AS SOON AS THE PLAYERS SUBMIT THEIR TUNES THEY WILL BE POSTED HERE - 1/11/12

THE PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

Willie McCallum - Willie is one of the foremost competing pipers in the world today. A native of Campbeltown, Kintyre, Willie has won almost every prize in solo piping and several times over. He received his main tuition from his uncles Ronald McCallum and Hugh A. McCallum and also came under the guidance of Ronald McCallum, MBE, Piper to The Duke of Argyll. Willie's development as a youngster included not only these formal family influences, but the less tangible, equally important impressions made by countless visits to the Kintyre Piping Society. Here he heard all the experts of the era, including legends such as Donald MacLeod, Donald MacPherson and John Burgess. Willie is in demand as a recitalist, adjudicator and teacher and has five solo recordings to his credit, in addition to his appearance on a number of compilation albums recorded live at recitals and competitions. In recent years, several of his students have gained high placings at the major piping gatherings at Oban, Inverness and London. In August 2007, Willie launched a new venture, Willie McCallum Piping, which coincided with the launch of the McCallum Solo Chanter (McC²) designed by Willie and Stuart McCallum of McCallum Bagpipes. This new chanter has been successfully played by Willie since that date, along with a number of other prominent pipers, who have also won major prizes using the chanter. He also has long and successful pipe band experience and was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band winning 3 major championships.Willie lives in Bearsden with his wife Christine and children Hailey and Scott and works in Glasgow as an accountant. His list of achievements in the competitive field is extensive and include the following highlights: Glenfiddich World Championship 8 times. Gold Medal, Northern Meeting, Inverness. Gold Medal, Argyllshire Gathering, Oban. Former Winners MSR, Northern Meeting, Inverness twice. Former Winners MSR, Argyllshire Gathering, Oban 4 times. The Bratach Gorm, London, 3 times. The Silver Chanter, Dunvegan, 3 times. Donald Macleod Memorial, Stornoway, 7 times. Dr Dan Reid Memorial, San Francisco, 7 times. The Cowal Championship (with ScottishPower). Scottish Pipe Band Championship (with ScottishPower) twice. Runner-up World Pipe band Championship (with ScottishPower) twice. Willie finished in 1st place at the 2009 Silver Cap Piping Competition. Willie will be playing Lament for McSwan of Roaig

Andrew Hayes - Andrew was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario and his initial instruction came from his father, the late Pipe Major Patrick Hayes. He also received instruction from Scott MacAulay, P/M William Livingstone and Murray Henderson. Highlights of Andrew's solo piping career include some of the most prestigious solo piping prizes in both North America and Scotland, including:

- The Highland Society of London Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting (2010)
- The A Grade MSR at the Northern Meeting (2011)
- The Piobaireachd and the overall at the Dan Reid Memorial (2011)
- The Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal (Canada) (2003) and three bars to that Medal (2006; 2007 and 2008)
- The Piobaireachd and the overall at the North American Championships in Maxville (2008)
- The overall at the Cowal Highland Gathering in Scotland (2009)
- The overall at the Braemar Highland Gathering in Scotland
- The Piobaireachd and the overall at the Livingstone Invitational
- The Piobaireachd and the overall at the Metro Cup Invitational (2006).

Andrew has been a member of the Toronto Police Pipe Band and the 78th fraser Highlanders Pipe Band. He is currently the Pipe Major of the Grade 2 Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band. Andrew is a lawyer with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife (Katherine) and his two young daughters (Rachel and Megan). Andrew will be playing MacIntosh of Borlum's Salute

