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Celtfest instructors are all members of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band. For more information on the band, visit the website at 78thFrasers.net.


Piping Instructors

Bill Livingstone
John Cairns
Jake Watson
Jason Briscoe
Bill Weir


Drumming Instructors

Drew Duthart
Dan Bist
John Rowe
Emily McLeod


Bill Livingstone was the first North American to win either gold medal at Inverness or Oban. He has also won the aggregate trophy at Cowal five years in succession, the Clasp at Inverness twice, the North America Champion -ship, the William Livingstone Sr. Invitational, the Piobaireachd Society(Canada) Gold Medal � including 15 clasps to that Gold Medal. Bill won the Overall Championship at the Dan Reid in San Francisco in 1997 and 2002 and winner of the piobaireachd event there, 5 out of 9 times. In 2000 Bill won the piobaireachd event at the Glenfiddich. As Pipe Major of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, Bill has won thirteen North American Champion Supreme titles, eight of them consecutively, and the 1987 World Pipe Band Championship. Bill has recently released the first four volumes of A Piobaireachd Diary, an ongoing series which is hoped will included several more volumes. As well, he is currently in the process of recording a solo album with the working title Northern Man that he promises will be revolutionary.


John Cairns has won almost every major soloist prize in North America, and in 1999 achieved the rarest of feats, becoming the 11th person in the history of piping to win �The Double�, both Highland Society of London Gold Medals for solo piping, at Oban and Inverness in the same year. Before joining the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, John was Pipe Major of the St. Thomas Police Grade 1 Pipe Band. As an instructor, John holds the internationally recognized Institute of Piping�s Senior Teacher�s Certificate. During his seventeen years in the Canadian Forces, he taught over ten thousand students in the Cadet Pipes and Drums Training Program, and developed a curriculum now available to pipers everywhere. In 2000, John�s composition �The Lament for the Unknown Soldier� was selected and performed during the dedication of Canada�s National War Memorial. John and family reside in London Ontario, Canada where he operates a piping educational and consulting business. In 2004 John won the Piping Society of London�s Bratach Gorm.


Jake Watson, piper, originally taught by Ronnie Rollo then Neil Beaton after which he studied under John Wilson for seven years. Jake joined his first competition band, The City of Toronto Pipe Band (grade one) at age 12. Winning all major solo events through the amateur ranks, Jake was moved to open at age 15 and continued to have a successful solo career. Jake then turned all his attention to pipe bands. At age 19 he became Pipe Major of the City of Waterloo Police Pipe Band who, at the time competed at the grade one level. He then became the Pipe Major of a grade two band known as the Niagra and District Pipe Band and brought them to grade one. After taking a two year sabbatical, in 1984 Jake joined the ranks of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band and went on to win the World Championship in 1987. Jake was then offered the Pipe Majorship of the Metro Toronto Police Pipe Band who under his direction won the Ontario Champion Supreme award in 1993,95 & 96 and the North American Championship in 1996. In 1997 Jake was welcomed back with open arms to the ranks of the 78th Frasers. Jake is now working full time as a reed maker and professional piping instructor and adjudicator.


Jason D. Briscoe, at 26 years old continues his success as a solo piper and as an avid progressive pop-culture musician. Jason began his tuition at the age of 10 under the tutelage of his Grandfather, Robert MacDonald, after which he initiated instruction under world renowned piper, Jim MacGillivray. Jason has played with the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band since the age of 13, acting not only as a band member, but also as an avid concert soloist, musical composer and sound contributor. With the 78th, Jason appears on countless recordings, specifically an honored appearance on �The Great Highland Bagpipe Series� as well as a solo in the staged production, �Flame of Wrath�. Jason also appears in the BBC televised production of "Flame of Wrath", in addition to recent musical involvement with two Solitudes albums, titled "Echoes in the Glen" and "Across the Celtic Moore". Jason has won the United States Championships, the North American Championships, as well as the Canadian Championships all on numerous occasions. More recently, Jay has been playing on stage with musicians such as Natalie MacMaster, Troy MacGillivray, Patricia Murray and Leahy, also adding appearances with David Bowie's guitarist; Tony Springer, Kenny MacLean of Platinum Blond, and David Lawlor of Glass Tiger. Currently, Jason resides in downtown Toronto and owns his own Creative Marketing Communications business, affectionately titled, /JB&A;/.


Bill Weir


Drew Duthart was born in Motherwell Scotland in 1963 and began his drumming career at age 11 receiving instruction from his father, Alex Duthart. He played approx. 3 years with the local band, Newmains and District and was taught by John Scullion. At age 14 Drew made the move to grade one and joined the Shotts and Dykhead drum corps where he played for five or six years. Both Drew and the band were very successful during that time winning a number of championships including Drew's World Juvenile Solo Drumming Championship. He then joined Caledonia Airways Pipe Band ( now Power of Scotland) where he continued to play along side his father until he moved to Canada in 1986. Drew joined the Toronto Police Pipe Band not long after arriving in Canada and held the position of lead tip for approximately 11 years followed by two years with the Peel Regional Police. Drew moved from Peel, a short drive down the road to Campbellville where he joined the 78th Fraser Highlanders and became lead tip in 2004.


Dan Bist


John Rowe began playing drums at the age of 9, with the Dartmouth Boys Pipe Band and 24 years later he is following in the foot steps of one of his bass drumming heroes, Luke Allan by joining the 78th Fraser Highlanders . John played with the Halifax Regional Police Pipe Band where he earned a North American Championship in Maxville along with the best bass section honours. In the off season John concentrates on his rock band �King Konqueror� where he plays kit as the band tours and records. John can also be found working the odd session around home town Halifax. Since joining the Frasers in early 2004 John has commuted on regular basis to practice in Ontario.


Emily McLeod started playing the tenor drum in 1999 at the age of 16 with the St. Thomas Pipe Band out of London Ontario. She transferred to the grade 2 Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band for the 2001 season and under the tutelage of Bass Drummer Duncan Gibson was a part of the Grade 2 World Champion bass section that year in Glasgow. After the following season with Peel Regional Police Pipe Band in 2002, Emily joined the78th Fraser Highlanders in 2003 where she was a member of the Grade 1 World Champion bass section. She continues to play with the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band. Aside from her band accomplishments Emily has competed quite successfully in various solo competitions throughout Ontario. She has earned the North American Championship title on multiple occasions. She is currently a qualified tenor-drumming judge with the PPBSO and has taught a variety of individuals and bands throughout Ontario.