Faculty
Faculty – 2027
(Subject to Change) Many thanks to our amazing Volunteer Faculty, Performers, and Adjudicators
Jordan Bailie- Tenor and Bass Drumming
Born in Co. Down in Northern Ireland and now residing in Stirlingshire, Scotland, Jordan started tenor drumming at the age of 10 and by the age of 13 Jordan was playing in the Grade 1 competition circuit. Jordan has enjoyed successes in over 30 RSPBA Major Championships, five of which, World Championships including the World Drumming Title.
As a solo player Jordan has competed and won many events including the Gold Medal competition at Winter Storm and World Solo Tenor Drumming championship. Day to day Jordan is a Bass and Tenor drumming instructor at both George Watsons College, Edinburgh and Strathallan School, Perth, and is a recognised PDQB assessor. Today Jordan continues to play at the highest level with Inveraray and District Pipe Band based in Scotland.
Callum Beaumont – Piping 
Callum resides in Guardbridge, Fife, with his wife Eilidh.
Callum is a full time member of staff at Dollar Academy where he leads the Novice A pipe band. During his time at the school so far, the band have accumulated over 20 major championship wins. Outside of school, Callum runs his own teaching business and is fortunate to have dedicated and successful students worldwide.
Callum has had an extremely successful solo career to-date, winning many of the world’s top prizes. Prizes have included; The Glenfiddich, The Clasp, 5 times, The Silver Star at the Northern Meeting and the overall at the Scottish Piping Society of London, 5 times.
Murray Blair- Piping
Murray’s family immigrated from Scotland to Australia in the 1940’s. Taught by his father, Donald Blair OAM, Murray played with the Victoria Police Pipe Band (Warrnambool, Australia), to include recorded the albums “Uphold the Right,” “Live in Ireland,” “Live in the Rockies (USA)” and “Masterblasters.”
The Victoria Police Pipe Band won the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships in 1998, and Murray also released his piping book ‘Philharmonic’. Six of the nine tunes played by the Victoria Police at the 1998 World Championships were written by Murray. On the Australian solo piping boards, he won the Silver Medal Piobaireachd at the RU Brown competition however developed focal dystonia and ceased competitive piping. He maintained involvement in the local piping community and a founding member of the Victorian Pipers Association, an organisation dedicated to teaching and fostering piping.
Murray has also worked extensively in broadcast television recording in remote locations of Africa, Asia, and Australia, and landmark venues such as the Lincoln Centre NYC and the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall in Scotland. As a piper and audio engineer, Murray now resides in Melbourne combining technical and musical knowledge to produce electronic bagpipe tuners, the Bagpiper Case (with Ian Lyons), Bagpipe Tuner App and the Blair Digital Chanter. Formally trained as an Audio Engineer with BBC accreditation, Murray developed a bespoke technique for recording bagpipes and relocated to Scotland in 2004 to commercially produce piping albums. His recording/ producing credits include:
Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band Re:charged, Re:wind, Replay, IMPACT
Inverary & District – Ascension
Simon Fraser University – On Home Ground 1 & 2, Live in New York, Affirmation
St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band – Turas Ceoil @ Resume
Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia- La Boum Ecosse, Rise
Scottish Power – Cathcart
Manawatu Scottish Twelve Thousand Miles, The Calling
Vale of Athol Pipe Band – Live from Frankfurt, Germany
Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band – Terra Incognito
Roddy S MacDonald Good Drying
Alasdair Gillies LochBroom
Gordon Duncan Just for Gordon
Roddy MacLeod – Piobaireachd
National Piping Centre Masters competition & Recital series
Lord Todd Piping Recital Challenge – Scotland
The Northern Meeting & SPA Knockout series- Pipeline BBC Radio Scotland
Paula Braiden – Drum Major
Paula Braiden is one of the most decorated and influential drum majors in the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) circuit. Born and raised in Londonderry, Northern Ireland (and now based in Mid Ulster), she began training as a drum major at the age of six or seven under mentors including World Champions Alastair Patterson and Alan McBride. She won her first World Championship title at age 14 and went on to claim six World Championship titles in total, along with nearly 100 other major championships—including multiple European, British, Scottish, Ulster, All-Ireland, and Champion of Champions titles. She is widely regarded as the most successful RSPBA drum major of her generation.
