Piper Major Iain Lang, CD, BSc

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 was Pipe Major from February 2007 to June 2022.

I have passed all of the piping courses in the Canadian Forces giving me the qualifications for the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. I have served as a Bagpioe Instructor and Course Director for Pipes and Drums online training in the Canadian Armed Forces Logistics Training Centre Music Division (April 2021 - April 2022) I held the rank of Master Warrant Officer in the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums. I have 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, assisting Pipe Major (CWO) Sandy 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 moved on this position in September 2000 .

I served as the Senior Instructor and Adult Sergeant Major for Kilo Company, The School of Pipes and Drums at the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Training Centre Borden July & August 2008-2011, 2018-2019.

In December of 2015, I was appointed as Official Piper to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario until June of 2022 when I moved to Windsor, Nova Scotia.

I am is currently a piper with the RCMP Pipes and Drums H Division, Halifax. I am instructing piping online and in person to individuals as well instructing piping at King Edgehill School in Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Mentionable Band Performances:

Royal Canadian Military Institute Annual Concert Pipe Major 2007 -2017
Scotland the Brave show in Toronto, Hamilton, and Lincoln Centre, New York City with world renowned opera singers (2007, 2009)
A Gala Toronto Symphony performance of Not the Messiah, for Toronto�s Luminato Festival, with Eric Idle of Monty Python fame (2007)
Concert with the Scottish tenors Caledon (2007)
Member of the CF pipe band on the Vimy 90 Pilgrimage 2007
The Victory Over Europe Celebrations, Holland (1985, 1995, 2000)
Queen Elizabeth II Royal Tour, Toronto (1986)
The Royal Gala for Their Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of York, Ontario Place Forum, Toronto (1997)
The Royal 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 six audio recordings as a member of the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums

Mentionable Solo Piping Performances:

Lead numerous processions for all of the Lt Governors of Ontario since (1980)
Young Peoples Theatre production of MacBeth, (1993)
Performed for numerous weddings, head tables, funerals etc. (1980-Present)
Performed for the hourly Changing of the Guard at the Governor-Generals Residence, Rideau Hall (1993, 1994, 1995)

Awards:

32 Canadian Brigade Group Commanders Commendation (2020)
Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
Canadian Forces Decoration (1999, 2009)
Amateur Piper of the Day, North American Championships, Maxville, Ontario (1993)
Canadian Grade 1 Jig Champion, Cambridge Highland Games (1992)
Member of North American Championship Pipe Band (1989,93)
Member of Ontario Championship Supreme Pipe Band (1994)

Volunteer Work:

RCMP H Divison Pipes and Drums, Halifax
Kings Edgehill School Piping Instructor and Civilian Cadet Instructor
Official Piper of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (Dec 2015 � Jun 2022)
Performed at hospitals, nursing homes, and schools
48th Highlanders Pipes and Drums, volunteer member (1981-1986)
Piping Instructor to individuals (1989-2022) and Instructor for the 48th Highlanders Junior Pipe Band (1989-1993)
Piping Instructor and Member CFB Borden Volunteer Pipes and Drums (1996-2000)

Instruction

Iain Lang as a Sergeant with the 48th Highlanders of Canada

1977 James Lang (father).
1977 to 1978 Scot MacAuley, accomplished competitor, composer and Director of the P.E.I. College of Piping.
1978 to 1981 Bill 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
December 2015 to June 2022

Pipes and Drums of the 48th Highlanders of Canada
September 1981 to Aug 2023
Primary Reserves, Department of National Defence
Master Warrant Officer, Piper Major, and Webmaster

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.
Pipe Major from Feb 2007 to July 2022

Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre - Music Division
April 2021 to April 2022
Course Director

Coordinate and administer online Pipes and Drums music training for all levels of pipes and drums musicians.
Assign instructor duties and coordinate candidate lessons.
Develop course schedules.
Manage instructional staff.
Liaise with Canadian Training Centre to coordinate course nominations.

Royal Canadian Army Cadet Training Centre Borden
July & August 2008-2011, and 2018-19
Senior Bagpipe Instructor and Company Sergeant Major

Senior Bagpipe Instructor, Pipes and Drums School.
Responsible for training the Advance Level Performance Pipe Band in all aspects of pipe band performance, bagpipe history, music theory, and military piping.
Responsible for planning the performance routines both drill and music for the performance band.
Responsible for getting the Pipe Band and Military Band to perform together in shows and on parade.
Train and evaluate the adult staff and cadet staff of Pipes and Drums School.

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 and Celebrities performed for include:

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

Band Performances

Invictus Games televised opening and closing ceremonies, Toronto (Semptember 2017)
Led Canadian Forces Pipes and drums at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (2012)
Vimy Ridge 90th Contingent member of the Pipe Band (April 2007)
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 six 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

32 Canadian Brigade Group Commanders Commendation, June 2022
Canadian Forces' Decoration (1999, 1st bar 2009, 2nd bar 2019).
Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
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.