Chris Armstrong (piper)
Chris Armstrong (born 2 February 1980) is a bagpiper from Scotland and pipe major of the ScottishPower Pipe Band.
Chris Armstrong | |
---|---|
Born | Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland | 2 February 1980
Instrument(s) | Bagpipes |
Website | www |
Life
Armstrong was born in Bathgate on 2 February 1980.[1] He started learning the bagpipes at the age of 6, and played in the Torphichen and Bathgate juvenile band, where he was taught by Pipe Major John Matheson.[2][3]
After a spell of not competing in a band, and then playing in a number of different groups, he became pipe sergeant of Torphichen and Bathgate Pipe Band for two years.[4]
He became pipe major of the David Urquhart Travel Pipe Band in 2004,[5] and then in 2006 became leader of the ScottishPower Pipe Band.[6]
He is an instructor at the National Piping Centre,[4] and also teaches at Kilmarnock Schools pipe band.[7] Armstrong also runs a business producing drone reeds, and has designed a range of bagpipes that are produced by Wallace Bagpipes.[8]
He favours a high-pitched chanter.[9]
Solo results
He has won major prizes for both pibroch and light music.[10]
- Winner of the Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel at the Argyllshire Gathering in 2001 and 2011
- Winner of the Gold medal (piping) at the Northern Meeting in 2003
- Winner of the Bratach Gorm in 2007
Discography
- Notes In Ma Heid (1997)
- Quantum Leap (1999)
- X-Treme (2003)
Bibliography
- Notes frae ma Heid Volume 1
- Notes frae ma Heid Volume 2
- The Collection
- RE:Tradition
References
- Muirhead, Fergus; Reader, Eddi; Nunez, Carlos (2013). A Piper's Tale: Stories From The World's Top Pipers. Cargo Publishing. pp. 5–12. ISBN 978-1-908885-85-2.
- "The real life of Chris Armstrong". Bagpipe.news. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- Beaumont, Callum. "Chris Armstrong". The National Piping Centre eLearning. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "Chris Armstrong". Allcelticmusic.com.
- "David Urquhart Travel makes leadership change official". Pipesdrums.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "'David Urquhart Travel' intact as revitalized Grade 1 band sets '07 plans". Pipesdrums.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "Strathallan Newsletter Autumn 2017". Issuu. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "Chris Armstrong Bagpipe Products Ltd". Companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- McKerrell, Simon (2011). "Sound Performing: Sound Aesthetics among Competitive Pipers". International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music. 42 (1): 165–87. JSTOR 41228647.
- "Chris Armstrong Bagpipes". Chris Armstrong Bagpipes. Retrieved 10 April 2020.