Braiden is the founder of The Force, an elite display team of champion drum majors that performs intricate, synchronized mace flourishes and drill at international military tattoos and festivals, including the Avenches Festival Tattoo, St. Gallen Tattoo, and the Moscow Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival. Beyond performing, she has co-produced massed pipes and drums at major events and has taught drum majoring for more than two decades, helping develop several other World Champions and rising talent. She continues to adjudicate, instruct, and lead workshops, including partnerships with school piping and drumming programmes.
Through her competitive record, innovative display work, and commitment to teaching, Braiden has elevated the art of drum majoring while inspiring the next generation of leaders in the pipe band community.
Fergus Bryce – Bass Drumming
Fergus Bryce is the bass drummer of Inveraray and District Pipe Band. Having grown up in a small town 20 miles north of Inverness, Fergus began his pipe band career with Ross and Cromarty Pipes and Drums School in 2015.
On his 17th birthday, Fergus joined Glasgow Police Pipe Band and enjoyed both the 2017 and 2018 seasons there before joining Inverarayin August 2018. In his 6 years at Inveraray, Fergus has enjoyed collecting multiple RSPBA major championship wins. including the Worlds in 2019. However, Fergus values the music over all and is still loving every minute of playing with the band that he dreamed of when he first started.
Outside of pipe bands, you will find Fergus sat behind his first instrument, the drum kit.
Terry Cadiente – Tenor and Bass Drumming 
Terry Cadiente brings a comprehensive, multi-disciplined approach to the drum corps, with a competitive pipe band career spanning nearly two decades. Currently the Lead Tenor for the Grade 2 North Stratton Pipe Band, Terry was an integral part of the line that captured the Grade 2 World Drum Corps Championship in 2024.
His elite competitive pedigree includes tenures with prominent Grade 1 and Grade 2 ensembles, including the Dowco Triumph Street and Portland Metro pipe bands, where he gained extensive experience playing tenor, bass, and snare. As a soloist, Terry is a two-time BCPA Professional Tenor Aggregate Champion and reached the pinnacle of the mid-section circuit by winning the MHAF Winter Storm Gold Medal for Bass Drumming in 2025.
A passionate educator and arranger, Terry regularly crafts music and delivers workshops for bands across British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. He is honored to return to Kansas City to join the Midwest Highland Arts Fund faculty for this year’s winter competitions.
Stephen Creighton – Snare Drumming 
Stephen Creighton is the lead drummer of the current 2024 World Drum Corps Champions, St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band
from Dublin, Ireland.
Solo honors include 1989 World Junior Champion, 30 World Solo finals, 7 Senior All Ireland Drumming Championships and 5 Ulster Senior Championships. With his corps Stephen has won 14 Grade 1 All Ireland drumming prizes.
Currently Stephen has won 25 majors, across UK including Scottish, British , European, and World titles.
Stephen is married to Amanda and has four children; Stephen Junior, Keith, Glen and Hannah. And 2 beautiful grand kids Noah and Éabha .
Andrew Douglas – Piping
Andrew has been active at the highest level of pipe bands, solo competition, teaching, and creative endeavors for the past 25 years. He is a three-time World Champion with Inveraray and District Pipe Band, the 2017 Winner of the USA Silver Medal for Piobaireachd, 2008–2013 Pipe Major of Grade 1 Oran Mor Pipe Band, multi-prize winner of Silver Medals at Oban and Inverness, the 2004 B-Grade Winner Strathspey/Reel at Oban. Andrew published his debut and award-winning book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, in 2021. He’s also an Accredited Bagpipe Teacher and Examiner (Scottish Qualifications Authority) and holds a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University.
William Glenholmes- Snare Drumming 
William started drumming at the age of Ten under the tuition of Adrian Hoy with Cullybackey pipe band. He has been playing in the top grade for the past eighteen years and is now the current Leading drummer of the world renowned Field Marshal Montgomery pipe band. Significant prizes with the band include: • 5 x Grade 1 major championships • 2 x Grade 1 All Ireland championships. • 4 x Major grade one drum corps titles (two as Leading drummer) • 2 x All Ireland grade one drum corps titles (one as Leading drummer).
