Simon McKerrell
Simon McKerrell is one of the leading players of Scottish Highland, Border and Irish Uilleann bagpipes in the world today. He has trained with various teachers and in particular with Murray Henderson, and for the last ten years has been combining successful competition piping and performing in bands. He is currently the ‘Head of Piping Studies’ at The National Piping Centre in Glasgow where he runs various higher educational programmes. Simon’s first musical passion is bagpipe music, and is a major prize-winner/performer. Notable wins include the Dunvegan Medal (2004), Skye Clasp (2005, 2006, 2007), 1st A-grade March, Strathspey and Reel at Inverness (2006) and 2nd in the Oban Gold Medal (2005).
Simon was awarded the PhD (Ethnomusicology) in 2005 for a thesis entitled: ‘Scottish competition bagpipe music: sound, mode and aesthetics’. His research interests include the concept of Mode, Globalization and traditional music, and the complexities of Tradition and Aesthetics in performance. He was a founding member of ‘Back of the Moon’ (2000-2004) and more recently has formed a brand new 3-piece band, Rough Tides.
