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

'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.

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!

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.

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!!