John Dew

(1997-)

John Dew is from Crieff and learned his piping at school from Anne Spalding beginning at age 10. In secondary school he was taught by Cameron Drummond and later by Craig Muirhead. During this time he began composing pipe and whistle tunes and has since broadened his scope considerably, creating suites and arranging material for folk and classical ensembles.– and film scores.

As a competing piper he has won both Scottish schools senior Ceol Beag and Ceol Mor championships. He has been the overall junior champion at Aboyne Games, Cowal Games, Strathardle Games, Glenisla Games and The Atholl and Breadalblane Gathering. He was runner-up in the MacGregor Memorial piobaireachd event at Oban in 2015 and third in the same contest in 2016. He was a Pipe Idol finalist during Piping Live in Glasgow in 2017. In 2019 he placed 3rd in the Silver Medal and won the B-grade aggregate at the Northern Meeting in Inverness. He continues to ascend the ranks as a competitive piper and clearly has a bright future ahead of him.

In 2014 John joined Inveraray and District Pipe Band under P/M Stuart Liddell and has been with the band during their recent championship runs that included winning the World Pipe Band Championships in 2017, 2019 and four successive Champion of Champion titles. At the time of this writing, John lives in Glasgow and is working toward a B.Mus in traditional music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he is being taught by Willie McCallum and Finlay MacDonald. -J.M.

Nov 2018.