2007 Awardee: Calum MacCrimmon

It has been a dream of mine for most of my life [to create an album of my own compositions] and … you .. will make it possible for the first time, thank you.
Biography
Canada-born Calum comes from a family of legendary pipers and composers from the Isle of Skye. In fact, when his father chooses to pass on the title, Calum will become the 11th hereditary piper to the MacLeods of Dunvegan.
After graduating from the RSAMD in Scottish Music, Calum became musical co-producer of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. In 2007 he was a finalist of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year. In the same year he was commissioned by the Celtic Connections Festival as part of the New Voices series. The performance of his music was met with critical acclaim. Calum is now working as a professional musician and plays with the four piece ‘Breabach’.
Calum is considered to be one of the finest pipers of his generation, although he considers composition to be his greatest musical strength. This is recognised by others in the music business, who consider him to be head and shoulders above his peers. Whilst steeped in the traditional art of Scottish music Calum continues to be creative and push boundaries.
How the Award Helped
The Dewar Arts Award will enable Calum to fulfil a dream of his to create an album of his own compositions.
Since the Award
Creating an album of his own work has been the first step in fulfilling a long-held dream and opening up more opportunities to perform his own work. The experience of making an album has been valuable, and now Calum writes that with his own CD he can “sell my music and make a more manageable living from my career as a live performer”.

It has been a dream of mine for most of my life [to create an album of my own compositions] and … you .. will make it possible for the first time, thank you.