2006 Mackay Scholarship Winners Announced

The 2006 Mackay scholarships have been awarded to: Jeff Herbster, piper, of Maine and Luke McKay Smith, piper of Arkansas.

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Jeff Herbster, piper from Maine
 

Clan MacKay Leadership and Members,

Thank you so very much for the $200 Mackay Scholarship awarded to me. It has been well spent. This past summer, I attended The Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming, in East Stroudsburg PA, with one of the world’s greatest pipers, Alasdair Gillies. He is known throughout the piping world as on of, if not the greatest living solo piper, and it was a humbling yet inspiring experience to have 5 days of one on one instruction. Also there were George Balderose, Richmond Johnston, and Scot Walker, all top level pipers. When I decided to take up piping, I could have only imagined the opportunity to attend one of the best schools for instruction. Your generosity with this scholarship has helped make imagination a reality. As an added bonus, while at the school I was informally introduced to the smallpipes by George Balderose, and have added them to my list of instruments.

A little bit about myself…I’ve been an active musician for over 40 years, with 15 years of formal training on the violin, as well as receiving training on the French horn and oboe. A short spell with the guitar, and a few years with the sitar taught me to appreciate many styles of music and musical instruments. Retiring after 24 years in the military, the desire to continue learning music as part of my heritage led me to the pipes, and now a whole new and exciting world has opened up. I perform all over southern Maine and New Hampshire, competing at Highland Games, as well as playing at fairs, weddings, scouting events, funerals, and just about any venue that needs piping. I’ve advanced to a Grade 3 piper, and have begun training in the Piobaireachd or classical pipe music; I teach a beginning bagpipe course at the local community college, and all this while playing in a fiddling group known as Fiddleicious. I was most fortunate this year to play the fiddle at the MacKay tent at the Maine Highland Games, and played the smallpipes at the AGM at Loon Mountain, NH.

As busy as I seem to be, there is always time for the pipes, for the often difficult search of my ancestry prior to 1750, and for the love of all things Scottish, except Haggis! Above all, there will never be enough time to express how much my wife Geri’s support means to me; without her I would not have taken this path, and all the time she allows me to devote to piping is a gift always cherished.

Again, I would like to thank the Clan MacKay, the scholarship committee, Michelle Sandelier for telling me about the program, and all those whose paths I have, or will cross, in the future.

Jeff Herbster - Piper, Maine Commissioner, AI1B, USN Ret.

Piper Luke Smith, son of Elizabeth Smith, Arkansas Commissioner

Dear Clan Mackay,

I am very grateful for the $200 Mackay Scholarship awarded to me at the beginning of the year. I am currently practicing with and taking lessons from the band manager, Linda Jones, of the Ozark Highlanders in Northwest Arkansas. Linda is a very good teacher and I have learned a lot from her. This past fall I competed in a chanter competition in Oklahoma and was awarded first place. This year I plan to compete on the pipes.

Recently I have been promoted to a full member of the Ozark Highlanders and was presented the band’s kilt (not a Mackay unfortunately). This January I was given the honor of playing with the band at their annual Burns Night where I was allowed to wear my Mackay kilt. The night’s music went very well and we sold out of tickets. Later this year I may be allowed to compete with the band.

I look forward to continuing my education in highland piping and appreciate the society’s contribution towards this goal.

Sincerely,

Luke McKay Smith.