Stuart Liddell - Stuart from Inveraray, started piping at the age of nine and was originally taught by his grandfather, the late Pipe Major Ronald McCallum M.B.E. He has also had tuition from Jim Henderson and Hugh McCallum. For seven years he was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band thereafter joining the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada with whom he played for eleven years. Stuart is one of the world’s most exciting pipers and is noted for his excellent solo performances and recordings at numerous Simon Fraser University Pipe Band concerts. A piano tuner to trade, he is also piping instructor at Mid Argyll Primary and Lochgilphead High Schools. Stuart will be playing Stewart's White Banner
Young Piper of the Year 1994, 1995 and 1997
1992 – Silver Medal (Argyllshire Gathering, Oban)
1997 - Silver Star (MSR) 3rd Place
2000 – Gold Medal (Northern Meeting, Inverness)
2001 – Uist & Barra Overall Winner
2004 - Gold Medal (Argyllshire Gathering, Oban)
2006 – Scottish Pipers Association Knockout
2007 - Scottish Pipers Association and Scots Guards Knockout Competitions
2007 – The Clasp (Northern Meeting, Inverness)
2008 – Piping Live! Masters (Glasgow)
2009 – The Dan Reid Memorial (San Francisco)
2009 – The Homecoming Gathering (Edinburgh)
2009 – Dunvegan Medal
2009 – The Clasp (Northern Meeting, Inverness)
2009 – Glenfiddich Piping Championship
2009 – The Bratach Gorm & Overall Winner (Highland Society of London Competition)
2010 – The Metro Cup (NY)
2010 – Donald MacDonald Quaich (Skye)
2010 – Silver Star (Argyllshire Gathering, Oban
2010 – Silver Star (Northern Meeting, Inverness)

Glenn Brown - Glenn is 27 years old and originally from Milton, Ontario Canada. He is currently living in Glasgow Scotland where he is playing with the Scottish Power Pipe Band. His instructors are his mother Gail Brown and Mr. Willie McCallum. Over the past few years he has won such prizes as The Canadian Gold Medal, The American Gold Medals for Ceol Mor and Ceol Beag at the Winter Storm competition in Kansas City. The A grade Piobaireachd and A grade MSR at the London Championships, The Dunvegan Medal for Piobaireachd as well as placing 3rd in the London Medallion Former Winners MSR contest at the London Championships. Glenn finished in 6th place at the 2009 Silver Cap Piping Competition. Glenn spent 6 years with the Shott's and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band and won 2 World Championships with them. He was also the Pipe Major of the Grade 1 Peel Regional Police Pipe Band for the 2008 Season. Glenn will be playing Rory MacLoude's Lament

Brian Donaldson Brian will be playing Lament for the Viscount of Dundee

Bruce Gandy - Bruce makes his living teaching piping full time at home from Halifax with an ever growing stable of students coming to his work office at the Halifax citadel or his computer as he is one of the most in demand teachers on the growing "skype " network with over 40 students coming online to see him.
Bruce is a multiple winner of most of N America's premier contests and the winner of both gold medals at Oban and Inverness as well as the Bratach Gorm.
A new and most satisfying venture for Bruce this year has been the start of his new non profit society, The Bruce Gandy Bagpiping Development Society. This is a corporate group designed to raise monies in order to provide tuition scholarships for deserving pipers, locally, nationally and one day Internationally. In March of 2011 he released his newest CD "Front row Seat" which has received great reviews and is personally donating a large portion of the profit straight to the society.
Bruce will be playing The Kings Taxes.

