Hatcher reportedly named executive director of College of Piping, PEI
Karen Hatcher, pipe-sergeant of the 33rd Service Battalion Pipes & Drums of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is to be named executive director of the College of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, according to sources. Hatcher reportedly started work with the college on March 1st.
As executive director, she will be the third to take on the post since the death of founding director Scott MacAulay in September 2008. After a lengthy search, Mike Paterson of New Zealand was awarded the role, only to be dismissed after a few months. Kendra McGillivray, a well known Maritimes musician, was then hired, only to resign after four months.
Hatcher has most recently worked as sales manager of the Marriott Harbourfront in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
A number of prominent pipers had allegedly been considered and/or interviewed for the post since MacAulay’s death, including Fraser Clarke and James MacHattie.
According to a source close to the matter, “the College of Piping has definitely retracted since Scott [MacAulay’s] death.” The organization last summer cancelled the long-running Summerside Highland Games, which, under MacAulay’s stewardship, had grown to be a major event on the eastern Canadian pipe band calendar.
I read in Summerside’s local newspaper that there is some confusion surrounding this appointment. I tried pasting the link, but the web site prevents me from doing so. The article is listed in the Journal Pioneer’s web site under news. The article is titled: College of Piping may or may not have new director