A very successful solo career with several juvenile titles at Ulster and All Ireland levels. Significant prizes in the adult grade include: • 8 x consecutive Ulster Senior drumming titles, • 4 x All Ireland Senior drumming titles, • 2 x UK adult solo drumming titles, • 3 x Livi Invitational titles ( 2 x MSR, 1 x Freestyle) • 12 x Adult world solo finals, • 6 x top six prizes with a career highest of 3rd. William has completed SCQF level 6 in Scottish pipe band drumming and music theory.
He has been involved in the tuition of pipe band drumming with different bands and teaching programmes over several years and is currently a drumming instructor with the RSPBANI Pipe band College, teaching students for examination for the past thirteen years.
Margaret Houlihan – Piping
Margaret began learning the pipes at age 8, initially taught by her father Con Houlihan, and later by Stephen Power (ex Scots Guards). She has also received tuition from Andrew Wright and Roddy MacLeod MBE.
From 10 years of age Margaret has been a part of her local pipe band, the Cullen Pipe Band, where her father Con is Pipe Major. Throughout her piping career she has returned on numerous occasions to support the band in varying roles. In 2006, Margaret returned as Pipe Major and the band went on to win Grade 3B at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2007 under Margaret’s leadership. The band progressed to grade 2, where they won the All Ireland Pipe Band Championships in 2013. Margaret still competes with the Cullen Pipe Band and when possible returns as their Instructor Pipe Major.
Margaret moved to Scotland in 1998 to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama where she studied for 4 years and graduated with an Honours Degree in Scottish Traditional Music. Margaret has since become a qualified examiner for the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board exams (SQA approved), after passing the Institute of Piping Graduate Certificate with distinction in 2004.
While studying in Scotland, Margaret joined the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band, under Pipe Major Robert Mathieson, and with them won the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 1 in 2000.
In 2023, Margaret returned to Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band, under Pipe Major Emmett Conway. Margaret is enjoying the experience of Grade 1 all over again (just a little older this time!).
Margaret’s piping career has also featured an extensive array of solo piping competition success. Margaret has competed regularly around the Scottish Highland Games circuit and at the Argyllshire Gathering, SPSL (London) and the Northern Meetings. Additionally, she has also competed in many knockout competitions through-out Scotland.
Some of her prizes to date include:
1st MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd (22 and under) Argyllshire Gathering 1999
1st B Grade March, Argyllshire Gathering 1999
1st Strachan Memorial A Grade March Strathspey & Reel, London 2000
1st Duncan Johnstone Memorial Piobaireachd 2001
1st A Grade Strathspey and Reel, Argyllshire Gathering 2003
Winner of the Silver Medal at the Northern Meetings 2007
1st A Grade March at the Argyllshire Gathering 2007
5th Former Winners MSR London 2007
5th Former Winners 2/4 March London 2007
Islay Inn Knockout Winner 2011
Piping for Pints Knockout, Aberdeen 2013
Scots Guards Club Knockout Winner 2014
Margaret has a passion for teaching across all levels of piping and for the last 20 years has taught at the National Piping Centre. She teaches both in-person and online, providing students with an immense array of knowledge, structured feedback and solid strategies to improve their playing, technique and gain confidence in their abilities.
Margaret is an integral part of the National Piping Centre and additionally has a key role in facilitating the Competition League of Amateur Solo Pipers (The CLASP). In its 20th year, The CLASP has grown as a valuable global competition platform for amateur pipers around the world and in Scotland.
Margaret is also a proud mum to Callum (15) and Rory (13).
Nick Hudson – Piping
Nick Hudson teaches piping at St. Thomas’ Episcopal School in Houston, Texas. He holds a BFA in Music Performance from Carnegie-Mellon University, where he studied under Alasdair Gillies and Jimmy McIntosh. He currently receives tuition from Mike Cusack.
Nick’s solo piping highlights include the Clasp, Gold Medal, A MSR, B MSR, and Overall Quaich at the Northern Meeting; 3rd Overall at the Glenfiddich; the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering; the London Ram’s Head Snuff Mull for A-Grade Piobaireachd; twice the Overall A-Grade Winner at the SPSL Contest in London; the Braemar Gold Medal; the Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal (Canada); the US Piping Foundation Overall, Piobaireachd, and MSR on multiple occasions; the Gold Medal MSR at Winter Storm; the Kemble Star for Marches and Peter MacFarquhar Star for Strathspeys & Reels at Skye Gathering in Portree; overall winner of The Livingstone Invitational; and overall winner of The Metro Cup. Nick has recorded a BBC “Pipeline” session and has played at the Piobaireachd Society’s annual recital in Edinburgh, and the Capt—John MacLellan Memorial Medal Competition-Recital in Edinburgh.