Gordon Walker - Gordon from Cumnock in Ayrshire, the eldest of two sons to Graham and Sheena Walker, a coal miner and seemstress. Gordon received his first lessons on the practice chanter from the late Pipe Major David Kay (also from Cumnock) at the tender age of 4 years and 6 months. Indeed so young as he was, had to learn by ear to begin with as he was not yet started school to understand the alphabet in relation to staff notation! He continued to study under the guidance and watch full eye of David Kay for the next 12 years and with this made his assault in amateur and juvenile solo piping competitions, winning all the events there were to be had at that time. On the 10th of January ,1984 Gordon enlisted into The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) and reported for training to the Scottish Division Depot , Bridge of Don Aberdeen. This was also the year he won his first major solo prize (Edinburgh Police Pipe Band professional Jig Competition). The same year he won the Silver Medal for Piobaireachd at The Argyllshire Gathering in Oban, the youngest ever at age 16. Now professional, Gordon received further tuition during this time from Pipe Major Iain M. Morrison (Queen's Own Highlanders). Steady progress through the ranks followed when he was to receive an invitation by the then Director of Army Bagpipe Music, Major John M. Allan (Queen's Own Highlanders) to sit his Pipe Major's certificate at Edinburgh Castle. At the end of the 7 month course, Gordon passed with distinguished honours (He subsequently holds all the necessary teaching certificates from The Institute of Piping). A posting and a promotion saw Gordon back in Edinburgh this time as an Army Piping Instructor with the Army school, and continued to refine his art. He took private instruction in piobaireachd from the late Captain Andrew Pitkeathly (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) a Former Director of Army Bagpipe Music and personal piper to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. He saw active service in the first Gulf War, and operational tours of duty to Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Sarajevo. During his appointment as personal piper to The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Gordon piped at the opening of Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall in the presence of his colonel in chief Princess Margaret in (1994? check date) He decided on a change of career, and went into civilian life concentrating solely on teaching, and so left regular service in 1999 but not before finishing as the loan piper at The Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He joined the staff of The College of Piping as the senior instructor, then transfered to The National Piping Centre as senior instructor there. (enjoying happy memories and good times at both establishments) At present, Gordon is a full time piping instructor, and directs The Piping Programme at St. Columba's School, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire. He was invited to step back into uniform by The Commanding Officer of The 52nd Lowland Regiment T.A. to re-build and structure The Regimental Pipes & Drums, which was to become the best Pipe Band in The Army at the time. Gordon is enjoying a new venture as Pipe Major in a civilian role, located in his native Ayrshire. The band is called '' Mauchline & District Caledonia'' and is a leading grade two competition band.Through out all his competing years, Gordon has equally enjoyed countless success in all major competitions as a seasoned competitor. Runner- up in piob Metro Cup 1st in M/S/R, 1st in free-style medley selection and 1st overall Pipe Major's wheel of fortune invitational Edinburgh. 1st piob,1st marches,1st hornpipe & jig, runner-up strathspey & reel, 1st overall, the Lochaber Gathering Fort William. 1st 6/8 marches, 1st 2/4 marches, 3rd jig's, 3rd strathspey & reel, 1st overall Skye Gathering Portree, 3rd overall Silver Cap invitational. 1st piob, 1st hornpipe & jig, 4th m/s/r, runner-up overall, Springbank invitational, Cambletown, ArgyllshireThere's been the gold medals, clasps, silver stars, Bratach Gorms, Glenfiddich's the list goes on. Gordon will be playing The MacKay's Banner

Alex Gandy - Alex began piping at age ten and had the good fortune of family for very high level instruction; his father Bruce Gandy, his mother Beverly Gandy (played with the 78th Highland Frasers) and his grandfather Ronnie Rollo. As a member of Field Marshall Montgomery he helped the band take 6 major prizes...including a World Championship in 2007 and a 2nd place at the Worlds in 2008. In his own words " I owe a lot toPipe Major Richard Parkes and Pipe Sergeant Alastair Dunn. [My time with them] was an incredibly valuable learning experience. His solo prize list includes:
Canadian Gold Medal at Maxville in 2009, Champion Supreme in Professional light music in PPBSO, 2nd in Kansas City Gold Medal in 2010, 1st in Kansas City Silver Medal and Gold Medal light music in 2009, 1st in Open Jigs at Oban, 1st in Senior March at Inveraray, winner of Piobaireachd and Overall at Duncan Johnstone Memorial in 2007. Alex finished in 5th place at the 2009 Silver Cap Piping Competition. Alex will be playing The Daughter's Lament

Robert Durning - Winner of CLASP Glasgow 2010: Bobby is 20 years old. He began playing the pipes at age 9, and started receiving lessons from P/M George M. Bell soon after. Over his amatuer years, Bobby has won almost every major prize offered for the level. He has won the Nicol-Brown Chalice, George Sherriff Invitational, P/M Sandy Jones Invitational, the Metro Cup P/M George M. Bell Amateur Championship, and the Gilchrist Challenge; and without Mr. Bell, none of it would have happened. Bobby continued to take lessons from him until his untimely death in January 2010. Bobby was upgraded in 2011 to profesional by the EUSPBA. Bobby is a freshman at Zion Bible College in Haverhill, MA, double-majoring in Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Studies. Bobby will be playing The Desperate Battle

