Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band

Originally from Victoria on Canada’s west coast, Dan started playing snare drum at age 7 with the Sechelt Legion Pipe Band (Pipe Major Ian Buchanan). His early instructors included his father – Harvey Bist – and Phil MacMillan of the Powell River Clansmen. Dan received his first piping lessons with the Sechelt Legion band, and played pipes in the band for two years before moving back to snare as lead drummer.

After his family moved to Nanaimo, BC, Dan joined the Seaview Centennial Pipe Band, which later became the Pipes and Drums of the Pacific Gael (both Pipe Major Rene Cusson). He received further instruction from Sheila Annan (former Shotts and Dykehead) and John Fisher. Dan won the BC Piper’s Association Junior Amateur aggregate title in his first competitive season (1995).

A miraculous series of events resulted in Dan competing in Australia for a year with the Canberra Highland Society and Burns Club Pipe Band (Pipe Major Athol Chalmers) in 1996. Dan became the lead drummer towards the end of that year, before returning to Canada.

After another season with the Pacific Gael, Dan moved to Victoria to further his education. While in Victoria, Dan played in, and later became the lead drummer for, the Castle Cary Pipes and Drums (Pipe Major Colin Murray).

In the fall of 2001, Dan moved to Ontario to join the 78th Fraser Highlanders. He played with the 78th Fraser Highlanders from 2001 to 2007 under lead drummers Michael Hunter, John Fisher and Drew Duthart, and was a member of the 2007 World Champion drum corps. Dan performed internationally in the Frasers’ stage production “Seanchaid”, providing accompaniment on snare drum, rope drum, keyboard and various other percussion instruments.

Recent notable solo prizes include Professional Drummer of the Day at Georgetown (2007), 3rd place at the Agnew-Harrison contest (2005), 3rd place in the Open Piping and 3rd place in the Open Tenor Drumming at the Orillia Scottish Festival (2003).

Dan has performed on studio recordings including “The Celtic Collection” with the Irish Rovers, “Caught in the ACT” with the Canberra Burns Club Pipe Band, and “Cascade” with the 78th Fraser Highlanders. He provided music consulting for the cartoon “Best Ed”, due for international release in the fall of 2008. Dan has been known to write the occasional pipe tune, and drop into celtic jam nights bearing shuttle pipes and bodhran.

Dan currently plays with the Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band under lead drummer Graham Kirkwood, and is looking forward to a week of groovin’ tunes with friends old and new in the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.

A computer programmer by trade, Dan lives in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, with his wife Jenn Williams (of PPBSO rhythm tenor fame) and their Newfoundland puppy.