2025 School Instructors & Staff
Iain Simpson | Kerr McQuillan | Glenna Mackay-Johnstone | Sean Somers | Barbara MacDonald | School Staff
Iain Simpson - PipingIain started learning the chanter aged seven and was originally taught by his father William. Iain joined his local band Kinneil Colliery in the early seventies and played with this band until 1986 when he joined Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia. During his time with Boghall, Iain has won all the Major Championships several times but there is no doubt the highlight of his long, decorated career was winning the Grade 1 World Championship in 2023 for the first time. Iain was also Pipe Major of Boghall’s Novice Juvenile band between 1992 – 97. After winning 3 Major Championships in 92, including the Worlds, the band was promoted to the juvenile grade where they competed successfully until the turn of the century. In 2000, Iain was appointed Pipe Major of Geoge Watson’s College Pipes & Drums where he and his drumming colleague Mick O’Neill formed a formidable partnership that would transform the band and indeed the Juvenile grade. Between 2000 and 2022 under their leadership, the band won over 35 Major Championships including 6 Worlds and 11 Champion of Champion titles and over 50 Major drumming titles. Iain was humbled and delighted to meet the late Queen Elizabeth when the school band won ‘Best band on Parade’ at the famous Braemar Gathering. Another unforgettable experience was playing ‘The Flowers of the Forest’ at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres in 2015. After retiring from GWC in 2022, the band are now lead by former Peoples Ford Pipe Major Ross Harvey and they remain at the very top of a highly competitive grade. Iain is currently teaching bagpipes on a part-time basis at The Edinburgh Academy. Once retired, Iain was looking for a new challenge and he started competing on the solo piping circuit. Iain has gained a few prizes mainly thanks to receiving advice from his son Jonathon!! Over the years Iain has travelled extensively with Watson’s and Boghall visiting countries including Japan, Malaysia, Russia, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and Belgium performing in Competitions, Tattoos, Concerts and facilitating workshops. Iain is a qualified RSPBA Adjudicator, PDQB Assessor and Instructor. He was a member of the RSPBA Music board for over 25 years. Iain is looking forward to meeting friends old and new and sharing his expertise and experience with all concerned.
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Kerr McQuillan - Snare DummingOne of the world’s most prominent and sought-after Drummers, Kerr is the Leading Drummer of the World Championship winning Pipe Band: Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia, as well as being an adult World Solo Drumming Champion. Kerr McQuillan is the Leading Drummer for the Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band. Kerr took over in 2022, and in his few seasons, led the drum corps to win the UK Pipe Band Championships in 2023, the World Pipe Band Championships in 2023, the British Pipe Band Championships in 2024 and also winning the drum corps’ first drumming title in over 10 years – taking 1st place as a drum corps at the European Pipe Band Championships in 2024. Having grown up within the Boghall system, Kerr was taught by Tom Brown MBE, Gordon Brown and Stephen McQuillan. In 2023, in his first attempt, Kerr became the youngest on record to win the adult World Solo Drumming Championships, having previously won eight juvenile world titles in both tenor and snare drum from 2012 until 2022. Kerr holds the current record for World Solo tenor successes, even winning both the tenor and snare competition in the same day in 2016. Since his appointment as leading drummer, Kerr has accumulated the titles of 2023 and 2024 Scottish Champion, 2024 European Champion, 2024 Intercontinental Champion, to name a few. These successes, alongside his World Solo win, led to Kerr being named Pipes|Drums Drummer of the Year in 2023. Kerr spends his weekdays teaching at The High School of Glasgow, having recently guided them to their first-place success at the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust’s Scottish Schools Competition. Kerr is also a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a Bachelor of Music degree, in traditional music. In addition to his pipe band accomplishments, Kerr is a member of Drums n’ Roses, which has taken him all over the world to perform in some of the most renowned venues, such as Sony Music Hall and Times Square. When not performing, Kerr has toured the world, teaching in places such as Brittany, the US, Switzerland, Spain and Germany.