Chris Armstrong- Chris will be playing Nameless Cherede Derieva

John Patrick - John will be playing The MacDougalls' Gathering

Angus McColl - Angus was taught to play by his late father Dugie and later received piobaireachd lessons from PM Ronald Lawrie and Ronald Morrison. He won the Silver Medal in Oban in 1987, the Gold medal at the Northern Meeting in 1992 and the Gold medal in Oban in 1996. He has won the Clasp at the Northern Meeting 4 times ('93,'98, 2000 and 2011) and also the Senior Piobaireachd in Oban 4 times (2000, 2003, 2004 and 2009) and has won the Former winners MSR twice in Oban and at the Northern Meeting. He has also won the Hornpipe and jig at the Northern Meeting 7 times. He was overall Champion at the Glenfiddich in 1995, 2006 and 2010. Angus teaches piping in the schools in the Oban area and in 2010 his Oban High School pipe band were world champions in the novice grade. Angus will be playing I got a kiss of the Kings hand.

Dan Lyden - Pipe Major Dan Lyden began learning the pipes in 1997 under Pipe Major Ed Kitlowski as a member of the Police Emerald Society of Baltimore Pipes & Drums. In 2002 he joined the Grade 1 City of Washington Pipe Band and was named the Band's Pipe Major in 2008. After a successful amateur solo career, including Overall wins at the: Sandy Jones Invitational, C.L.A.S.P. in Babylon, NY, United States Piping Foundation, and EUSPBA Amateur Championships at the Ligonier Games, Dan was promoted to the Professional Solo Grade in 2008. Some professional competitive highlights to date include prizes in: the Overall and Piobaireachd at the United States Piping Foundation contest, the Piobaireachd and Jig events at the North American Championships in Maxville, Ontario, the Canadian Gold Medal at Maxville, and the U.S. Silver Medal Piobaireachd event in Kansas City. In 2010 Dan was the EUSPBA Overall Professional points winner, and was runner up in 2011. Dan also teaches many students and bands along the Eastern United States. Dan will be playing You're Welcome, Ewen Lochiel

James Bell - James will be playing The Bells of Perth

Duncan Bell - Started the pipes in 1965. Being taught only by his father George M.Bell. He went into the EUSPBA Open class in piping in 1973. Duncan became a member of the EUSPBA Judging Panel in 1985. He was a ounding member of Parlin and District Pipe Band and has also played with Lehigh Valley Pipe Band and City of Washington Pipe Band. Duncan has been the open overall EUSPBA champion 9 times since 1980 , most recently EUSPBA Overall Open Piobaireachd Champion 2011. He makes and plays his own design drone reeds. He says piping is just a hobbie for him .... a lifetime one ,however.
Duncan is the Chief Financial Officer and a senior trader of a Manhattan Equities Trading firm that specializes, among other things, in sophisticated algorithmic modeling strategies , quantitative equity models that use complex event processing convergance and event driven index arbitrage.
In his spare time he personally direct the private trusts he set up for his wife and three sons. Duncan will be playing Lady Margurite MacDonald's Salute

Jeremy Freeman - Jeremy will be playing Lament for the Earl of Antrim

THE AMATUER PLAYERS

Sean Reagan - Ohio Valley Branch EUSPBA - Sean has been teaching and performing on the pipes for over a decade. He began piping at eight years old under his father, EUSPBA judge and professional piper, Patrick Regan. As a child, Sean studied piping and drumming under numerous great instructors at the St. Thomas Episcopal School and Bluebonnet School of Scottish Bagpiping and Drumming summer camps. Sean has won the Willie MacDonald of Benbecula Award for Excellence in Piobaireachd, the grade II championships at Stone Mountain, GA, and Alma, MI, and has been a consistent prizewinner in grade 1. In 2009 he took time off from competition to return to higher education, and is currently studying at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania as the university's first Music Education Major with a focus in Bagpiping. In addition to his academic pursuits, Sean is the organizer of the 1st Edinboro Scottish Arts Summer Camp, which will take place on the grounds of Edinboro University of PA in July, 2012. A new member of the Great Lakes Pipe Band of Cleveland, OH, Sean looks forward to returning to the band and solo competition scenes over the coming years. Sean will be playing Lament for Patrick Og McCrimmon His MSR is
Highland Wedding
Susan MacLeod
Cockerel in the Creel

