Contact:
Dr. Keith E. MacDonald
241 Athlone Drive
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada, R3J 3L6
Telephone 1-204-832-5475
E-mail krmacdon@mts.net
About Dr.Keith E.MacDonald, The Church Piper:
Dr. MacDonald is a retired Optometrist, residing in Winnipeg, Canada. He manages The Church Piper Publications, and is a freelance piper who arranges church music for the bagpipes.
For 33 years, Dr. MacDonald has been a featured musician at Ness Avenue Baptist Church in Winnipeg. (1974-2007). Previous to this, he was the official piper for Knox United Church, in Winnipeg. (1951-1968). Presently, he accepts invitations to play at other churches, at numerous funeral homes, for Patriotic occasions, at weddings and banquets. Piping-in of dignitaries has also been a part of his itinerary.
Dr. MacDonald is an enthusiastic Christian. His faith rests on the Bible being God’s Word and that in the beginning, God created the world. Jesus was there at the beginning. He saw mankind drawing apart from God. He became a man on earth. He did not relinquish His deity, although humility was His characteristic. He came to buy us back to God, using His own life as the “perfect” sacrifice. His sacrifice is not without some obligation, however, for we are personally obliged to make the choice of whether or not to accept this great gift of forgiveness from God.
If these music books for pipers help to mold a piper’s life, as well as provide him or her with appropriate music for church related occasions, then Dr. MacDonald will have been rewarded, knowing his work has been fruitful.
Dr. MacDonald began playing the bagpipes at age 17. He also studied piano, organ, and violin. His piping teachers included many notable pipers, one of whom was the late competition-piper, composer, and arranger, William J. Watt, a Gordon Highlander.
Dr. MacDonald has been a member of such illustrious pipe bands as,
The Saskatoon Light Infantry Pipe Band, (1946-1950).
The Manitoba Piper’s Association Pipe Band, (1950-1968).
The Manitoba Centennial Pipe Band, (1967).
The Massed Pipes and Drums of Winnipeg, (1973-1975).
The Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans Legion Pipe Band, (1969-present).
Major events, in which he has been a piper, are:
The Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, (1967, 1991, and 1999).
The Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California, (1973, 1974, and 1975).
The World’s Fair, Seattle, Washington, (1974).
The Silver Broom Curling Bonspiel, in Winnipeg, (1978).
The Canadian Safeway World Curling Championships in Winnipeg, (1991).
The World Curling Championships in Berne Switzerland, (1997).
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Hall of Fame Banquet, 1998, 1999, 2000,2001 and 2002.
The Wpg. Rotarians Annual League of Nations Conference, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003
The Wpg. Rotarians Annual Remembrance Day Banquets. 1998, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’03, '04 , '05, '07
The various dignitaries he has played-in, are:
The Honorable Duff Roblin,
Premier of Manitoba, (1958-1967).
The Honorable George Johnson,
Lt. Gov. of Manitoba, (1957).
The Honorable Howard Pawley,
Premier of Manitoba, (1968).
The Right Honorable Edward Schreyer,
Premier of Manitoba, (1969-1977).
High Commissioner of Australia, 1984-1988
Ambassador to Vanuates & The Solomon Islands, 1984-1988
The Honorable Pearl McGonigal,
Lt. Gov. of Manitoba, (1981-1986).
The Honorable Preston Manning,
(Leader of the Reform Party), (1982)
His Royal Highness, Prince Edward,
(Opening Ceremonies of The Western Canada Games, July, 1990).
The Honorable Yvon Dumont,
Lt. Gov. of Manitoba, (1993-1998).
His Worship Mayor Bill Norrie,
Mayor of Winnipeg, (1990-1994).
Her Worship Mayor Susan Thompson,
Mayor of Winnipeg, (1994-1998).
The Late Honorable Peter Liba,
Lt. Gov. of Manitoba, (1998- 2007)
The Late John Hampton “Cactus Jack” Wells, on May 13th, 1999 (His 88th birthday)
Sports Announcer on TV and Radio, elected to the Canadian Football and Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
Cal Murphy, Ex-football coach, 1983-1996, Wpg. Blue Bombers...a dinner in his honor; for the London Health Sciences Foundation Cardiac Transplant Unit, and the Blue Bombers... 26 June, 2001.
The Right Honorable Gary Doer, (5 October, 1999 - )
Premier of Manitoba, on 10 May, 2002, and 9 May, 2003 for the Wpg. Rotarians League of Nations Model Assembly