Honouring a passion for music and life!
A yearly award
supporting musicians in Grade 9 – 12
sharing their love for music in their community
Award Details
This prestigious award
recognizes those who exemplify Pius’ spirit to bring people together.
Recipients of this award demonstrate exceptional talent, creativity, and a commitment to using their musical abilities to bridge cultural divides and foster harmony within our community.
Pius MacIsaac was a talented, visionary musician who advocated for social harmony and believed deeply in the power of love, connection, belonging, and sharing through music. He strived daily to transcend boundaries and connect people from all walks of life, and this was evident in the friends he kept up with daily with messages and cards of love and inspiration sent around the world. Throughout his career, Pius endeavored to inspire others with his actions, his expression of love and compassion, and his writing of tunes for others. He exemplified what we now call inclusivity and diversity, and he persevered for positive change in our society. The Pius MacIsaac Memorial Musical Award seeks to honor individuals or groups who carry forward his vision of a more harmonious and unified world through their musical endeavors and compassionate outreach.
Applications will be accepted from May 1 – 31, 2024, with the award to be presented at the school’s award nights in June.
For the 2024 Award, we will be seeking support from the Music instructors at Dalbrae and Inverness Academy’s to vet the applications and make their winning recommendations.
The Pius MacIsaac Memorial Music Award
“Celebrating the Cape Breton Tradition of toe tapping musical experiences that bring joy to the people gathered.”
Pius MacIsaac was born in 1959 to Angie D. and Stella MacIsaac from Foot Cape, Inverness where he spent his younger years on the farm with his 13 siblings enjoying all the simple things in life, hockey, ball, going to dances together, and family gatherings.
Pius was a self-taught musician who always had an interest in music, he would listen to all the fiddle tunes and Celtic music on the radio and records at home. He played guitar and sang at family gatherings with his nephew Ian MacDougall on fiddle and his dad would also play a few tunes where there would be family singing and dancing at home.
Pius played guitar in Stella Maris Church Choir when younger. In earlier years, Buddy MacMaster, Kinnon and Betty Beaton, John MacDougall, John Morris Rankin, and Howie MacDonald would often get Pius to accompany them at dances. This also continued with the younger fiddlers such as his nephew Ian MacDougall, Natalie MacMaster, Shelley Campbell, Andrea Beaton, Rodney MacDonald, and many others.
Pius generously shared his music with others at fundraisers, concerts, the Inverary Manor in Inverness, L’Arche, and family and friends gatherings.
In the last couple of years, with the pandemic isolation, during the winter months, he would have Ceilidhs at the Seniors Unit in Mabou twice a month where he would invite some of the young upcoming fiddlers, dancers, and singers to join him.
When the Glenora Distillery first opened, Pius, Ian MacDougall, and John MacDougall played many years together there. Pius always referred to his musical friends and staff at the Distillery as “My Distillery Family.”
Pius always encouraged young people, if they had an interest in music, to follow their dreams and was eager to help them in whatever way he could.
Although Pius faced many health issues during his lifetime, he never let it hold him back. His music was his life and he was happiest when he played and shared it with others, encouraging young musicians to do the same.
We, the Family of our beloved brother, Pius MacIsaac, are grateful to Donnie Campbell, Lauchie MacLean, Glenora Staff, and Glenora Musicians, friends of Pius, David and Michelle Greenwell, for organizing this “Memorial Musical Award” in his memory.
Sadie Moloney (sister of Pius)
The Glenora Inn and Distillery will continue to honour Pius’s dedication by supporting a fundraiser at the end of the music season, to help build the memorial music fund. We encourage all musicians in the area to come and play a tune in Pius’ honour, and for the community to come out and enjoy the evening and help raise funds to support our youth as they strive to bring their passion for music forward for others to find great joy in.
TO MAKE A DONATION BY E-TRANSFER: piusintrust@gmail.com
The Recipient of the 2024 Pius MacIsaac Memorial Music Award from Dalbrae Academy
is Taya MacDonald.
(pictured here with Pius’ sister Sadie Moloney and committee member, Michelle Greenwell)
Taya has been developing her skills with piano and fiddle, and in recent years she has been able to paly for dances, concerts, and sepcial events, traveling across the island. In this last year, she has been attending the Thursday night Ceilidh’s at An Drochaid, Wednesday night Ceilidh’s at the Gaelic College, Highland Village Museum, the Celtic Music Interpretive Center, Skye Glenn and Centreville, and the Inverary Manor Long Term Care Center to just name a few events. Pius wrote a song for Taya just a month before he left this earth, and had been encouraging Taya to sing and play since she was a “wee little one” – as Pius would have said.
The Recipient of the 2024 Pius MacIsaac Memorial Music Award from Inverness Academy
is Caragh Kennedy.
Caragh’s love of music and performing began at the age of 3, starting with learning piano from her father, Brendon, and grandmother, Penny. Guitar came at age 8, and by 12 Caragh began writing songs.
One of the things Pius loved about music is that it filled him up. He was happy learning new tunes, writing new tunes, and when he could sit in on a session, he loved to share and support with other musicians. Caragh has a similar experience. From her website, Mike Ryan shares the following:
Growing up in Inverness, Cape Breton, the young singer-songwriter was surrounded by kitchen parties, Scottish music, and a palpable love for song. He shares her words: “It shaped me into who I am today. I feel I can be my ultimate self when playing, creating, or listening to music. It grounds me, and allows me to feel comfort.” We should add here that Caragh has played for Lilith Fair since Grade 4.
At the age of 17 Caragh debuted her first release, “How Has it Been So Long.” A coming-of-age song about the perils of adolescence. “It’s that feeling of confusion and alarm when you realize that you and your friends are growing towards adulthood,” says Kennedy. “It’s also the realization that your future is your own story to write… one of limitless possibilities”. Caragh, who both sings and plays piano on her solo release, was backed by ECMA and Music Nova Scotia award-winning band The Town Heroes.
Caragh is pictured here with Pius’ sisters, Sadie and Catherine, and Michelle Greenwell.
