Opening Performance- Music Career Day Hamilton
I was just 6 years old when I picked up the fiddle while living on Prince Edward Island. It didn’t take me long to realize that music, more specifically, fiddle music was going to be a part of my life. It was in PEI i was given the name “The Fiddlekid”. I started playing for the public at the age of 7 playing at retirement homes and birthday parties. I progressed to playing at ceilidhs, festivals and conventions throughout the East Coast. After a few years living on the Island we returned to live in Hamilton where I was born and to this day continue to play the fiddle along with many other instruments I’ve picked up along the way.
I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with talent such as John McDermott, Ashley MacIssac , The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre Schryer, and many more! Venues that I have played at include sporting events (such as the Toronto Rock Game at the Toronto ACC), weddings, private parties, conventions and festivals throughout the East Coast and Ontario. In 2011, after years of playing with groups and bands, I had the honor of starting up my own band, which at the time was called Liam's Kitchen party band and I’ve now renamed Ferguson Young. Talents in this band include James Ferris on vocals, Owen Mahoney on bass and myself “the Urban Fiddler” playing fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, whistle, and bagpipes. There are times our friend Darren Rust joins in with his true Irish vocals as well (read more about Ferguson Young on the Tab "Ferguson Young").
I added bagpipes to my music repertoire in 2013 when I joined the Hamilton Police Grade 5 pipe band as a piper. I was moved up to their Grade 3 band in 2015 as a piper and then, in 2016 season I started to play snare drum with their Grade 5 band as well. In fact, I won the solo grade 5 Championship supreme honour in that same year. In 2016 I joined Peel Regional Police Pipe Band competing at the grade 1 level. I had met my personal goal of playing with a grade 1 band by the time I was 18. In fact I did it by 17 years of age. I am currently playing with 78th Highlanders and looking forward to my 3rd year competing in the worlds competition in Scotland. Accomplishments and memorable experiences are endless! First and foremost, the people I meet and friends I’ve made. This will be my 11th year attending the Leahy Music camp and playing with the Leahy’s! I’ve participated/competed in the Hamilton Music Awards and numerous competitions in Ontario and PEI.
Graduating grade 8 with the prestigious Cheryl Anne Facey HWDSB Memorial award was an honor. While with the Hamilton Police Pipe Band (2013-2016) we achieved the PPBSO Championship Supreme, and North American Championships, in Grade 5, in 2014. Solo competitions include numerous medals in both grade 5,4 and 3 piping solos and grade 5 snare drum solos.
Late in 2015 I finished my first CD “Liam McGlashon “Pipes and Strings” I look forward to getting back in the studio soon. In fact, I have just finished writing my first piece of music for the bagpipes! I am in my first year of college at Mohawk and loving the choice of music as my diploma program. I still have a couple years to decide my next steps but no matter what the path, music will definitely play a roll in my life choices.
I am so grateful for all of the support I have received over the years and I look forward to many more years of making music ahead!
I believe the key to happiness is music. Simply put, my dream is to entertain people around the world and to put a smile on their faces!
A quote I once read pretty much sums up my thoughts “No music, no life. Know music, know life!”