MARK STEWART

Early Years

Mark started piping at the age of nine under the tuition of Andy Renwick and later under Pipe Major Ian Duncan. He played in the Vale of Atholl Juvenile Pipe Band and then moved up to the Grade 4 band, which went on to win the Worlds in the early ’80s.

Vale of Atholl Grade 1 (Professional Level)

At the age of fifteen, Mark joined the Vale of Atholl Grade 1 band, winning the British and European Championships, 3rd in the Worlds and numerous top-six placings over the years in Grade 1.

Concerts

Mark played in all the Ballymena concerts, and the ‘Live ’n Well’ concert recording in Motherwell, as well as countless concerts and trips around the world with the band.

Teacher

In 1996, Mark moved to Canada, where he was a full-time piping instructor. He was the principal piping tutor at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, teaching alongside Bob Worrall, Ken Eller, Ed Neigh and many other well-known world-class instructors.

Pipe Major

Mark was Pipe Major of the Grade 3 Gaelic College Pipe Band, consistently placing in the top six at competitions, including the North American Championships in Maxville, Ontario.

Piping Judge

During his time in Canada, Mark was in high demand for judging. He is a member of the Judging Panel of the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association and holds the highest level accreditation to judge any level of solo piping, pipe band and ensemble.

World Champion

In 2001, Mark moved back to Scotland. He spent two years with the Grade 2 Drambuie-Kirkliston Pipe Band under Pipe Major Ian Duncan. The band won several majors and became the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championships in 2005.

Vale of Atholl Pipe Major

After spending most of their time in separate bands, Mark decided to accept the role as Pipe Major of the Vale of Atholl Grade 3 Pipe Band from 2019 to 2023, so that he and his son, Cameron, could play together in the same band. During his time there, Mark took them on to win the British Championships and Scottish Championships.

Atholl Highlanders

Mark was recruited into the prestigious Atholl Highlanders, the Duke of Atholl’s Private Army, in 2006. With the regiment, Mark has played for the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles. 

Fife Police Grade 1

In recent years, Mark joined the Grade 1 Fife Police Pipe Band under Pipe Major Dougie Murray. He won several top six places in many Majors with the band, including top six placings at the Worlds.

Multi-Instrumentalist

Along with highland pipes, Mark also plays uilleann pipes and whistles. While living in Canada, he played in the Celtic Rock group, Gigfoot, along with some of Cape Breton's best musicians.

Award-Winning & Commissioned Composer

In 1998, Mark published a collection of forty-five of his own compositions titled The Crieff Collection and enjoys composing and arranging music.

He won a 6/8 March Composition competition to mark the 25th Anniversary of the New Brunswick Highland Games in 2005.

In 2020, Mark was commissioned by the Crieff Highland Gathering to compose a tune to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the games.

Some of his compositions are also featured in 'The Turra Coo Collection'.