About Me

I began playing the bagpipes when I was 12 years old in 1983. So, just a few years now. :)

I did my first gig just a couple years later. I was a terrified 14 year old playing on stage at an evening event for a school. I played Amazing Grace once, maybe twice through. I don't know if I got paid or not, but my Mum was proud and that was good enough for me.

That was the official start of my "professional" piping career and since then I've performed at countless weddings, funerals, celebrations of life, concerts, been on radio, tv, in magazines & newspapers... you name it.

Years after starting piping, I graduated college with a business degree in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management and began a 25+ year career that was a lot less appealing than the full-time professional piper I had hoped to become.

But no... I had to galavant all over the country and even the world in various consulting-type jobs laced with long hours, stress, poor lifestyle, etc.

I was not happy. In fact, I got burned out midway through my career.

My only time off the first half of my career was to go to various band competitions, including competing at the highest level at the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 1 (highest level)in Scotland.

This was not a recipe for some decent R&R.

This impacted my piping over the years as well.

I took multiple sabbaticals thinking my "hobby" was second fiddle (pun intended) to my career.

If I were going to manage my stress and workload, I needed to cut out other activities with less priority.

Unfortunately, this compounded my stress.

Music was my passion.

It was often a distant memory.

The occasional gigs I would do were a chore because I had to knock off a lot of rust to play at the level my clients expected from me and my resume.

In reality, I was longing to fulfill my passions, not just for music, but travel and other activities as well <insert attempting to play golf>.

Not to mention needing to focus on relationships with myself and, more importantly, my loved ones and friends.

I couldn't.

I was chained to my job.

It took almost 25 years to break those chains.

I promise you... it's never too late to carve a new path.

A new path where you can find your passion for music again.

Have more time with family, friends, and fellow musicians.

Have time to pursue other passions as well.

Whether you are a part-time professional like me, a full-time professional musician, or musician as a hobby that has talent and has always wanted to take it to the next level, I want to help you carve that new path as I have.