Scott Gajdos-Metro Branch EUSPBA - Scott began piping at the age of 16 under the tutelage of Frank Riggio through the Tara Pipe Band organization of Long Island, New York. He later joined the Grade Two Monaghan Pipe Band of the Bronx, NY where he was introduced to Pipe Major George M. Bell, whom he took lessons with for 7 seven years until his death. Scott credits George for introducing him to Piobaireachd as well as utilizing a more traditional bagpipe set up in order to attain the best sound possible from the instrument. He has won several individual awards and scholarships throughout the Eastern United States and Canada. In 2008, Scott spent two years living in Northern Ireland where he would eventually join the Grade One Ballycoan Pipe Band of Belfast, NI. During his tenure with Ballycoan, he played in the Grade One World Pipe Band Championship Final (Winning the Qualifier), as well as winning the Northern Ireland Champion of Champions title. Scott now plays with the Grade One Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band of Fife, Scotland. He plays a set of 1980 War-Mac pipes with a David Naill chanter. Outside of piping, Scott is a graphic designer and is currently working towards his Masters in Education. Scott will be playing Old Men of the Shells, his MSR will be Hugh Alexander Low of Tiree, The Pipers Bonnet and Doctor MacPhail's Reel

Geordie Hall - Mid Atlantic Branch EUSPBA - I am 19 years old from Duncannon PA. I am a freshman at Pensacola Christian College in Florida majoring in music education with piano as my primary instrument. My Dad started me on the practice chanter when I was nine years of age before going to my cousins
Marty and Ian Ferrick. At age 13, I started with Jimmy McIntosh on Piobreached and light music and played in his band, The Balmoral Highlanders in Pittsburgh up until 2011. In 2008 when I was fifteen I went to the Worlds with the Ulster Scottish Pipe Band where we took first place in piping grade 3B. Some of my teachers have been Scott Walker, Donald Lindsay, Gail Brown, John Cairns and Alasdair Gillies. I have received excellent tutelage and support from the Balmoral Schools of Piping and drumming in Pittsburgh PA. with thanks to Mr. George Balderose and staff. I am pipe instructor of the Duncan McCall grade 5 pipe band in Pensacola Florida and have been teaching bagpipes and violin since age 16. I have been successful both in the United States and Canada. I am a two time EUSPBA overall winner. I am the fourth generation of pipers and drummers. My great grandfather John A Hall Sr. was a founding member and pipe major of the Philadelphia Ulster Scottish Pipe Band.(circa 1921) My grandfather John A Hall Jr. was a founding member and drumming judge of EUSPBA He also was the drum sargent of the founding of George Bells Kenmure Pipe Band. My Dad, John A Hall lll was a drumming competitor and also learned to play the pipes. The Bells and the Halls have had a long standing relationship for over 60 years. I have taken tutelage from Duncan, Jimmy and even some drumming with Gordon Bell. My Naill bagpipe chanter was selected for me by George Bell. I am honored to represent the Mid Atlantic Branch in memory of Mr. George Morrison Bell. Geordie will be playing the Battle of Auldearn #1 The MSR will be Craigs of Stirling, Inverary Castle and Bessie MacIntyre

