Murray Henderson

Murray Henderson was born in Timaru, New Zealand and learned piping first from his father, and later from other top pipers in that country—such as Donald Bain and David Boyle. He emigrated to Scotland as a young man, where he studied under great pipers of the day, and started to make his mark on the competitive scene in Scotland. Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Murray won all the top prizes, many more than once, and as his 2001 Piper and Drummer interview points out, he qualified for the Glenfiddich event 20 times in 21 years from 1975 to 1995. After winning the Piobaireachd event at the Glenfiddich in 1995, he took a number of years off from the competition scene, before returning in 2002, and winning the Clasp at Inverness in 2003. In 2006, Murray again won the coveted Clasp, this time playing a full set of Strathmore bagpipes with Henderson reeds!

Throughout the years, Murray was involved as a consultant for a premier bagpipe maker, and has been a full-time reedmaker for many years. His wife Patricia and Murray are partners and run the business together. If you telephone their business you are sure to speak to either Patricia or Murray. Patricia was a very successful solo piper wining prizes in the Gold Medal at Inverness in the 70's, and winning Open competitions on the Scottish Games circuit..

Murray's accomplishments include:

Gold Medals at Oban  and Inverness

6 x Clasps to the Medal at Inverness

The Open at Oban

The Dunvegan Medal & 2 x Clasps

5 x Silver Chanters [Dunvegan Castle]

5 x Bratach Gorm [Blue Banner, London]

3 x Gillies Cup [London]

The Marches, Strathspeys & Reels at Oban and Inverness

5 x Former Winners MSR at London

4 x Glenfiddich Champion

Murray was the feature interview of the November 2001 issue of Piper and Drummer Magazine. He is pictured with the Bratach Gorm [Blue Banner].

Featured as "The Comeback King," Murray makes the cover of the Piping Times following his win in the Northern Meeting Clasp competition in 2003.