Aside from piping, Nick enjoys bicycling and has cycled coast-to-coast across the United States. He resides in Houston with his wife, Amanda, and their son, Alan.
Dr. Jack Lee – Piping 
In the Pipe Band world: Jack is the Pipe Sergeant and co-founder of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. The band has won sixWorld Championships. It has also been an extremely consistent prizewinner at the World Championships during the past 30 years, having won either 1st or 2nd on fifteen occasions. Their youth band (Robert Malcolm Memorial) has won the World Juvenile
Championships on four occasions. On a personal level: Jack, and his brother Terry, were both awarded the Meritorious
Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 1999 and honorary doctorate degrees from Simon Fraser University. Jack
and his sons (Andrew, Colin, and John) operate their family business making bagpipes, pipe bags and chanter reeds. In addition, Jack has made over 7,000 tunes from his own recording archives available on their website – Bagpipemusic.com.
Dr. Terry Lee – Piping
Pipe-Major Dr. Terry Lee is one of the most prominent and successful pipe band leaders in the world. Under his direction, the SFU Pipe Band captured the World Pipe Band Championship six times (1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2008 and 2009), and is one of only two bands in history to win both the Medley and MSR events at the World Championships more than once (MSR five times, Medley five times). Terry is also one of only seven Pipe Majors to win the World Championship more
than twice.
His ability to produce superb band performances in both the contemporary and traditional style, and to significantly enhance the musicality and technique of his players is respected worldwide.
He has been the leader and musical director at the band’s concerts in many of the world’s most well-known venues including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre in New York City, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall, the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, and many others.
Finlay MacDonald – Piping 
Finlay MacDonald has blazed a trail as one of Scotland’s finest exponents of contemporary and traditional Piping. He has worked with many leading artists in the traditional music scene including Fred Morrison, The Unusual Suspects, La Banda Europa, Old Blind Dogs and Chris Stout.
As a soloist, he has collaborated with many world famous ensembles including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Philharmonic. In the Pop and Rock world there have been unique performances with such diverse artistes such as Bryan Adams, Biffy Clyro and the rap artist P.Diddy.
His compositions and arrangements have been played by a wide variety of world famous musicians and performers including the 8 times World Pipe Band Champions, Field Marshal Montgommery Pipe Band, The Scottish Power Pipe Band, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, Session A9 and RURA.
Always driven by collaboration and innovation, Finlay’s passion for the music he has grown up with has led him to the post of “Head of Piping Studies” at the National Piping Centre and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he continues to inspire and develop the very best of new Piping talent
Roddy MacLeod, MBE – Piping
Roddy MacLeod has had a long career in competitive solo piping.. He won his first Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1986, then the Argyllshire Gathering Gold Medal in 1988.
Other major competitive successes include winning the Glenfiddich Piping Championship five times, winning the MSR three times and the piobaireachd event a record ten times, the Silver Chanter seven times, the Northern Meeting Clasp on two occasions, Bi-centenary medal (1988) and Former Winners MSR, the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering twice and the Former Winner MSR twice. At the Scottish Piping Society of London Championship he has won the Bratach Gorm nine times, the Gillies Cup Open Piobaireachd nine times, the Former Winners London Medallion MSR five times and the Overall Championship eight times.
In 2003, he was made a Member of the British Empire in recognition of his services to piping and received this award at Buckingham Palace from Her Majesty the Queen.
In 2004, was awarded the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Music.
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland honoured Roddy in 2022 by conferring him with a Fellowship.
In 2023, at the Glenfiddich Piping Championship he was awarded the Balvenie Medal for services to piping.
