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Leading the pipers
Pleasanton woman is ambassador at Glasgow Piping Fest

by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

When 8,000 pipers descended in Glasgow, Scotland, recently for its International Piping Festival, Piping Live!, Pleasanton resident Megan Canning was waiting for them. Some 30,000 traditional music fans from around the world attended.

Canning, 19, worked as an ambassador for the festival, and she was in Glasgow for its launch.

"I've been playing the bagpipes since I was a child and I think it's fantastic that we have a festival to celebrate them," said Canning, who pipes with the Field Marshal Montgomery pipe band. "I hope any young people that think the instrument is old-fashioned will come out and see for themselves how modern the music is and how young pipers are taking it forward."

Festival director Roddy McLeod agreed.

"Piping Live! shows the bagpipes in all of their diverse glory and this year's program is particularly strong," he said. "Whether you are a traditionalist, you like your pipe music with a twist, or you have never heard real world class pipe music before, there is something for you to enjoy at Piping Live!"

In addition to the 8,000 pipers, 30,000 traditional music fans from around the globe were expected to descend upon Glasgow for this year's Piping Live! held Aug. 9-15.

Closer to home, everyone can enjoy piping this weekend when the Caledonian Club of San Francisco presents the 145th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.