Winter Solstice at the Oregon Pipers Society

We are celebrating the Holidays at OPS with some great entertainment and a delicious whisky tasting!

The local hero of the evening is Scott Lumsden. A second generation piper, Scott first picked up the chanter at age ten. His aunts were champion dancers in the 1940’s. His father John and uncle Bill and eldest cousin Charlie all started piping in Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland. Learning from his father, Scott went on to succeed him as Pipe Major of the Olympia Highlanders. In the years following, Scott played with bands off and on, including Kell’s of Portland and the Celtic rock band, Clumsy Lovers. From his beginnings in the Pacific Northwest, Scott finally found his way to the Tacoma Scots and is their current Pipe Major. His pipes of choice are one of his two sets of Hendersons. 

We are very pleased to have the Tacoma Scots Pipe Band perform at OPS. The band was formed in 1971 by William (Bill) Micenko, who served as the Pipe Major for 37 years. The Tacoma Scots wear the Ancient Sinclair tartan in honor of their founder.  Under Bill’s direction, the band grew into a family-friendly band, with numerous parents and their children performing together. The Tacoma Scots have competed in Highland Games from California to Montana. 

Today, the pipers, drummers and dancers of the Tacoma Scots perform traditional Scottish music and dance throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Two of Bill’s three sons still perform with the band.  The band is honored to serve as the official pipe band of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. The Tacoma Scots are led by Pipe Major Scott Lumsden and Drum Sergeant Paul Micenko.  The band welcomes new and experienced pipers, drummers and dancers to attend practice and join the band.

Our featured performer is Jori Chisholm. Jori grew up playing at OPS and is looking forward to returning to play for the hometown audience of friends, and looking forward to the new venue. Jori now lives in Seattle, Washington. He currently plays with the six-time Grade One World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band since 1998 and has been a featured solo performer for the band on multiple occasions. A successful solo competitor, Jori has won the United States Gold Medal three times and has placed in the top three in Scotland's Argyllshire Gathering Gold Medal competition. 

Jori has been has been featured as a soloist or band member on over 20 recordings, as well as performing with The Chieftains and with ex-Grateful Dead rocker Bob Weir and his band Ratdog. His debut solo album Bagpipe Revolution was nominated for Album of the Year by Pipes|Drums magazine. 

Jori also writes the "Sound Technique" column for the National Piping Centre’s bi-monthly Piping Today Magazine. The New York Times featured Chisholm's online teaching program, BagpipeLessons.com, and described him as a "top-tier teacher" in a front page story about the growth of Skype music lessons.  American Profile Magazine featured Jori on the cover naming him one of the "world's elite pipers." In 2011, BagpipeLessons.com launched the world's first online piping competition and has grown the championship to include drumming. 

Entertainment begins at 7:30 pm on Saturday December 21st. See you then!

Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Kids 12 and under are Free.