Dr Fiona McConnochie – Performance Psychology 
Dr Fiona McConnochie is an award-winning specialist consultant in sport and performance psychology with more than 25 years of experience and a world-class pedigree spanning sport, music, and dance. A former World Champion in Highland Dancing and championship-winning piper, her specialist niche lies in the Scottish traditional arts. Her lifelong involvement began under the guidance of her father—a former solo competitor and Pipe Major of the Clan MacLeod Pipe Band—who taught her the bagpipes, and her mother, a former competitor, judge, teacher, and board member of the BATD, who instructed her in Highland dancing.
For much of her career, Fiona worked in academia as Director of Programs and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and Sport Psychology at Abertay University, Dundee. Alongside this, she has maintained a private consultancy practice for over 25 years. She has now transitioned to full-time practice as a specialist consultant in sport, traditional music, and dance, offering one-to-one and group sessions in Scotland while also delivering lectures and workshops internationally.
Fiona regularly contributes to winter and summer schools, works with solo competitive pipers, dancers, and pipe bands both in the UK and abroad, and is frequently invited to present at major festivals and seminar events, including Piping Live! and CLASP. She has also delivered masterclass sessions for pipe band associations worldwide. Throughout her consultancy she has supported Scottish, British, USA, Canadian, European, Commonwealth, Paralympic, and Olympic gold medalists and World Champions, as well as beginners and novice performers.
Kerr McQuillan – Snare Drumming 
Kerr McQuillan is the Leading Drummer for the Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band. Kerr took over in 2022, and in his few seasons, led the drum corps to win the UK Pipe Band Championships in 2023, the World Pipe Band Championships in 2023, the British Pipe Band Championships in 2024 and also winning the drum corps’ first drumming title in over 10 years – taking 1st place as a drum corps at the European Pipe Band Championships in 2024. Having grown up within the Boghall system, Kerr was taught by Tom Brown MBE, Gordon Brown and Stephen McQuillan.
In 2023, in his first attempt, Kerr became the youngest on record to win the adult World Solo Drumming Championships, having previously won eight juvenile world titles in both tenor and snare drum from 2012 until 2022. Kerr holds the current record for World Solo tenor successes, even winning both the tenor and snare competition in the same day in 2016. Since his appointment as leading drummer, Kerr has accumulated the titles of 2023 and 2024 Scottish Champion, 2024 European Champion, 2024 Intercontinental Champion and 2024 British Champion, to name a few. These successes, alongside his World Solo win, led to Kerr being named Pipes|Drums Drummer of the Year in 2023.
Kerr spends his weekdays teaching at The High School of Glasgow, having recently guided them to their first-place success at the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust’s Scottish Schools Competition.
Kerr is also a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a Bachelor of Music degree, in traditional music.
In addition to his pipe band accomplishments, Kerr is a member of Drums n’ Roses, which has taken him all over the world to perform in some of the most renowned venues, such as Sony Music Hall and Times Square. When not performing, Kerr has toured the world, teaching in places such as Brittany, the US, Switzerland, Spain and Germany.
Dr. Richard Parkes, MBE – Piping
Richard has been Pipe Major of 13 time World Champion Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band since 1981, making history by leading FMM to become the most successful pipe band ever to come from Northern Ireland. Richard was honored with an MBE from Her Majesty The Queen in 2004 for recognition of his services to pipe band music in Northern Ireland. In 2019 he was awarded honorary doctorates by Queens University and the University of Ulster in recognition of his contribution to pipe bands, both in Northern Ireland and worldwide.
Richard has always put the band first, but he also managed to win seven All Ireland Senior Solo Championships, eight Northern Ireland Piper of the Year titles, nine Ulster Senior Championships, as well as winning the Strachan in London, the Jig in Inverness and a number of other prizes at major solo competitions.
Jim Sim – Snare Drumming 
Jim Sim started drumming lessons with his Father at the age of 8. His first band was the Stock Yard Kilty Band from Chicago. He worked his way up the solo ranks and eventually was placed in the Open. His early influences in drumming were from his father and John Kirkwood Sr. from St. Catharines, Ontario. In 1975 along with Pipe Major Ian Swinton the new Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band was formed. The band started in Grade 4. The band with Jim as the Leading Drummer went on to win many titles. In 1985 the band was promoted to Grade 1 which finished one of the band’s early goals which was to go from Grade 4 to Grade 1 in ten years using mostly players taught by Ian and Jim. Midlothian won many titles several times including the U.S. Open Championship, and the North American Championship and several placings in the top 6 at the World Championships.
