Donaldson, Walsh to play with Shotts & Dykehead

The House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band has added two of the world’s pre-eminent band pipers, Iain Donaldson of Buffalo, New York, and John Walsh of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, to its ranks.

According to sources, the two pipers will compete with the band during the 2005 season, travelling across the Atlantic for practices and contests.

Both Donaldson and Walsh resigned from the 78th Fraser Highlanders after the 2004 season. Walsh had joined the 78th Highlanders (Halifax), while Donaldson did not commit to any other band when he left the 78th Frasers.

The two are not the first long-distance players for Shotts & Dykehead, a band that has a strong history of overseas members in its ranks. The Shotts drum-section features several North American and continental Europe players.

Conversely, the 78th Fraser Highlanders have welcomed members from as far away as Australia to bolster its ranks, and Simon Fraser University has listed piper Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland, on its roster for several years.

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