LIANNE BRADSHAW

Drummer

Antigonish Highland Games Hall of Fame

Induction

July 11, 2019

Lianne Bradshaw (left) being inducted in the Highland Games Hall of Fame. Also in picture; Robert Cochrane (center) and Iain Boyd

Lianne Bradshaw started playing drums with the Antigonish Clanranald Pipe Band in the early 1980’s. Within three years she joined the Grade 2 Scotia Legion Pipe Band, a huge jump from the Grade 4 Antigonish band. This rapid progression demonstrated that Lianne was a very talented pipe band drummer and eager to play at the highest level.

Her proficiency in drumming quickly became well known and Lianne was asked to be a drumming instructor at the Gaelic College at St. Ann’s, Cape Breton. While there, in addition to teaching young boys and girls to play the drums, she played with the Gaelic College Pipe Band and strengthened their drum corps. 

To remain closer to home, Lianne join the Grade 3 Clan Thompson Pipe Band as their instructor and to play in the drum corps. Clan Thompson, under the direction of Pipe Major Scott Williams, had a solid pipe section but needed a stronger drum corps if they were to be more successful in competition. Lianne’s skill and expertise gave the corps the boost they needed and helped the band win the Grade 3 North American Championships in Maxville, Ontario in 1989.

Lianne was then asked to join the College of Piping Pipe Band in Summerside, PEI and remained with that band for two years. In 1992 she moved back home to be the drumming instructor for the Antigonish Highland Society Pipe Band. For seven years, she built a strong drumming program in Antigonish and in fact, taught enough drummers for two bands.  In 1995, with Lianne leading the drum corps, the Antigonish Highland Society Pipe Band, comprised of mostly teenagers, won the Grade 4 North American Pipe Band Championships at Maxville, Ontario.

Lianne’s talent was in high demand.  While still instructing and playing with the Antigonish band, she was invited to be a guest player with the City of Washington Pipe Band when they travelled to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships in 1998 and 1999. To step in and play at a world level with only a few rehearsals with this Grade 1 band is testimony to Lianne’s tremendous abilities.

Lianne then took a two-year break from drumming to complete an MBA, however, the love of pipe band drumming never left her and she was quickly recruited to join the Grade 2 Dartmouth and District Pipe Band where she played for a number of years. 

As a solo competitor, Lianne was considered one of the most talented and proficient drummers in North America. Her execution was flawless and she played with ease. Her expertise was acknowledged year after year at the Antigonish Highland Games where she was named Drummer of the Games for four straight years from 1989 to 1992. She was also named Champion Supreme drummer for the Maritimes from Grade 2 through to Open Professional.

To reach that level of skill is not magic.  Lianne practiced hard and counts Robbie MacQuarrie and Hugh Cameron as great teachers and mentors. We are delighted that both Robbie and Hugh are with us this evening.

 For her drumming career, including winning four Drummer of the Games awards in Antigonish, being lead drummer for two North American champion pipe bands and for showing great ability and versatility by being able to play with any band in any grade nationally and internationally,  Lianne Bradshaw is inducted into the Antigonish Highland Games Hall of Fame.