After almost two decades, Lindsay leaves Oran Mor

New York-based piper Donald Lindsay, nearly synonymous with the Oran Mor Pipe Band that he helped to found and lead for 18 years, has announced his retirement from competitive playing so that he can devote his time to teaching piping and pipe bands.

Lindsay formed Oran Mor in 1992, and was its instructor and pipe-major until 2008 when he handed over leadership to his longtime student, Andrew Douglas, the current pipe-major. Under Lindsay, Oran Mor coursed its way from Grade 3 to Grade 1, enjoying numerous successes along the way.

“It has been a great privilege to work with members of the Oran Mor Pipe Band for the past several years,” Lindsay said in a news release. “In that time, we have produced great music and formed an excellent musical organization. We have been blessed with many great friendships. I have enjoyed being part of the development of so many excellent pipers and drummers.”

For more than 40 years Lindsay has been a prolific teacher of piping in the eastern United States. In the 1970s he established the Invermark School of Piping, one of the first organized US-based piping schools. The school introduced top-flight piobaireachd instructors to the region, including the legendary Bob of Balmoral, Robert Brown and Robert Nicol.

Oran Mor also revealed that it will again hold an indoor solo competition in the spring of 2011, as well as its annual “Spring Training” workshop in Saratoga, New York. Douglas said that the band is expanding its repertoire as it prepares for a concert tour and a potential recording in 2012.

The band also plans to return to the World Pipe Band Championships, and hopes to again travel to Northern Ireland in advance of Glasgow. Douglas added that the grading uncertainty with eastern United States rivals City of Washington may see the band travel to Ontario or the west for Grade 1 competition.