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ABOUT US

Established in 2006, Canning Reedmakers is run by Ryan Canning, former Pipe Major of the world renowned, Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band.  The company manufactures top quality bagpipe drone reeds which are used by thousands of solo pipers and pipe bands worldwide.

 

Ryan began his own piping career in Northern Ireland at the age of 14.  He joined the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band from Northern Ireland just four years later, where he subsequently spent 16 years, winning 40 RSPBA major championships including six World Championship titles (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012), and a Grand Slam (2011).  Ryan was a major face of the band’s musical development during this period and established himself as a reputable composer which led to the publication of his first collection of music, The Full Monty, in 2004 and the follow-up collection, The Blockbuster, in 2015.

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At the end of 2012, Ryan accepted the position as Pipe Major of the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band from Scotland.  Ryan was only the 8th Pipe Major in the band’s century long history, and is the second Northern Irishman to lead one of the world’s greatest pipe band institutions.  In August 2015, Ryan led the band to win the World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green. The first win for a Scottish band since Shotts last won the title in 2005. The three year timeframe between Ryan’s appointment as Pipe Major and leading the band to win the Grade 1 World Championship is the fastest ascent to the World title by any Pipe Major in 45 years. Indeed, since the World Pipe Band Championship first became a separate event in 1947, only five Pipe Majors have won the World’s in three seasons or less.

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Ryan Canning with the RSPBA Jubilee Banner & Trophy, plus the trophies for best MSR and best Medley at the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships.
 

As a small business supporting a closely knit piping community, Canning Reedmakers has a philosophy of openness when it comes to customer service.  Ryan says of his business, “I consider it a privilege to be able to turn my hobby into a profession.  I care about my customers and will always do what I can to improve their experience playing my reeds as my first priority.  I believe in my products, and stand by the quality of my craftsmanship which I see as a personal reflection on myself.  I continue to adopt a philosophy of openness with the business, and am always willing to work with any customer until they are absolutely happy with the result.”
 

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