Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Khan.
Hi Christina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always loved the sound of the bagpipes, but for a long time they lived firmly in the “one day” category. While finishing my master’s degree at UCF and working full time, learning the bagpipes became my carrot—the promise I made to myself to get through that final, exhausting semester. I spent countless hours watching pipers online and knew, without question, that I wanted to be one of them.
In January 2020, degree in hand and with new found free time, I reached out to Larry Lockwood, then Pipe Major of the Central Florida First Responders Pipes and Drums. They offered free lessons, and I attended my very first rehearsal that month. There, I also met Joe McKie, Pipe Major of the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band, who helped set me up with my first practice chanter and tutor book. From the start, the welcome was overwhelming—I felt immediately at home.
Then lockdown happened.
Determined not to let the world shutting down derail my bagpipe dream, I continued learning through weekly FaceTime lessons with Pete Linnenkamp, an animated and prolific piper who has taught many pipers through Central Florida. While many people were dabbling in sourdough, I was mastering fundamentals on the practice chanter—an essential first step for every piper. (Despite only having nine notes, it is humbling, technical, and far more difficult than it looks.) Bagpipes are not an instrument you simply pick up; they’re learned through tradition, mentorship, and community, with every piper tracing their musical lineage back through generations.
Joe gave me a clear goal: learn the prescribed tunes thoroughly on the practice chanter, and only then would I be ready to transition to the full pipes. I spent all of lockdown doing exactly that. Once restrictions lifted, I began attending weekly rehearsals with both bands, and in June 2021, I purchased my first set of pipes—an experience that truly felt like stepping into a new world. I officially joined the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band circle in August 2021.
From there, the journey accelerated. I began competing with the band at Highland Games across the region and entered solo competitions to receive feedback from top-level judges. I found early success in Grade 5, earning Piper of the Day honors twice, and was upgraded to Grade 4 last season. Competing also had a ripple effect—what started as a solo endeavor inspired many of my bandmates to compete as well, raising the overall musical standard of the band.
In August 2023, the band traveled to Scotland after being invited by Bonnie and George McPherson, friends and benefactors of the band, to perform at Clan MacPherson’s annual gathering. Marching and playing through quaint Scottish towns—something I had dreamed of—was a true bucket-list moment. We also performed with the Forres Pipe Band, Mount Dora’s sister city, creating memories I’ll carry forever.
Today, I serve as a Pipe Sergeant for the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band. I help lead rehearsals, assist with tuning and maintenance, and support our Pipe Major however needed. Under Joe McKie’s leadership, the band has flourished, including a winning season in 2025, and I’m proud to be part of that growth.
What keeps me coming back isn’t just the music—it’s the community. We’re people from different backgrounds, professions, faiths, and life paths, but when we come together, we create something powerful and beautiful. As we often say, “Oh, the places you’ll go in a pipe band.” I’m living proof of that—and I’m just getting started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The bagpipes are unapologetically difficult. They’re a finicky, high-maintenance instrument that demands constant attention, physical endurance, and no small financial investment. Keeping four reeds happy and the instrument in tune can feel like negotiating with a very loud, very opinionated beast. COVID was an early hurdle, but with the help of Pete Linnenkamp and remote lessons, I was able to keep moving forward when everything else had paused.
That said, any challenge I’ve faced has been vastly outweighed by how deeply I love the bagpipes. Everyone has their “thing.” For some it’s fishing, for others it’s collecting something wonderfully niche. For me, it’s piping. I love the music, the discipline, the tradition, the uniform, and—most of all—the community that surrounds it.
I also love being a woman in a space that has historically been male-dominated. Women were not always welcomed in the piping world, and while representation has greatly improved, we’re still very much in the minority at the top tiers. That’s why it means so much to play alongside and learn from women like Grace Bird of the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band. Grace grew up playing in the Wick Girls’ Pipe Band in Scotland and went on to perform with several well-known bands there. She carries living history with her. During rehearsals, she’ll casually share stories that connect tunes we play to the legends who shaped them—like pointing out that Mrs. Lily Christie, the namesake of a famous tune, not only was the wife of her Pipe Major in the wild Girls’ Pipe Band but also sewed the band’s uniforms. Moments like that bring the tradition to life.
Grace is a tremendous inspiration—not just to the women in our band, but to anyone who values excellence, perseverance, and honoring those who came before us. Playing alongside her is a privilege, and it reminds me that while the road hasn’t always been smooth, it has been deeply meaningful—and absolutely worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Professionally, I work in Global Impact, where I build partnerships that create meaningful, community-driven change. I’m the Director of Global Impact at Avant Healthcare Professionals, leading initiatives that include scholarships, school improvement projects, medical camps, and long-term collaborations with community organizations.
The bagpipes have strongly shaped how I approach this work. Piping demands patience, consistency, and community—you don’t rush progress, you show up regularly, and you rely on others to create something bigger than yourself. That same mindset guides my impact work. Sustainable change happens when you listen first, commit for the long term, and work alongside communities rather than for them.
I specialize in turning good intentions into thoughtful, sustainable programs that grow over time. What I’m most proud of is seeing projects take root—students supported through scholarships, schools strengthened, and communities better resourced—because relationships were built with care and consistency.
What sets me apart is a people-first approach grounded in respect and collaboration. Much like a pipe band, Global Impact only works when everyone is in tune, moving together, and invested in something that lasts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cityofmtdorapipeband.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityofmtdorapipeband/
