Roddy MacLeod

Roddy MacLeod
MBE
Born (1962-08-26) 26 August 1962 (age 62)
InstrumentBagpipes
Websiteroddymacleodbagpipes

Roderick J. (Roddy) MacLeod MBE (born August 26, 1962) is a Scottish bagpiper, director of the annual Piping Live! Festival and former principal of the National Piping Centre.[1][2]

He is known to be vocal against Scottish reforms in the realm of piping. In 2006, when the government ordered pipers to play quietly, and protect their ears whilst practising, he was quoted as saying; ""If you are practising to become a serious piper, you cannot do so within these kinds of limits."[3][4] In the same year he campaigned to introduce means-testing to acquire a busker's licence in Edinburgh.[5]

After speaking out against the lack of piping teachers in Scottish schools, he introduced Skype lessons in 2008 for would-be pipers as a potential solution to the problem.[6][7] He also suggested that the chanter replace the recorder in primary schools.[8]

He is a ten-time winner of the Piobaireachd at the Glenfiddich Solo Piping Championship; a record, and has won the overall title five times.[9][10]

In 1995, he became the Pipe Major of the ScottishPower Pipe Band and served until 2006.

In 2012 he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Hall of Fame.[11]

  1. ^ Augustine, Lalita (11 August 2012). "Piping Hot". Evening Times. Glasgow. p. 3.
  2. ^ Brown, Craig. "Bagpipers' Olympic effort to win title". Scotsman.
  3. ^ MacDonald, Stuart (24 July 2006). "Pipes of gie-us-peace; Army inspectors impose noise limits on musicians". The Express. p. 25.
  4. ^ MacLeod, Murdo (23 July 2006). "Army pipers can't believe their ears". Scotland on Sunday. p. 9.
  5. ^ "Pipers skirt fringes of musical taste". Daily Telegraph. 10 August 2004. pp. A4.
  6. ^ Tweedie, Katrina (20 March 2011). "Now the Pipes on Skype are Calling; Far Flung Fans Log in for Bagpipe Lessons". Sunday Mail. p. 19.
  7. ^ Cornwell, Tim (27 May 2008). "Piping centre bags new pupils with web lessons". The Scotsman. p. 14.
  8. ^ Brown, Craig (21 June 2005). "Schools are Urged to Adopt Chanter". The Scotsman. p. 16.
  9. ^ "Piper walker wins title number six". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 29 October 2007. p. 6.
  10. ^ "Roddy MacLeod: 2016 Glenfiddich Champion". pipesdrums.com. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  11. ^ Gilchrist, Jim (6 December 2012). "Music review : Folk, Jazz Etc : Traditional Values". The Scotsman. p. 6.