He has also recorded extensively as a sideman, including with Junior Mance, Irakere, Four80East, Memo Acevedo, and Emilie-Claire Barlow.

[1] In an educational vein, he has been a longstanding contributor to the Woodwinds Column of the Canadian Musician magazine and, in addition, he was recruited personally by Sir James Galway to serve as his resident Jazz Flute Specialist.

Grain of Sand (with Bruce Jones) won the Best Instrumental album category at the Toronto Independent Music Awards in 2016.

Mercy (featuring Romani pianist, Robi Botos[4]) was nominated in the Best Jazz Album category at the Independent Music Awards (IMAs) in the US in 2011.

McBirnie was solicited personally by Sir James Galway to serve as the resident Jazz Flute Specialist at his official website in 2005.