OPS Welcomes Micah Babinski - October's Featured Performer

Micah began his piping career at the age of nine in Oakland, California where he started under the instruction of Bay Area piper and drummer Liza MacAdam. Micah moved to Washington State with his family in 1998, where he continued on the pipes under the instruction of Laurie MacKenzie, and later Jori Chisholm, with whom he took lessons for many years. Micah credits Jori with instilling disciplined practice habits, the secrets of bagpipe tone, a nuanced approach to expression, and a lifelong dedication to excellent technique.

Micah was invited in 2006 to the Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational competition in Albany, NY where he placed first in the MSR and third in the piobaireachd. Two months later, Micah traveled to the George Sherriff Amatuer Invitational competition in Toronto, Ontario, where he won the MSR and piobaireachd events, and placed third in the 6/8 march, winning him the overall aggregate award at the age of 18.   Since then he has competed at the professional solo level.

Micah has played in two world champion pipe band circles: in 2003, with the grade 3b Prince Charles Pipe Band, and in 2006 with the grade 2 champion Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band. He has also been a member of three Grade 1 Pipe Bands: Prince Charles of San Francisco, Simon Fraser University, and DowcoTriumph Street. Micah is also a recurring member of Tartanic, one of the most popular Celtic acts on the national Renaissance Faire circuit.

Micah moved to Portland in 2011 where he teaches bagpipe lessons and works as a cartographer and IT Analyst managing geographic data for the City of Portland. In addition to piping, Micah enjoys listening to piping, hiking, savoring Portland’s wonderful selection of food and drink, and playing the mandolin. Micah eagerly anticipates the arrival of a practice set of Irish Uilleann pipes in May or June of next year.