John Cairns comes from a piping family that has a long and prestigious musical history and
he has studied under the best teachers in both Canada and Scotland.

As a soloist, has won almost every major prize in North America, including:
• Eight Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO) Champion Supreme designations,
• Three North American Champion titles,
• The Bratach Gorm,
• The Piobaireachd Society Canadian Gold Medal, Bar to the Gold Medal and Former
Winners March, Strathspey and Reel Contest,
• Three Livingstone Invitational Contests, and
• Three Fergus Gold Medals for Light Music.

In 1999, John achieved a feat that every piper dreams of - he became the 10th person in the
history of piping and the first person from outside of Scotland to win the two Highland
Society of London Gold Medals for solo piping at both Oban and Inverness, Scotland in the
same year.

As a teacher, John holds the internationally recognized Institute of Piping’s Senior Teacher’s
Certificate and has taught all over North America.

John is the Pipe Major (director) of the Peel Regional Police Pipe Band from Toronto, Ontario
- winners of 7 North American Championships and 7 PPBSO Champion Supreme title. Before
joining Peel, he spent twelve years as the Pipe Sergeant with the 78th Fraser Highlanders
Grade 1 Pipe Band. John's experience in Grade 1 pipe bands dates to 1982.

John adjudicates regularly throughout North America, is an accomplished composer and is
the owner of Bagpipe Solutions by John Cairns - www.bagpipesolutions.com.