Jim retired from active playing after the 2009 season to devote more time to teaching and judging. Jim has taught many young players who have gone on to win many contests of their own as well as many of the bands in North America. Jim has also had the honor of playing with The Chieftains, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a Full Adjudicator, President of the MidWest Pipe Band Association, and Past President of ANAPBA (Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations). He enjoys spending time with his wife Barb and their 3 children and one Grandchild and following the White Sox and Black Hawks.
Matt Wilson – Piping 
Matt is an accomplished competitor, performer, and teacher from Edinburgh. He has studied under leading tutors including
Major Gavin Stoddart and P/M Brian Donaldson, with lifelong guidance from his father, George. A member of Field Marshal Montgomery since
2003, Matt has wond 10 Grade 1 World titles and 2 Grand Slams. He became Pipe Sergeant in 2018 and Pipe Major in 2024, leading the band
to a major win in his first season. As a soloist, he has been successful at top events such as the Northern Meeting, Argyllshire Gathering,
and Captain John MacLellan. Matt is Head of Pipe Bands at Dollar Academy, where he has worked for nearly 17 years, the
the current Pipe Major of Field Marshall Montgomery. He has doubled student participation and led the juvenile band to 8 World titles and 5 Grand
Slams, establishing Dollar as a world-leading youth program.
Tristan Wilson – Piping
Tristan Wilson took over the role of Pipe Major of the Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band in 2014 and was formerly the Pipe Sergeant of the Grade 1 City of Chicago Pipe Band. Originally from Kansas, he was a third-generation member of the Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes and Drums. Tristan started playing pipes at the age of 8 under Dr. Thomas McKee. He continued piping lessons under PM Jim Higgins of the KC St. Andrew Pipes and Drums (a significant mentor in his teenage years), Alasdair Gillies, Jimmy McIntosh, and Andrew Wright. While also taking piping lessons, Tristan taught himself snare. Tristan looks up to Pipe Major Angus MacDonald as an inspiration for playing and is an open-level piping soloist and amateur-level snare soloist.
Other than Pipe Major, Tristan remains actively involved as a piping instructor, judge, and member of the Midwest Pipe Band Association. He has also been a piping instructor in previous years at Winter Storm. Tristan currently teaches the beginning piping students of the Midlothian Scottish youth program. Outside of piping, Tristan enjoys spending time with his lovely wife Andi, their three children, and their dog, Rosie.
Bob Worrall – Piping
Bob Worrall is one of North America’s leading teachers, adjudicators and performers. Bob is a respected composer, having published three successful collections of bagpipe music. He is featured on three solo piping recordings and was a member of the folk group “Scantily Plaid”.
After a piping career with a number of Ontario’s leading pipe bands, including the City of Toronto Pipe Band and the General Motors Pipe Band, Bob retired from competitive piping in 1983. His solo accomplishments were extensive, both in North America and Scotland. He won the North American Professional Championship an unprecedented 7 times and the Ontario Professional Championship Supreme title for 12 of his 13 years in the professional class. He was also the 1977 winner of the March and Strathspey/Reel events in Inverness. He was a pupil of Bill Millar, Willie Connell and the late John Wilson.
A member of North American and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s judging panels, Bob has been selected to judge the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on sixteen occasions. For the last fifteen years he has been the colour commentator for the BBC’s broadcast of the World Pipe Band Championships. He is a member of the Piobaireachd Society’s Senior Judges list and has adjudicated major competitions throughout the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Brittany and South Africa. Bob’s recent overseas piping ventures have included teaching and performing engagements in Zimbabwe, Australia and Italy. His M.C. skills have been called upon by the Field Marshal Montgomery, Scottish Power, Inveraray and District, and Toronto Police Pipe Bands.
Bob was the senior instructor at the Gaelic College in Cape Breton for 15 years. He is the Director of Summer Blast, the PPBSO’s virtual summer school.. Other recent piping camps have included Kingston (Ontario), the Ohio Scottish Arts School, Lake Diefenbaker (Saskatchewan), Washington State and Oregon, Vancouver Island, Uruguay, Australia and South Africa. Weekend workshops, adjudicating and recitals provide him with a schedule that has taken him to virtually all of the Canadian provinces and 36 U.S. States.