Highland Pipes Instructors
George Balderose
Jimmy Bell
Brian Donaldson
Richmond Johnston
James MacColl
Mahrla Manning
Donald McBride
Willie McCallum
George Balderose has been studying
with some of the world’s top Highland piping
instructors for more than three decades. During
much of this time, he has been developing methods
of teaching piping to adult beginners, and several
of his adult Highland piping students have won
firsts at EUSPBA-sanctioned piping competitions.
George has also been playing and teaching the
bellows smallpipes for more than fifteen years. He
has performed on the Highland pipes with the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, as a soloist for the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and with
championship Scottish and Irish dancers at concerts
and festivals throughout the eastern US. His
competitive successes include winning the
MacCrimmon Quaich for Grade 1 Piobaireachd four
times. George is also a member of the Scottish and
Irish performance ensemble Road to the Isles, which is on
the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on
Tour/Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation roster.
George will be at the following sessions:
June 9-14, 2013, St. John's Northwestern Military
Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin
July 7-12, 2013, St. John's Military School, Salina,
Kansas
July 14-19, 2013, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel,
Pennsylvania
July 28-August 2, 2013, Week 2, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Jimmy Bell is the Director
of the Scottish Heritage Program at Lyon
College and Pipe Major of the Lyon College
Pipe Band. He also served as Pipe Major
of the award winning Grade 1 - Parlin &
District Pipe Band, and has won countless
individual awards and titles as one of North
America's top solo pipers. Starting out first
as a Highland Dancer at an early age, Jim was
given his first piping instruction by his
mother, and then by his father, George Bell.
Jim played in the legendary Kenmuir Pipe Band,
and has experienced almost everything piping
has to offer. He is a judge in the EUSPBA and
has served on the Music Board as well. He is
also a highly skilled composer of pipe music.
Jimmy will be at the following sessions:
July 14-19, 2013, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel,
Pennsylvania
July 21-26, 2013, Week 1, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 28-August 2, 2013, Week 2, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Pipe Major Brian Donaldson, from
Cardenden, Fife, was taught to play the pipes by
his father, Pipe Major Andrew Donaldson, a renowned
piper and teacher. After leaving school, Brian
served his apprenticeship as a bagpipe maker at
Inveran House under the guidance of Jimmy Tweedie.
At a young age, Brian was playing with the world
famous Dysart & Dundonald pipe band, winning
all the major championships in Grade 1. In 1978,
Brian enlisted in the Scots Guards and served with
the regiment all over the world. He passed his Pipe
Majors course at the Army School of Piping,
Edinburgh Castle in 1982. After serving in the
Falklands War, he was posted to the Army School of
Piping as an instructor for three years. On his
return to the 2nd Battalion, he was promoted to
Pipe Sergeant and shortly after the amalgamation of
both battalions in 1993, Brian was promoted to the
rank of Pipe Major in 1995.
His tuition skills and playing ability were in
demand, and in 1998 he became Pipe Major at the
Army training regiment Glencorse. Eventually, the
military centralized all Army piping and drumming,
and Brian served 22 years at the Army School of
Bagpipe & Highland Drumming in Edinburgh.
Throughout Brian’s military career, he has become
one of the most renowned pipers in the British
army, following in the footsteps of Pipe Major
Willie Ross and Pipe Major Angus MacDonald. He has
achieved an endless list of prizes, including the
Gold Medal, Oban; the Gold medal and two Clasps at
the Skye Invitational; the Bratach Gorm, London;
second in the Gold medal at the Northern Meetings,
three times; the Donald MacDonald, Quaich; the MSR
Argyllshire Gathering, three times; MSR Northern
Meetings, achieving a double in 1984; winning both
MSR competitions at Oban and Inverness in the same
year, the MSR London and MSR Grants competition;
and numerous invitations to the famous Grants
whisky invitational competition.
After a successful military career, Brian has now
gone full circle, back to his trade as a bagpipe
craftsman taking the name of Inveran Bagpipe
Makers into the 21st century. He continues
to compete at a high level, very much in tune
with the ‘Stradivarius’ Great Highland Bagpipe
instrument he is playing and produces at the
Inveran workshop.
Brian will be at the following sessions:
June 9-14, 2013, St. John's Northwestern Military
Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin
June 16-21, 2013, Macalester College, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
June 23-28, 2013, Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, California
July 7-12, 2013, St. John's Military School, Salina,
Kansas
July 14-19, 2013, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel,
Pennsylvania
July 21-26, 2013, Week 1, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 28-August 2, 2013, Week 2, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Richmond Johnston became a
Balmoral School administrator shortly after his
first attendance at the school in 1991. Serving
that post, he’s had the opportunity to study with
Mike Cusack, Alasdair Gillies, Norman Gillies, Jack
Lee, James MacColl, John MacDoughall, Iian
MacLellan, Jimmy McIntosh, Adrian Melvin, Gordon
Mooney, Iian Morrison, Donald MacPhee, Jackie
Pincet, Nancy Tunnicliffe, Scot Walker, and John
Wilson. He’s an experienced solo piper and also
competes with the Grade 3 Capital Region Celtic
Pipe Band of Albany, New York. A number of his
students have become award-winning pipers. Being a
late starter himself, and having many adult
students, he enjoys teaching the adult beginner.
