Chris Armstrong (piper)

Chris Armstrong
Born (1980-02-02) 2 February 1980 (age 44)
Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
InstrumentBagpipes
Websitewww.chrisarmstrong.co

Chris Armstrong BEM (born 2 February 1980) is a bagpiper from Scotland and pipe major of the ScottishPower Pipe Band.

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]

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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "The real life of Chris Armstrong". Bagpipe.news. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  3. ^ Beaumont, Callum. "Chris Armstrong". The National Piping Centre eLearning. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Chris Armstrong". Allcelticmusic.com.
  5. ^ "David Urquhart Travel makes leadership change official". Pipesdrums.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  6. ^ "'David Urquhart Travel' intact as revitalized Grade 1 band sets '07 plans". Pipesdrums.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Strathallan Newsletter Autumn 2017". Issuu. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Chris Armstrong Bagpipe Products Ltd". Companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Chris Armstrong Bagpipes". Chris Armstrong Bagpipes. Retrieved 10 April 2020.