TERENCE McKINNEY
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In his early teens he took up the Highland pipes under Jim Price along with brother Brendan. Terence played within the Scottish competitive pipe band scene for many years. A founding member of Clann na Gael in Detroit, then in the Macnish Distillery from St. Thomas, Ontario and finally the City of Detroit Pipe Band, he played in pipe bands competitively until 1998. The City of Detroit P.B. won several North American Championships and went on to take fifth in the World Championships in Scotland in 1988. But somewhere back in the mid '70's he heard the uilleann pipes and he was smitten. Al Purcell, a piper originally from Dublin, was living in the Detroit area and generously got Terence started on the whistle and later on to the uilleann pipes.
Terence studied the Irish language under Alaster Merron from Belfast and continues to take an interest in the language. Terence now teaches uilleann pipes at the Comhaltas branch, the Detroit Irish Music Association and works with young students in group performances and céilí bands. Terence has recorded with Jim Perkins, Dal Riada,Blackthorn as well as some commercial recordings. Terence has been playing with Jim and Marty for 20 years...unofficially. Terence is a 2002 Midwest Trad Music Hall of Fame honoree.
His brother, Brendan is also a piper and flute player and, owns Chicago's leading Irish music venue and restaurant, Chief O'Neill's Pub. Contact Terence. A s low air
played on flat pitched uilleann pipes: Casadh an tSugain
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Links:Midwest Irish Traditional Music Hall of Fame Detroit Irish Music Association
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With
parents from the 
Eventually between the lessons in Al's basement, class at the Willie Clancy Piping School in Ireland and playing in sessions, Terence got the hang of it and has been playing at sessions, fleadh cheoil, or with bands around town ever since. 
Terence
is a graphics designer who dabbles in Internet technology for a major
automotive company. He has
a crop of up-and-coming young musicians in his own household. His
daughters Mairéad and Síobhan, ocassionally perform
with the band as schoolwork permits. Síobhan is a very accomplished
harpist, twice winning the All-Ireland harp competition,
U12 in 2003 and 2004. She performed at the 