Richmond will be at the following sessions:
June 16-21, 2013, Macalester College, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
June 23-28, 2013, Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, California
July 14-19, 2013, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel,
Pennsylvania
July 21-26, 2013, Week 1, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 28-August 2, 2013, Week 2, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
James MacColl was born in 1928 in
Shotts, Scotland. Jim’s first teacher was P/M Tom
McAllister. He later received tuition from P/M
Willie Ross, Iain MacPherson and Robert Reid. He
was a member of the Shotts & Dykehard Pipe Band
from 1939 to 1950. Between 1950 and 1954, he won
most of the major piping awards in Scotland,
including the aggregate at Cowal, four years in
succession, and the Oban Gold Medal. He emigrated
to California in 1955 and, since that time, has
taught many of the top players on the west coast of
the US.
James will be at the following sessions:
June 23-28, 2013, Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, California
Donald McBride was taught
originally by his father Willie McBride. From 1972
until he emigrated to the United States in 1984,
Donald went to Donald MacPherson for piobaireachd
instruction. In the 1970s, he also played in the
Muirhead & Sons pipe band under P/M Robert G.
Hardie. When he returned to Scotland in 1996 until
he moved to County Donegal in 2004, Donald took
piobaireachd lessons from Andrew Wright. He has
been placed 2nd twice and 3rd twice in the Gold
Medals at the Northern Meeting and Argyllshire
Gathering. Donald won the A Grade March at the
Northern Meeting in 1982 and has been 2nd and 3rd
in the Strathspey & Reel events at Oban and
Inverness more times than he cares to remember.
Donald will be at the following sessions:
June 9-14, 2013, St. John's Northwestern Military
Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin
July 8-13, 2012, St. John's Military School,
Salina, Kansas
Willie McCallum 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. Willie's 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; Donald
Macleod Memorial, Stornoway, 7 times; Dr. Dan
Reid Memorial, San Francisco, 7 times. He also
has long and successful pipe band experience and
was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band,
winning three major championships. 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. 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. In
recent years, several of his students have
gained high placings at the major piping
gatherings at Oban, Inverness and London.
Willie will be at the following sessions:
June 16-21, 2013, Macalester College, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
July 7-12, 2013, St. John's Military School, Salina,
Kansas
“The small classes
made it easier to get questions answered. The music
book was excellent. The instructors were top-notch
with exceptional qualifications, each one different
in his teachings.”
Don Saraceno,
California session student
“My lesson was an
epiphany — my instructor put his finger precisely
on what I needed to do to improve. Great to have
plenty of time on the pipes in class!”
Anne Marie
deZeeuw, Kentucky session
student
“From the individual attention to the basic
fundamentals of drum maintenance, this was a
well-rounded education — all in 4 ½
days.”
Gwyneth Duncan, California session student
Scottish Snare,
Tenor Drum, and Bass Drum Instructors
Gordon Bell
Andrew Hoinacki
Alex Kuldell
Gordon Bell began drumming at the
age of eight under the guidance of Norman MacLeod
in the Kenmure Pipeband. He also received tuition
from the legendary Alec Duthart. Gordon took over
the corp in 1975; the band eventually changed the
name to the Parlin & District.The band and corp
dominated the pipeband scene throughout the 80s in
the EUSPBA, winning the North American Championship
in Grade 2, and placing them in Grade 1. He has
also been a member of Muirhead & Sons, Kenmure,
Worcester Kiltie, 78th Fraser Highlanders, and the
City of Washington Pipe Bands. Gordon also saw a
great deal of success in the solo field winning the
EUSPBA Overall Champion each year from 1979 to
1987. He has recorded with The Empire Brass
Quintet, 78th Frasers Live in Scotland, and with
his own Celtic Rock group 51 Ash in which he plays
the bass guitar.
Gordon will be at the following sessions:
July 14-19, 2013, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel,
Pennsylvania
July 21-26, 2013, Week 1, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 28-August 2, 2013, Week 2, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Andrew Hoinacki started drumming
at six years old and in just a few years learned tenor, bass and snare. After formative
years in a junior band program, he has since age 14 been
competing with bands in Grade 1 and Grade 2
including many years as a leading drummer.
Andrew's solo accolades at the Professional
level include United States Champion, MWPBA Champion Supreme,
and WUSPBA Champion Supreme, along with
runner-up finishes at the Agnew-Harrison Memorial
and North American Championships.
He has served as an adjudicator for
drumming and ensemble for a decade, is a
member of the MWPBA Music Board, and
past member of the WUSPBA Music Board.
Andrew is a native of Chicago, competes
as a distance member of the Grade 1 LA Scots,
and is a full-time drumming educator
including his own studio
ar2|drumming
as well as a faculty appointment for
Scottish and Regimental styles of drumming
at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Wisconsin. His
well-rounded experience, down-to-earth approach,
and very successful track record have made
him a sought-after instructor for all
forms of pipe band drumming, band
coaching, and for his musical compositions.
Andrew has been with the Balmoral School
since 2010 and always looks forward to
seeing his returning students and meeting new ones!
Andrew will be at the following sessions:
June 9-14, 2013, St. John's Northwestern Military
Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin
June 23-28, 2013, Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, California
July 7-12, 2013, St. John's Military School, Salina,
Kansas
Alex Kuldell began learning to
play the drums in 1986 with the Washington Scottish
Pipe Band under lead drummer Ed Bauder. In 1997
Alex was recruited by lead drummer Jon Quigg into
the grade II City of Washington Pipe Band. Within
the next two years the band won the 1999 North
American Pipe Band Championships and World Pipe
Band Championships, resulting in a promotion to
grade I. In addition, Alex was the Eastern United
States Pipe Band Association professional snare drum
solo season champion in 2000 and 2001. Currently,
Alex is serving as a member of The Army's Old Guard
Fife and Drum Corps, an adjudicator for the EUSPBA,
and is the lead drummer of the City of Washington Pipe
Band.
Alex will be at the following session:
June 16-21, 2013,
Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota