For over fifty years Shelley MacPhee has been a driving force and is heavily influential with the ongoing operation of the Glengarry School of Piping and Drumming. During this time, hundreds of students, a good number from Glengarry, have passed through the school, learning the fine art of highland bagpiping and drumming.
To this day, The Regimental Pipes and Drums of the SD&G Highlanders is comprised of serving and retired members of the unit as well as civilian members. For 130 years this band has been known for their deep Celtic roots in Glengarry and adherence to the traditions of the Highlanders. Its roots in the Militia Companies of Glengarry, (No. 4 Company, Lancaster, No. 5 Company, Williamstown, and No. 7 Company, Dunvegan) have made outstanding contributions to Celtic music in Glengarry.
First taught by her dad, Ian, when she was ten and later by Denis Lanctot, Ashley MacLeod-Mcrae’s youthful exuberance and love for the fiddle made her a master artist of our time. She and her dad have helped to reignite the interest in fiddle music in Glengarry.
Alexander and Christina Watt were definitely a musical duo, he an accomplished fiddler and she, a piano music teacher. A cousin recalls that a parties could go on their house till the wee hours of the morning, visitors playing until time to go home for chores.
The Clansmen were formed in 1973 under the direction of Sylvester MacDonald. This was one of very few Scottish dance bands in Glengarry at the time and they would change the way dance music would be played in the area for many years to come.
Duncan Donald MacSweyn, known to all as Duncie, was born in 1871, in the former Kenyon Township, now North Glengarry, in a community on the Dunvegan Road known as Cotton Beaver. It was obvious from his teenage years that he had a great deal of natural talent.
Hughie’s family roots in Glengarry go back to the late 1790s. He grew up with eight sisters and five brothers on the family farm near Martintown. His father, William, had a great influence on Hugh, teaching him to play the guitar at the age of six. His siblings recall that there was always music in the house and their mother, Margaret Kennedy, frequently would dance with the children in the kitchen.
A native of Glen Sandfield, Ontario, Lloyd was born to Roddie and Edna MacCuaig (nee MacMillan) on Jan 12th 1935. Lloyd died on Jan 13th 2016. His mother Edna was a very accomplished pianist and influenced his style and choice of Scottish Music.
Darrel Edwin Neil MacLeod is the son of RD and Clara MacLeod. His musical ability includes playing the fiddle, mandolin, banjo, tin whistle and the bodhrán and singing.
The MacQueens from Skye were a very musical family who contributed to the music of Glengarry for over 50 years both as musicians and promoters.