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Glenna MacKay-Johnstone - PipingGlenna’s journey in music and song commenced at a young age, as she comes from a lineage of exceptionally gifted musicians. Her lifelong commitment to her craft has been shaped by the immersive musical environment she was raised in. With over four decades of experience as a piper, Glenna's musical education began under the tutelage of her father, Reay Mackay. She spent most of her life gaining knowledge from his expertise. Her dedication to honing her skills has persisted through ongoing mentorship from figures such as Bruce Gandy, Michael Grey, Bill Livingstone and others. Glenna continues to engage with these mentors to ensure her continual growth and development as a musician, embodying the spirit of a lifelong learner. Glenna has built a lengthy career encompassing solo performances, contributions to pipe bands, and dedicated teaching. Her expertise extends to adjudicating solo and band competitions for more than two decades. Additionally, she has contributed to the world of music as a composer, with her compositions featured in various piping collections and recordings. Beyond her prowess as a piper, Glenna is also a Gaelic singer who has performed at numerous venues and contributed to various recordings. She currently pursues her Gaelic studies remotely at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, honouring her commitment to learning the language. In her professional life, Glenna served as an educator with over three decades of experience in Ontario's public education system. She resides in Aurora, Ontario, alongside her husband Alasdair and their two children. Both of her children have also excelled in music and are actively involved in the piping community, carrying on the family's musical legacy.
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Barbara MacDonald - PipingBarbara started piping at the age of 10, and played and performed with Regina’s Fraser Pipe Band, eventually becoming its pipe major. As P-M, Barbara led the band to provincial championships, and a 1979 tour of Scotland. She attended piping summer schools at Fort San, and later moved to BC, where she was pipe sgt of the SFU Grade 2 band. Following that, she played for several seasons with the Grade 1 SFU Pipe Band, and made CDs, BBC radio broadcasts, and finished in the top 5 at the World Pipe Band Championships with SFU. She was a founding member of the City of Regina Pipe Band and has been pipe sgt for a number of years. She plays key roles in setting the band’s sound and writing harmonies, and she has taught piping for many years. Barbara is currently an instructor at the Conservatory of Performing Arts in Regina, and since 2016 has been a member of the 78th Highlanders, Halifax Citadel Grade 1 band. Barbara is currently the President of the SPBA and in 2024 was awarded The Queen's Jubilee Medal for services to piping in Saskatchewan. In her work life, she has been a Registered Nurse for 40+ years, holds a Masters degree from Columbia University (NY) and is a co-founder and partner in IDEA-Diabetes, a company that inspires hope, and provides the knowledge and skills to support people to live well with diabetes.
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Sean Somers - PipingSean Somers has established himself as one of the top professional pipers from the Canadian Prairies, gaining accolades as a composer, leader, bandsman, and soloist. He started piping at the age of 8, and got his first lessons from his father, Trewin Somers.
With many appearances in the Grade 1 finals at the World Pipe Band Championships, he is also the former pipe-sergeant of the Grade 1 Alberta Caledonia Pipe Band, and former key member of the 78th Highlanders (Halifax) Pipe Band where he won both the Canadian and North American Championships in Grade 1. Sean spent his formative years with The City of Regina Pipe Band and credits Iain MacDonald (Regina) and Barb MacDonald as major influences on his piping career.
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Sound Advice StaffIt takes an enormous amount of time to organize and run a summer camp, and the SPBA is fortunate to have a team of dedicated to putting the school together. Wayne Rempel - School DirectorWayne started piping as an adult after his son took an interest, and he carried on from there, taking lessons through the Conservatory of Performing Arts, and then later joining the Regina RCMP Pipe Band. Wayne competes in Adult piping class events, performs with the RCMP Pipe Band, and was recently awarded The Queen's Jubilee Medal for services to the arts. He is a Past President of the SPBA, and did a brilliant job managing the school last year.
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Michelle Gallagher - School Director/InstructorMichelle (Carline) Gallagher has played in pipe bands for most of her life, including many years with the City of Regina Pipe Band, a number of seasons in the Alberta Caledonia Pipe Band, and she has been a member of Scottish bands Tayside Police and Mackenzie Caledonia. Michelle was a dominant player in the Grade 1 solos for several years, and we are fortunate to have her passion for playing and teaching as part of the school. Michelle will be taking on both teaching and administrative roles during the school.
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Iain MacDonald - Website & Music DirectionIain MacDonald started SOUND ADVICE in 2004 and organized and ran the school each year until Fall 2022, at which time he sought others to take it on. Iain will play a role in planning and will assist with some teaching as needed. His piping bio is HERE.
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