bump into him at local contests or out and about say hi and welcome him to the city. I know the new airforce boys aren't exactly excited about the weather but hey, it isn't January yet.........................sorry just enjoying a quiet chuckle to myself thinking of all these eastern fellas in Winnipeg in January.

I think i'll be trying to pick out a few of these guys and doing some bios on them. With their hectic schedule they may not be around a lot and this way we'll all know them before we meet them.

I'll look into it.

See ya'll later.

Sean

Sources: http://www.nataliemacmaster.com/bios/mattmacisaac.htm