Iain MacHarg

 Iain MacHarg has been a familiar face at the highland games since very early in his life.  As his father is one on the premier bagpipe builders in the world, it is no surprise that Iain developed into a well respected and accomplished player.  He was promoted to the professional grade after earning the title of EUSPBA 2001 Grade One Season Champion.  Throughout his life, he has received his instruction from a variety of teachers;  the majority of his early instruction was provided by P.M. George F. Ritchie.  More recently, Iain has studied with Donald Lindsay, Bruce Gandy, Scott MacAulay, Jack Lee, Jack Taylor and Andrew Wright.


      In addition to competing as a solo piper, Iain has also been involved in many other aspects of Celtic music.  He has founded three Highland Pipe Bands in Vermont (Catamount Grade 3 & 4, the Green Mountain Highlanders) and has played with several folk groups.  Iain’s solo album, Rooted in Tradition, and his Christmas Album, Celtic Christmas, are sold in many areas of the world.  Iain has also published Feadan Mor, a collection of original tunes for the bagpipe.


      After completing his Masters of Education at the University of Vermont in 1997, Iain applied his education in a way that his professors never would have imagined.  He began to develop the Vermont Institute of Celtic Arts.  Iain’s goal is to develop this school into one similar to the College of Piping in Prince Edward Island.  Iain holds the senior certificate and the teaching certificate from the College of Piping, PEI.  He currently works as Vermont’s only full-time piping instructor.  In addition to his approximately 90 solo students, Iain also teaches group and band workshops.

Katie McD

Having grown up in Galway city, Ireland, Singer, Song writer, Katie Mcd is steeped in the ancient traditions of Celtic music and sings in traditional “sean nós” gaelic singing. After spending a year studying voice at Berklee College of Music, she moved to Tufts University and picked up a degree in Sociology and a new band and became part of the Boston Music Scene. She was awarded a visa for artist of outstanding ability thus she became a full time musician. Her journey to America provided inspiration while the supportive community helped Katie become a standout in the Boston songwriter community.

Jerry O'Sullivan has been widely hailed as America's premier uilleann piper. His reputation for technical and melodic mastery of the instrument, an Irish bagpipe known for its subtlety and expression, is unsurpassed in the United States, and is demanding considerable attention overseas. Jerry is also widely recorded on the tin whistle, the low whistle, the Highland bagpipes, and the Scottish smallpipes.


Born in New York City to an Irish-American mother and a father from Dublin, Ireland, Jerry first learned to play the Scottish highland pipes. During summer visits to family in Dublin, he learned the uilleann pipes from listening and asking questions to experienced players such as Peter Carberry, Matt Kiernan, Dan Dowd, Peter McKenna, Fergus Finnegan, Mick O'Brien, Gay McKeon, and others. In New York, uilleann piper Bill Ochs was a major help and inspiration to Jerry.


Jerry O'Sullivan is a gifted ambassador of the Irish uilleann pipes, maintaining the historic traditions and melodies of the instrument while expanding its range into new genres of music and media. His mastery of the instrument, traditional knowledge, versatility, and dedication to education truly make him America's premier uilleann piper.

visit Jerry at:

www.jerryosullivan.com

also featuring Peter Kapp,

a traditional bagpiper

from Mendocino county California

performing the Fingerlock.

Visit Iain at

www.vtcelticarts.org