Regimental Pipers

Piper Major Iain Lang, CD, BSc

Personal Piping History

I have been playing the Great Highland Bagpipes since 1977. My father, James Lang, started me off. I have since been instructed by Scot MacAuley, Jeanette MacLeod, Bill Minty, PM Reay MacKay CD, and John Walsh.

I competed in solo piping events from 1978 to 1999 last competing at the grade one level.

I have been a member of the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums since 1982. I am currently the Pipe Major.

I have passed all of the piping courses in the Canadian Forces. I now hold the rank of Master Warrant Officer and the appointment of Pipe Major in the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums. 

I spent three summers (1993, 94, 95) as a piper with the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, Ottawa.

I was employed on staff at the Canadian Forces Music Centre Detachment Borden on Canadian Forces Base Borden (CFMusC Borden), assisting Pipe Major CWO Dewar who at the time was the the Senior CF Pipe Major and the CF Piping Instruction Coordinator, and Pipe Major MWO Ian Ferguson, who at the time was the Senior CF Piping Instructor. I left this position in September 2000 to pursue a full-time career in Technical Writing.

In December of 2015, I was appointed as Official Piper to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Instruction

  • 1977 James Lang (father).
  • 1977 to 1978 Scot MacAuley, accomplished competitor, composer and Director of the P.E.I. College of Piping.
  • 1978 to 1981Bill Minty, Pipe Major.
  • 1981 1985 Pipe Major CWO Reay Mackay CD, 48th Highlanders of Canada (retired); accomplished competitor, judge, composer and instructor.
  • 1985-86 John Walsh, pipe sergeant of the World Champion 78th Fraser Highlanders, 1987; accomplished competitor, composer, judge, instructor, bagpipe maker, and bagpipe reed maker.

Experience


Official Piper to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, since December 2015


Pipes and Drums of the 48th Highlanders of Canada

September 1981 to Present

Primary Reserves, Department of National Defence

Master Warrant Officer, Piper Major

  • Volunteer Member of the Pipes and Drums for six years, September 1981 until January 1987.
  • Joined the Primary Reserves as a member of the 48th Highlanders of Canada in January 1987.
  • Completed all trade tests available for a piper in the Canadian Militia.
  • Promoted to Master Warrant Officer in 1 October of 2004.
  • Played with the contest band in grades II and I.

Canadian Forces Music Centre Detachment Borden, Department of National Defence

February 1996 to September 2000

Bagpipe Instructor and Base Pipe Band member

  • Instructor for the Regular Force Pipe Major/Drum Instructors Course,
  • Instructor for primary reserve musician summer training.
  • Performed individually and as a member and Pipe Sergeant of the CFB Borden Pipes and Drums for various base functions.
  • Directly Responsible to Senior Pipe Major of the Canadian Forces.

Ceremonial Guard, Department of National Defence

June to September 1993, 1995, and 1995

Section Commander/Piper

  • Section Commander responsible for eight musicians' welfare, training, drill and discipline.
  • Responsibilities also included acting as Group Sergeant responsible for 1/3 of the band.
  • A secondary duty was acting as second in command of the pipes corps on a regular basis. This required teaching music and ensuring proper drill and discipline of the pipe corps as well as tuning the pipes and commanding the corps on parade.
  • Participated in the Trooping the Colour Parade every year as a member of the band.
  • Performed both as a member of a 100-piece brass-reed band Changing of the Guard Ceremony on Parliament Hill
  • Performed as a soloist for the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Rideau Hall, The residence of the Governor General of Canada
  • Performed for numerous Guards of Honour and other public duties including:
  • Performed the Lament at the National War Memorial, for the Korean War Veterans Remembrance Parade.
  • Piped the for the Queens Medal, Connaught ranges.
  • Piper for Canadian National Exhibition: (1986)
  • Performed individually at main entrance to the fair for six to eight hours per day

Mentionable Performances

Personalities I have performed for include:

  • Membersof the British Royal Family.
  • The Dutch Royal Family.
  • Prime Ministers of Canada
  • Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
  • US President Ronald Reagan
  • Governors General of Canada
  • Lieutenant Governors of Ontario
  • Chiefs of the Defence Staff.
  • Generals from Canada, Britain, United States, Holland, and Italy.

Band Performances:

  • Liberation Celebrations, Campobasso and Ortona, Italy (2003)
  • The Victory Over Europe Celebrations, Holland (1985, 1995, and 2000).
  • International Military Music Festival, Quebec City, (2003, 2000).
  • International Marine Tattoo, rochester New York, (2000, 2001)
  • Piper for Operation Sovereign Steadfast, 32 CMBG, Gjoa Haven, Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut (1998).
  • Queen Elizabeth II, Royal Tour, Toronto (1986).
  • The Royal Gala for Their Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of York, Ontario Place Forum, Toronto.
  • The Nova Scotia Tattoo, Halifax (1987, 1997).
  • The Toronto Economic Summit, Toronto (1989).
  • The Stone Mountain Scottish Festival, Atlanta (1992-1998).
  • Erepa Grotta Tartan Ball, Erie, PA (1988, 1995).
  • Performed on the television shows ENG (CTV), Ralph Benmergui (CBC), Breakfast Television (CITY TV), Road to Avonlea (CBC).
  • Performed on 8 audio recordings.

Solo Performances:

  • Performed for numerous weddings, head tables, funerals etc. (1980-Present).
  • Lead numerous processions for all of the Governor Generals of Canada since 1997.
  • Lead numerous processions for all of the Lieutenant Governors of Ontario since 1980.
  • Piped the Olympic Flame through CFB Borden Main Gate, June 1997.
  • Performed for the hourly Changing of the Guard at the Governor-Generals Residence, Rideau Hall (1993, 1994, 1995).
  • Young Peoples Theatre production of MacBeth, (1993).

Awards

  • Canadian Forces’ Decoration, January 1999.
  • Amateur Piper of the Day, North American Championships, Maxville, Ontario, August 1993.
  • Canadian Grade 1 Solo Amateur Piping Jig Champion, Cambridge Highland Games July 1992.
  • Member of Grade 2 North American Championship Pipe Band, 48th Highlanders Pipes and Drums 1989 and 1993.
  • Member of Grade 2 Ontario Championship Supreme Pipe Band , 48th Highlanders Pipes and Drums, 1994.