Kahlil Cappuccino was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1970. At the age of 5, he moved with his family to Glengarry County, Ontario – a place perhaps best known for hosting the North American Pipe Band Championships.

Skip forward several years and in 1987, after having taken up percussion in the high school orchestra, Kahlil was approached to be the bass drummer for the Glengarry Pipe Band. And so began his long career in the competitive pipe band world.

From 1987 to 1996, Kahlil played in the Glengarry Pipe Band under the leadership of Pipe Major Colin MacLellan during which time the band rose through the ranks from Grade 4 to a brief stop in Grade 1. Along the way, the band won numerous provincial and national championships in Canada and the USA, the North American Pipe Band Championships as well as achieving top 4 placing at the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 2. During that time, Kahlil also won several individual awards often garnering “Best Bass” on numerous occasions including at a Continental level. He also took time during this period to study Sociology and Anthropology and English Literature at Carleton University, earning a BA.

After a brief pause, Kahlil went on the play with the Grade 2 Canadian Forces Composite Pipe Band in 1998.  Success at this level continued under the guidance of Pipe Major Sandy Dewar until the Band’s demise in 2000.  During that time Kahlil also started a career in the Government of Canada in strategic policy and planning management.

In 2002, Kahlil re-joined the Grade 2 Glengarry Pipe Band under the leadership of PM Colin Clansey. He played in the band until 2004 culminating with a 6^th place finish at the Worlds with Kahlil winning the title, World Champion Bass.

On the heels of those accomplishments, Kahlil was invited to play bass with the Grade 1 78^th Highlanders Halifax Citadel Pipe band in the province of Nova Scotia. Going into his fourteenth year with the band, he continues to thrive under the leadership of PM Alex Gandy. Kahlil has also enjoyed success with the Halifax band having won the North American Championships in 2014 and “Best Bass Section” awards three times at that contest as well as many others. The band also qualified for the Finals at the Worlds in 2005 and 2015. With the Band, Kahlil has garnered several top solo prizes including a North American Open Bass Champion title and twice a Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medalist.

Kahlil was also a member of the original Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band in 2008. PM Roddy MacLeod took the band to the Grade 1 Finals in Glasgow that year. Four years later, the band got together again and Kahlil played with them in a concert at the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall.

As time moved on, Kahlil has become an adjudicator with the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario. He also served on their Music Board from 2009 -2012. He now sits on the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association’s Music Committee. Furthermore, he has become a sought after clinician throughout Canada and the United States. 

Kahlil has also been involved in the world-renowned Midwest Highland Arts Fund’s event, Winter Storm in Kansas City, Missouri both as a competitor and as a member of the faculty comprised of top players from around the world. He began as a competitor in 2007 placing in the prize list each of the five times he has competed, including winning the Gold Medal Bass Drumming Championships in 2008 and 2014. He has adjudicated several of the medal and amateur contests for bass and tenor and conducted workshops as part of this world-class even as recently as 2017.

Kahlil resides in Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, with his wife and their 17 year old twins. He continues his career in the Canadian Government as a executive with the Department of Canadian Heritage where he is the Director, Copyright Policy in the Cultural Affairs Sector.