Dan Pisolowski - Northeast Branch EUSPBA - Dan is an eighteen-year-old high school senior honors student at Norwich Free
Academy. He started on the practice chanter at the age of nine in 2002, and began playing with the Mystic Highland Pipe Band, an entertaining street band, from Mystic, CT shortly thereafter. In 2005, he joined the ranks of the Rhode Island Highlanders, at the time a Grade 3 competition band, and he began solo competing. From 2006 to 2010, Dan played with the Grade 2 Manchester Pipe Band, and rose to the rank of Pipe Sergeant before leaving the band in early 2011, at which point he rejoined the Rhode Island Highlanders. Since 2005, has received primary instruction from John Sullivan. Under Sullivan's tutelage, Dan worked through the grades and entered Grade 1 in 2009, winning the Grade 3 Overall prize at the North American Championships in Maxville, Ontario, in 2007 and in Grade 2 in 2008 along the way. Dan also won the EUSPBA Season Championship in Grade 2 in 2008 and in Grade 1 in 2010. Additionally, Dan placed 2nd Overall in the North American Championships in Maxville in 2009 and 2010. Since entering Grade 1, Dan has been invited to the Nicol-Brown, the Balmoral Classic, The PM George M. Bell Memorial at the Metro Cup, and the George Sherriff Memorial (he was unable to attend the Sherriff in 2009 and 2010). Thus far, the highlight of these competitions has been a first-place finish in the March, Strathspey, and Reel at the 2010 Balmoral Classic. In addition to piping, Dan is also a competitive drum major at the professional level and as a drum major has earned prizes in Scotland. Dan has also tried his hand at solo snare drumming, where he currently competes in Grade 3. Outside of competing, Dan has begun to foster interest in bagpiping at his high school, where he has helped form a Celtic arts club, with whom he has recorded two albums: 'Sounds Familiar' in January 2011, and 'Among Friends' in February 2012. An avid composer, Dan has over one hundred tunes to his credit, ranging from all forms of the light music to piobaireachd to some tunes that have no classification in pipe music. Dan won honors for a strathspey titled "Waldo Kahler" in the Controversy of Composers tune contest sponsored by "The Voice" in 2008. Dan will be playing The End of the Great Bridge and his MSR will be Lord Alexander Kennedy/Dora MacLeod/Miss Proud

Katy Rashid - Southern Branch-EUSPBA - Katy Rashid was born in the north of England in 1969. After her family emigrated to the United States, she spent most of her childhood in central New York, where she began chanter lessons at the age of 9 after watching the Mohawk Valley Frasers play at a girl scout meeting. Her first instructor was Jim Clough. As a young player, Katy benefited enormously from summer piping schools, where she was fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with many fine instructors, including Donald Lindsay, Ian MacClellan, Jimmy McGregor, Ronnie Lawrie, and, most importantly, James McIntosh MBE. In 1987 she moved to Pittsburgh and began attending Carnegie Mellon University, where she would serve as Pipe Major of the CMU Pipe Band during four years of university and again from 1992-1993. Under the tutelage of Jimmy McIntosh, Katy enjoyed a moderately successful solo career, ranking as the EUSPBA's top overall Grade I piper in 1989 and placing first in the Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational that same year. After a long break from piping, Katy moved to South Carolina in 1999, where she began a family, a pipe band, and a new career as a piping instructor. In this she was greatly aided by Bob Worrall, who has over the last 12 years been teacher, mentor, and good friend. She is delighted to be an active solo competitor once again and would like to thank all the people who make this possible, including her husband John, sons Rowan and Liam, and life-long teacher Jimmy McIntosh, who was recently kind enough to move 10 miles away and take up the task of instructing her once again. Katie will be playing Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay Her MSR will be Angus Campbell's Farewell to Stirling/The Doune of Invernochty/Johnnie MacDonald's Reel

Avens Ridgeway - Southwest Branch EUSPBA - Avens Ridgeway is from Union, Maine and is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Music at Lyon College. She played with the Grade 2 Stuart Highlanders Pipe Band from Massachusetts during 2010. Avens is currently a Grade 1 solo competitor in the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. She competes throughout the U.S. and in Canada as well. Some of her accomplishments include winning the Grade 1 Piobaireachd at the Glengarry Highland Games in Ontario, Canada and winning the Piobaireachd at the United States Piping Foundation in 2009. She also has been invited to the Nicol-Brown Challenge where she placed 4th overall. Avens has had Piobaireachd instruction from Jimmy McIntosh and primarily studied with Nancy Tunnicliffe before coming to Lyon, where she now studies with Jimmy Bell. Avens will be playing Beloved Scotland and her MSR will be David Ross, Dora MacLeod and Broadford Bay

Ben Reid - PPBSO - Ben hasbeen playing since he was ten under the instruction of Ed Neigh. Ben won the Piper of the Day on three occasions this past summer (2011); notably at the North American Championships in Maxville. Ben also won the PPBSO champion supreme for Light Music in Grade 1 this year and he will be upgraded to Professional. Ben was fifth overall at this years Sherriff. This summer Ben will be living in Scotland, playing with The Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band. Ben is also currently enrolled at McMaster University as a Trumpet major in the Music Program. Ben will be playing Too long in this condition and his MSR will be Clan MacColl, Susan McLeod and Broadford Bay

