Piping Judge

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Sandy Keith

Sandy Keith started his piping at age 11 at the College of Piping in Glasgow. His Principal teacher was Seumas MacNeill but spent many hours with Bob Hardie, John Garroway, Charlie Scott, and Archie MacNeill. He later furthered his piping education studying piobaireachd under Peter MacLeod.

When he immigrated to Canada with his parents at age 17 he was one of the best senior amateur pipers in Scotland. On arrival he played in the Open events and immediately became a consistent prizewinner. He was fortunate to spend time with Pipe Major Archie Cairns while living in Hamilton but got his big break when he joined The Royal Canadian Air Force where he spent many valuable years under Ex-Scots Guards Pipe Majors J.T. Mackenzie and George Grant. Before leaving Canada to take up his present position he was Pipe Major of The Erskine Pipe Band taking them through the ranks from grade 3 to grade 1.

To-day as Piping Director for the City of Dunedin Piping Program he looks over three separate Piping Programs. He is the Piping Director of Dunedin Middle School and Dunedin High School, teaching children to play the chanter as well as training teens to master the bagpipes. Sandy directs an adult grade 4 band and is Pipe Major of the world class Grade 2 City of Dunedin Pipe Band. In all, he has 5 prize winning bands under his tutelage. Many of his pupils are now teaching and winning many of the awards Sandy won a few years ago.

Additionally, he takes the time to serve as a Piping Judge at Highland Games throughout North America. Sandy has published an exciting new tune book, "The Florida Collection" of bagpipe music, much of which is his own compositions. It is a compilation of tunes he has collected over the last 25 years.