About Donald and the Invermark College of Piping
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US Airforce Pipe Band 1969
Donald started piping at the age of 13, along with his father, James, who had emigrated from Scotland before the Second World War. Their first teachers were William Morley (ex – Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) and eventually George M. Bell (Kenmure Pipe Band). For further instruction they attended the Gaelic College on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. Here they met Seumas MacNeill and Thomas Pearston, Joint Principals of the College of Piping in Scotland. It was Seumas that convinced Donald’s father, James, that North America needed its own version of the college, devoted solely to piping and this was a project that he should undertake. In 1961, the Lindsays purchased 80 acres on a hillside in Petersburgh NY, built three A-frame cabins to serve as classrooms, dorms and dining room and opened the first summer school in 1962 . The school was named the Invermark College of Piping after the Lindsay stronghold near where James grew up and worked as a ghillie. In the next few years many prominent pipers from Scotland were brought over to teach at Invermark — Thomas Pearston, John MacFadyen, Robert Brown, and Robert Nicol. Donald started teaching at the school as a teenager.
Competition
In his late teens Donald began to pursue his dream of becoming a professional piper, travelling to Scotland where he was invited to live with John MacFadyen and his family.
Over the next few years, he was a serious contender on the competition scene. He won the MacDougall-Gillies Medal for Piobaireachd, the highest award for amateur pipers, in 1962 after which he turned professional. He competed for the Oban and Inverness gold medals at this time. He was the first North American to win a major award in Scotland, placing 3rd in the Professional Marches at the Northern Meeting in 1963.
Later in his career he again competed successfully in Scotland. In 1985 he was 4th in the Silver Medal Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering and 2nd in the Silver Medal Piobaireachd at the Northern Meeting. In 1986, he won the Silver Medal Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering. In these years he also qualified for and played in the Gold Medal Piobaireachd competitions.
He was also actively competing back in North America winning Piper of the Day several times at the National Capital Area Scottish Festival, winning the Overall EUSPBA Season Champion in 1972, and many other prizes over the years
Pipe Bands
Donald joined his first pipe band – the Kenmure Pipe Band, (P/M George Bell) – in his early teens. While in Scotland he played with the Glasgow Transport Pipe Band (P/M Iain MacFadyen).
His first pipe major role was at Macalester College from 1964 to 1966. In 1967 Donald enlisted in the US Air Force and after basic training was assigned to the Air Force Pipe Band under P/M Sandy Jones. From 1980 to 1990, he played in the Grade 1 band, Parlin and District under P/M James Bell.
Meanwhile Donald had become the ‘Johnny Appleseed’ of pipebands in the Northeast. He founded or co-founded several bands including the Tara Hall Pipe Band, the Taconic Pipe Band, The Williams College Pipe Band and the Berkshire Highlanders. In 1990 he co-founded the Oran Mor Pipe Band and was pipe-major from 1990 to 2014. The band placed in the prize list often in Grade 3 and Grade 2 and was promoted to Grade 1. The band qualified for the Finals at the World Pipe Band Championships.
Donald continues to coach bands at all levels and welcomes inquiries about band workshops and coaching sessions.
Adjudication
Donald was invited to join the EUSPBA judging panel in 1970. Along with Roddy MacDonald, he developed the first judges training and certification program for the Association. He served as an adjudicator and certification examiner for several years.
As a Senior adjudicator (A Level) Donald is asked to adjudicate at many solo and band events throughout the EUSPBA’s region as well as the mid-West, Colorado, California, Ontario and British Columbia. Donald welcomes inquiries as to his availability for adjudication.
Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition
In 1982, Donald co-founded with students from Williams College in MA, what is now called the Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational Piping Competition, the first of its kind in North America. Top amateur Piobaireachd players from across the North American continent are invited to compete. All competitors must be ranked at the top amateur level for both Piobaireachd and Light Music by their home associations.
Competitors must play a 6/8 March, an MSR (March/Strathspey/Reel) and a Piobaireachd. The location of the event has moved over the years, but it is currently held in Rockville, Maryland.
Several of the young pipers that have competed in this event are among the leading pipers in the world today.
Donald continues to serve on the board of directors of this event.
Learn more about the Nicol-Brown competition here.
Invermark Piping and Drumming Summer School
Invermark’s summer school continued to flourish and soon became too large for the 3 A-frames on the mountain in Petersburgh. It was held on a variety of colleges, universities and ski hills. In due course, pipe band drumming was added to the program. In 2014, to increase its financial viability, the summer school separated from the other teaching activities of the Invermark College of Piping and became a 501(c)(3) organization with Donald as the Director. The summer school is now under the capable direction of Maureen Connor and Eric MacNeill. Donald teaches at the school and continues to conduct his regular teaching and coaching dba as the Invermark College of Piping. The tradition of bringing the world’s best piping and drumming instructors to the school continues.
CONTACT
Donald F Lindsay
Invermark College of Piping
PO Box 143, Petersburgh, New York, 12138
donald.f.lindsay@gmail.com
(518 ) 658-3879 (voice mail)
(518) 428-9196 (voicemail/text)
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