Joe Biggs - MWPBA - Joseph Biggs began his piping career at the age of seven, originally receiving tuition from Mr. Glenn Sunderland; during the next few years, he was a member of Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums, of Peoria, Illinois, which competed throughout the Midwest in grades four and five. During this time, Biggs receivied regular instruction from Mr. William Muirhead, with a particular focus on light music. In 2007, Biggs joined the City of Chicago Pipe Band, a then-fledgling organization from urban Illinois; he has been with the band throughout it's rise to Grade One and is currently an active member of this organization. During this time, Biggs has received personal instruction from both Mr. Tristan Wilson, for light music, and Mr. David McNally, for piobearachd. An active solo competitior, some particularly valued prizes to date--at least on a personal level--include a 2nd and a 3rd place in the Grade One March and Strathspey/Reel at Maxville, Ontario, and a 5th place in the piobearachd at the 2010 Balmoral Classic. Joe will be playing Lament for the Viscount of Dundee, his MSR will be Major David Manson's Farewell to Clachantrushal, MacBeth's Strathspey and Broadford Bay

Sean Poyntz - Florida Branch - EUSPBA - Sean Poyntz, a 19 year old from Miami Florida. Sean who is an Economics' Major and sophomore at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY, is a member of the World Champions New York Metro Pipe Band, and during the winter months he is an instructor and a playing member of the Fort Lauderdale Highlanders Pipe Band. New York Metro's Pipe Major Michael Mahoney and the band's Director of Music Matthew Welch are major influences on Sean's approach to pipe band instruction and performance. Sean is an accomplished solo piper in Florida and throughout the United States, with career wins at all the major venues including Dunedin, Orlando, Sarasota, Northeast Florida, Southeast Florida, Charleston, Dallas, Grandfather Mountain, Kentucky, Loch Norman, Glasgow Lands, Greenville, Ohio, Oklahoma, Phoenix, Quechee, Scotland County, Southern Maryland and Stone Mountain; and is consistently ranked among the top players by both the EUSPBA and SUSPBA. Sean began piping with Miami's St. Andrew's Pipe Band where he received instruction from Edward Powers and Alan Reese. He played with the Fort Lauderdale Highlanders, the Steel Thistle Pipes and Drums - a Youth Bagpipe Band from Pittsburgh, and the City of Dunedin Pipe Band, before moving to New York for college. His piping instructors are Bruce and Alex Gandy of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; and he also credits workshop instruction received from Patrick Regan, Graham Mulholland, Jimmy Bell, Chris Armstrong, Margaret Dunn, Glenn Brown and Ken Eller for his piping success. Sean is a successful instructor in his own right with his students achieving solo successes across all grades of competitive bagpiping. On March 19, 2011 Sean's appearance from Halifax in the Bruce Gandy Bagpiping Development Society concert was streamed live over the Internet and in August of 2011, Sean played in New York Metro's Worlds Pipe Band Championship success. Sean will be playing MacGregor's Salute his MSR will be The Cowal Gathering, Tulloch Castle and Alick C. MacGregor

John Frater -Winner of CLASP 2011 - Is a native of Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland; he started on the practice chanter shortly before his 8th birthday; his father was an excellent piper and mhis main piping influence and teacher; currently, He has lessons with Robert Wallace at the College of Piping in Glasgow. His efforts were intermittent as a youngster, but he played in the school pipe band, which recently celebrated its centenary (The Edinburgh Academy); His playing and his interest in piping really took off when he was a medical student in Edinburgh and joined the Royal Scottish Pipers' Society. A College of Piping Summer School in 2003 was another great boost, especially with regard to the bagpipe itself and musical theory. He started playing in the National Piping Centre's CLASP competitions in Autumn 2007, primarily as a good way to improve his playing, particularly playing in front of an audience. His big interest now is Ceol Mor and he is a member of the Piobaireachd Society's General Committee. He has also written occasional articles for the Piping Times. John will be playing The Big Spree his MSR will be Jeannie Carruthers, Cabar Feidh, and Alick Cameron