 www.pipeforscotland.com  Piping at the launch of Ceilidh Culture, February 2009.  On behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council  GREETINGS!! I'm LOUISE MARSHALL MILLINGTON. The aim of this site is to promote piping in Scotland!!!! Should you wish to hire a Scottish piper and help to promote Scottish Music, Culture and Tradition, then please contact me: Email: louisecantara@aol.com Here's me age 5 with Dad who was piping at a friend's wedding!  At the age of 9, I thought I would join dad playing the pipes beside him at Gretna Green!! The lone piper at 'THE WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, 30th March 2008!  This was amazing - piping on top of 'Haggis Knowe', Arthur's Seat, overlooking the course. Footage of me playing was broadcast worldwide by the BBC! Piping on the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh, April 08!  To welcome passengers from a cruiseliner to Scotland! That's me and Scott Brown - Scotland International Footballer!!  Piping for 'Hibernian F.C.' on their return to Edinburgh with the CIS Cup!! LET'S PIPE FOR SCOTLAND!! My father, WILLIAM JOSEPH MARSHALL, was the piper at Gretna Green for 44 years until he passed away in 1999. My 2 brothers and I all played pipes beside dad for years from a very early age and my sister performed Highland Dancing for the tourists. He introduced us to the world of piping and we have never looked back!!! He was described by the Scottish Tourist Board, as an 'Ambassador for Scotland' after his death, due to his love for music, entertaining and piping for millions of people all over the globe, who visited Gretna Green over the years. I suppose I am continuing where my dad left off and, together, our Marshall Family of Pipers have entertained and promoted Scotland's national instrument at home and abroad for over 50 years!! PLEASE CLICK ON 'HIRE A PIPER' ON THE LEFT HAND BANNER, should you require further information on hiring a piper and to look at recent events I have piped at. You can also contact me on: TEL: 07990 732 756 (00 44) 7990732756 - If outside UK) EMAIL: louisecantara@aol.com (or go into the CONTACT email page on the left hand banner!) For more photos and information on Weddings/Parties/Burns Suppers/Corporate Events etc I have piped at over the last 25 years, as well as to listen to some tunes I have written and see some nice photos of my Marshall Family of pipers, please also have a look at my personal website www.vippiper.com Piping for the arrival and departure of the iconic 'Queen Elizabeth II' (QE2), South Queensferry, 7th October 2008!  This was a historic event - this was the last time the QE2 will sadly ever be in Scottish waters. At the end of year, she is to be decommisioned and transformed into a luxury floating hotel in Dubai. T.V./Radio Presenter/Singer ALED JONES and I, (after giving him and guests, Barry and Jan, a bagpipe lesson)  whilst being filmed by the BBC for 'Escape to the Country', April 2009! The last piper to play for the QE2 in Scottish Waters, as she sets sail down the Firth of Forth for the last time on 7th October 2008!  Passengers enjoyed being serenaded by some well-known Scottish tunes whilst reminiscing about very special times on board the QE2 over the years. I was extremely honoured to have been asked to play on the open-deck of the QE2 as she set sail and also to play in the 'Grand Lounge' later that evening for all the guests on board the World's Most Famous Cruiseliner - 'The Queen Elizabeth II'.!! Piping Hibs F.C. from the City Chambers, Edinburgh, to their open-top bus!  Ready for the parade of the cup down to Easter Road! Giving Singer/T.V. & Radio Presenter, ALED JONES, a bagpipe lesson at Floors Castle, Kelso, April 2009!  When asked if he had a special request for me to play he said "anything but 'Walking in the Air'!!!!" Piping at The Scottish Parliament.  February 2009! Heading off the races at the Edinburgh Nocturne Series, 30th May 2009!  Pictured here on the podium with World Champion Cyclists Kristian House, David Miller and Cameron Meyer! Congratulations to yellow jersey Tour de France rider, David Miller, on coming in first!!!! Piping for 3 times Gold Medalist Chris Hoy and his fellow Olympic Medalists from Bejing Olympics 2008, outside Edinburgh City Chambers, 28 August 2008. Pictured here alongside Chris's extremely proud Auntie Christine and Uncle Derek Hoy!! Well done Chris - We're all proud of you!!!!  