Pipe Major Bruce Campbell & The Balmoral Highlanders
Overview
- Single piper, trio pipers or full 5 piece pipe band
- Available with the "Balmoral Dancers"
- Full highland experience
- Authentic costumes
Price Range
Prices range from £250 to £1500
About
Pipe Major Bruce Campbell (as a solo artist) or Pipe Major Bruce Campbell & The Balmoral Highlanders (piper and dance team) can provide an amazing spot of either traditional Scottish music or exciting Highland and choreographed dancing. Either in solo piping format or with a dance team of 4-8 championship winning Highland dancers.
While a solo piping spot speaks for itself, an average piping job could be a trio of pipers which would include fellow pipe majors Hugh Laverty and Jocky Johnstone, both former army pipers. A typical dance set of the Balmoral Highlanders would see four professional dancers choreographed by Miss Jean McKirdy and as part of a breathtaking 20 minute spot would likely include the Highland Reel an audience participation spot where members of the audience are enouraged to come up and join the girls.
Bruce Campbell has played around the world as a professional piper since 1971. He was one of just nine pipers who climbed to the top of the global hit parades when the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards 'Amazing Grace' went to the top of the pop charts. Since then his music has taken him onto the film screen with Sir Peter Ustinov, the recording studio with Germany's Les Humphries Singers and Australian rock icon Richard Clapton and as a solo recitalist or speaker on radio including BBC Radio Scotland, ABC and Spanish radio. He is an accepted authority on the ancient music of Scotland having authored a dozen books including the highly acclaimed 'MacCrimmon Pipers of Skye; A Tradition Under Siege'. He has also recorded several albums and currently performs at solo occasions around the UK as well as with The Balmoral Highlanders, an exciting professional Highland dance troupe which has thrilled audiences all over the world.
Early in his career he was contracted to become Pipe Major to the championship winning Sultan of Oman's Royal Band and then the Royal Australian Regiment. As well as winning over 60 prizes in open solo professional piping competition he has literally played at thousands of jobs in every corner of the globe including Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Emirates, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Oman, Palestine, Spain, Switzerland, United States, and Wales. His solo jobs have ranged from store openings, weddings, media launches, funerals and birthday parties to more elaborate functions such as the World Fencing Championships and film set work. He has played all the major venues including Edinburgh, Stirling, Mar and Carrickfergus Castles, the Sydney Entertainment Centre, London's Royal Albert Hall, the Usher Hall, Wolftrap, Hampden Park and Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo.
His jobs have included Lone Piper spells at Tattoos, radio broadcasts, movie work, lecturing on piping to universities and clan societies, recording as well as playing solo for H.M. The Queen. He has also been winning prizes on the professional solo circuit for over 25 years and currently keeps the edge on his piping by competing as well as playing for Highland dancing championships at Highland Games in Scotland. He possesses the highest army and civilian qualifications available for a piper. He is currently the Honorary Piper to both the 1745 Association and the Scottish Wrestling Bond as well as first choice piper for the Scottish Official Highland Dancing Association.
The Balmoral Highlanders dance troupe includes past winners of the British and Scottish Highland Dance Championships and is choreographed by the highly respected authority, Miss Jean McKirdy of Edinburgh. Dances include Highland Fling, Argyllshire Broadswords, Hornpipe, Jig, Highland Reel and Sean Triubhas in a seamless variety of solo and team dances which can extend up to 30 minutes and can also include audience participation sets. This is a real highlight of any occasion and will be talked about for ages.
Where are they based?
The band are based in Edinburgh but regularly play across Scotland and the rest of the UK
Sample Set List
800 tune plus repertoire including all the classics, popular pipe tunes, dance tunes and Piobaireachd.
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This profile was compiled by +Freakster
