Ian McKinnon

Professional bagpiping services for all occasions throughout Nova Scotia and beyond.

 
 

About

Ian McKinnon is one of the most acclaimed Highland bagpipers of the Scottish diaspora. In an award-winning career spanning four decades, Ian has piped across the globe as an innovator in modern Celtic music, from solo to symphonic work, and as a co-founder of the Celtic Rock band, Rawlins Cross.

Also proficient on lowland pipes, tin whistle and bodhran (Celtic drum), Ian has competed at the Open Class (Professional) level and been honoured by his peers with a dozen East Coast Music Awards, Nova Scotia Music Awards and two Juno Award nominations. Ian has performed on stages in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Rawlins Cross continues to perform and record, releasing its 11th studio album in 2022. 

Ian's Celtic symphony MacKinnon’s Brook Suite is an award-winning orchestral original work that he’s performed with symphonies across Canada and which was also developed into a national CBC-TV production.

Ian has deep ancestral roots in the Gaelic and French speaking settlers dispersed to the new world and scattered about the islands and river valleys of the Gulf of St Lawrence centuries ago. Ian’s appreciation for his roots were deepened by a scholarly focus, earning a Masters degree in Folklore from Newfounland’s Memorial University. Ian lives with his family in Halifax and spends his summers in beautiful Broad Cove, Inverness County, Nova Scotia.

 
 
Ian McKinnon, Bagpiper

Ian McKinnon, Bagpiper

 

Services

  • Solo Highland bagpiping for corporate events, golf outings, funerals, weddings or parties!
  • Other Celtic musical performances - scaled up (e.g. with Ian’s Celtic Rock group, Rawlins Cross) or scaled down to a simple duo
  • Have an event? Want to add some amazing Highland bagpipes? Drop us a line!

Audio

Air Races - Trip to Mabou Ridge

Celtic Instrumentals - MacPherson’s Lament

Crossing the Border - O’Neill’s March/Haughs of Cromdale

MacK’s Brook - Hard at the Jigs

Video

 
 

Solo bagpipes at Cabot Links

Bagpipes with Rawlins Cross

Bagpipes with Symphony Orchestra

Bagpipes with Pipe Organ

Contact.

ian@groundswellmusic.ca
902-448-2134

Nova Scotia, Canada

 
 

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