Played during the open-top bus tour of our Scottish Olympians from Edinburgh Castle, down the Royal Mile to Holyrood! Piping at the 'Edinburgh Moonwalk 2008' raising awareness of Breast cancer.  Performing as 'The Pink Piper' on stage in front of 12,000 bra-clad power walkers! Piping at the Scottish Parliament, 4th September 2008!  I was playing during a protest of the award-winning Scots Music Group, where I teach. We all wore red to protest against losing critical funding from the Scottish Arts Council, which is crucial for the future of traditional music in Scotland! Piping at the launch of the 'Ceilidh Culture' Music Festival, Edinburgh, 28 Feb 2008.  Fantastic photo by Sean Bell, See www.seanbellphotography.com Piping in Full Highland Dress!  May 2008 Piping at the Mennock Pass, Wanlockhead - Scotland's Highest Vllage.  A special feature for ITV - May 2008. Piping for Hibernian Football Club March 2007!  Major celebrations in Edinburgh! Piping in Scotland's Highest Village!  Wanlockead! 'DGB Life' Magazine  See www.dgblife.co.uk 'DGB Life' (Dumfries & Galloway and Borders Life)! I was honoured to have been interviewed for this wonderful magazine, 'DGB Life', from my home county, Dumfries & Galloway, and to recently appear on the front cover of the February/March 2009 edition. I thoroughly enjoyed having a chat with Journalist and TV presenter Gilly Fraser at Scotland's highest village, Wanlockhead. The tribute she paid to my father, William Joseph Marshall, a well known figure in the Scottish piping scene, who sadly passed away 10 years ago, was beautifully written. Gilly also put together a wonderful feature on my life as a piper in Scotland!! I am sure you will enjoy having a look at www.dgblife.co.uk. The 98 Highlanders Pipes and Drums  (Having fun in Italy and France, July 2007) 'The 98 Highlanders Pipes and Drums' was formed for a festival in Italy and France, July 2007, where we performed a concert in memory of Ian's brother, Composer and Piper Extaordinaire Gordon Duncan, who passed away in December 2005 (please see www.gordonduncan.co.uk. The band consists of pipers and drummers from the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, Drambuie Kirkliston Pipe Band and the Celtic Rock Band 'Cantara'. (I'm the odd one oot wi the black socks on!!!!!) We had a fantastic time!! The aim of the 98 Highlanders is to promote Scottish music, especially piping, amongst the young people of Scotland. The Sunshine on Leith Pipes and Samba Band  During our debut performance in Edinburgh, October 2007 Comprises children from all over Edinburgh playing bagpipes, Scottish snare and Samba drums. I tutor the pipers, HAZEL MORRISON tutors Samba drumming and percussion and BILLY McROBB tutors snare drumming. ANDREW PARK also assists me with the piping tuition and MARK HASTINGS assists Billy with the snare drumming. Fantastic Team!! At the moment we have 21 children playing drums and 20 children learning to play the bagpipes (7 currently on pipes and 13 on the practice chanter). This is a fun band, with a fusion of Scottish and Brazilian music, the aim being to inspire children to pick up the pipes and drums and have a great time!!! Our debut performance was at the 'Dusshera' Hindu Festival along Princes Street, Edinburgh, Sunday 14 October. Well done to all!! We have a few other gigs lined up in 2008!!! See Link on Left hand banner for the 'Sunshine on Leith Pipe & Samba Band' for more info! CANTARA  That's Me, Beth, Hazel, Martin, Mikey and Andy!! I formed 'Cantara' along with Martin in 1997. To find out more info on Cantara, please log on to www.cantara.co.uk or www.vippiper.com (my personal website), where you can also hear some of our music. Scots Music Group Pipes and Drums  During their Debut Performance along Frinces Street, Edinburgh As a Bagpipe tutor at the Scots Music Group, Edinburgh, I formed this band in October 2007 for the Dusshera Hindu Festival in Edinburgh. I have tutored all the pipers from chanter and most of them have been playing for 2 years or less. If you are interested in taking up the chanter or attending the beginners bagpipe class, please log on to www.scotsmusic.org. This just proves - it's never too late to learn to play the bagpipes!! Keep piping Scotland!! Piping at the Launch of Edinburgh's 'Ceilidh Culture' up Calton Hill on a very windy day, Feb 2008!  Amazing photo by Sean Bell - www.seanbellphotography.com |