A native of Campbeltown, Kintyre, Willie received his main tuition from his uncles Ronald McCallum and Hugh A. McCallum and also came under the guidance of Ronald McCallum, MBE, Piper to The Duke of Argyll. The McCallum family can trace their piping back to John McAlister (Willie’s 4-times great-grandfather) who won the prize pipe in 1782 at the Falkirk Tryst.

Willie’s development as a youngster included not only these formal family influences but the less tangible, equally important impressions made by countless visits to the Kintyre Piping Society. Here he heard all the experts of the era, including legends such as Donald MacLeod, Donald MacPherson, and John Burgess.

Willie McCallum is one of the foremost competing pipers in the world today. He is in demand as a recitalist, adjudicator, and teacher. He has five solo recordings to his credit, in addition to his appearance on a number of compilation albums recorded live at recitals and competitions.

In recent years, several of his students have gained high placings at the major piping gatherings at Oban, Inverness, and London.

He also has long and successful pipe band experience and was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band winning three major championships.

Willie runs a piping business (Willie McCallum Piping) launched in 2007 selling bagpipes, as well as his own McCallum Solo Pipe Chanter. He is also an agent and product development consultant for McCallum Bagpipes Ltd, the world’s largest pipe maker. In addition to this, he is a consultant to the pipe bag makers Bannatyne Ltd., adding his expertise to bag design and moisture control development.

In September 2016, he was appointed Lead Tutor at the National Piping Centre for the Bachelor in Music Education (Honours) Piping Degree, run by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Part of his contract also entails teaching at a number of foreign piping schools, including the USA.

Willie has won almost every prize in solo piping and several times over. His list of achievements in the competitive field is extensive and include the following highlights:

  • Glenfiddich World Championship (8 times)
  • Gold Medal – Northern Meeting, Inverness
  • Gold Medal – Argyllshire Gathering, Oban
  • Former Winners MSR – Northern Meeting, Inverness (3 times)
  • Former Winners MSR – Argyllshire Gathering (Oban 5 times)
  • The Bratach Gorm – London (3 times)
  • The Silver Chanter – Dunvegan (3 times)
  • Donald Macleod Memorial – Stornoway (7 times)
  • Dr Dan Reid Memorial – San Francisco (7 times)
  • The Cowal Championship (with ScottishPower)
  • Scottish Pipe Band Championship (with ScottishPower – twice)
  • Runner-up World Pipe Band Championship (with ScottishPower – twice)