The Keith Radley Hutchison Award

Keith Hutchison (1957–1997) was an enthusiastic supporter of all things Scottish in Montreal. After his sudden and untimely passing, his friends created this award in his memory to encourage and support excellent pipers and to maintain the strong ties that have existed between The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada and the St. Andrew's Society.

The award is given annually to a piper at the Black Watch who possesses exceptional piping skills, has demonstrated a strong ability to play the instrument solo, and who possesses an excellent character.

2024 Recipient

Piper Nolan Cunningham (left) with St. Andrew's Society Past President Ian Aitken

The 2024 winner is Piper Nolan Cunningham.
​
Nolan began learning the bagpipes at the age of eight at the Black Watch, primarily under the instruction of Brian MacKenzie. He joined the Black Watch cadets in 2013 and eventually took on the role of cadet Pipe Major, but his abilities were truly pushed past their limits when he joined the 78th Fraser Highlanders in 2016 where he piped every day of the summer under the direction of then Pipe Major Olivier Rommelaere.

In 2023, having completed his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at McGill, Nolan decided it was time to push his limits once again by competing in grade 3 solo piping competitions and learning piobaireachd. That summer he was introduced to professional piper Michael MacDonald from Toronto, who took Nolan on as a student. Nolan took home three bronze medals in 2023, and has won two silver medals so far this year.
​
Outside of his solo ventures, Nolan is Pipe Sergeant of the Black Watch Association Pipe Band, a piper in the Black Watch Pipe Band, and a private instructor to three young students. In his band and teaching commitments, Nolan aspires to nurture people's artistic passion for—and enjoyment of—the music they play, which he deems the number one priority in any musical endeavour.

Previous winners:
1998   Pipe Major Jordon Anderson
1999   Piper Stephane Chamberland
2000   Piper Philip Butler
2001   Piper Jeff Thorpe
2002   Piper Brent Schaus
2003   Pipe Major Cameron Stevens
2004   Piper Hugh Dowell
2005   Piper Josh Odermatt
2006   Piper Terri Lynn McLaren
2007   Piper Ian Leblanc
2008   Piper Ron Rice
--
2013  Piper Alexandre Leger
2014  Piper Maxime Langevin
2015  Piper Robert W. Kerr
2016  Piper Malcolm David Cox
​2017  Piper Sasha Mathew
2018  Piper Patrick Leduc
2019  Piper Alec McGuckin
2020 Piper Robert Kerr
​2021  Piper Bruce Bolton
​2022 Piper Kevin Toupin
2023 Piper Annie Jacques
2024 Piper Nolan Cunningham