George Balderose
Brian Donaldson
Richmond Johnston
James MacColl
Mahrla Manning
Donald McBride
Willie McCallum
Scot Walker
John Wilson
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:
July 8-13, 2012, St. John's Military School, Salina, Kansas
July 15-20, 2012, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
July 29-August 3, 2012, 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 10-15, 2012, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
June 17-22, 2012, Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota
June 24-29, 2012, North Central College, Naperville, Illinois
July 8-13, 2012, St. John's Military School, Salina, Kansas
July 15-20, 2012, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
July 22-27, 2012, Week 1, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 29-August 3, 2012, 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 10-15, 2012, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
June 17-22, 2012, Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota
July 15-20, 2012, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
July 22-27, 2012, Week 1, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 29-August 3, 2012, 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 10-15, 2012, 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:
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 19–24, 2012, Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota
July 8-13, 2012, St. John's Military School, Salina, Kansas
July 15-20, 2012, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
Scot Walker of Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania was rated #1 Overall Solo Piping Competitor 7 out of 8 years by the Eastern US Pipe Band Association. He has won firsts at nearly all of the major US Solo Championships. In Scotland, he has won first prizes in the professional competitions at the games in Dornoch, Strathpeffer, Lonach, and Cowal, and others. Currently, he serves on the Music Faculty of Moravian College as instructor of Bagpipe Music. His students have distinguished themselves at EUSPBA Amateur competitions throughout the eastern US.
Scot will be at the following sessions:
June 10-15, 2012, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
June 24-29, 2012, North Central College, Naperville, Illinois
July 17–22, 2011, Week 1, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
“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
Michael Eagle
Hunter Gullickson
Andrew Hoinacki
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 15-20, 2012, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel,
Pennsylvania
July 22-27, 2012, Week 1, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
July 29-August 3, 2012, Week 2, East Stroudsburg
University, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Michael Eagle
Michael Eagle will be at the following sessions:
June 24-29, 2012, North Central College,
Naperville, Illinois
July 8-13, 2012, St. John's Military School, Salina,
Kansas
Hunter Gullickson
Hunter Gullickson will be at the following sessions:
June 17-22, 2012, Macalester College, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
Andrew Hoinacki started drumming
at six years old and in the few years to follow
learned tenor, bass and snare. After formative
years in a junior band program, he has been
competing with bands in Grade 2 and Grade 1 since
the age of 14, including eight years as a leading
drummer. Andrew's solo accolades at the
Professional level include MWPBA Champion Supreme,
WUSPBA Champion Supreme, and United States
Champion, in addition to many awards in the amateur
grades. His well-rounded experience and
down-to-earth approach have made him a sought-after
instructor for all forms of pipe band drumming and
band coaching. Even at his young age, he has served
as an active adjudicator of drumming and ensemble
for a decade, and is currently recognized on both
the MWPBA and WUSPBA judging panels. Andrew is a
native of Chicago where he is a business consultant
and oversees multiple services advancing the art
and education of Scottish drumming.
Andrew will be at the following sessions:
June 12–17, 2011, Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, California
Balmoral School
of Piping & Drumming instructors — past and
present
Piping
Jimmy Anderson
George Balderose
John Bottomley
Rob Boyd
Gail Brown
Maureen Connor
Mike Cusack
P/M Brian Donaldson
P/M Alasdair Gillies
P/M Norman Gillies
Nick Hudson
Richmond Johnston
Peter Kent
Kathy Thomas Kinderman
P/M Ron Lawrie
Donald Lindsay*
Jack Lee
James MacColl
Ian MacDonald, Glasgow
P/M Jimmy MacGregor*
Donald MacPhee
Willie McCallum
John McDougall*
James McIntosh, MBE*
Joyce McIntosh
P/M Iain McLellan, BEM
P/M Harry McNulty
Adrian Melvin
Gordon Mooney
P/M Iain Morrison
Jacky Pincet*
Lyric Todkill
Nancy Crutcher Tunnicliffe
Scot Walker
P/S John Wilson
*Piobaireachd students of P/M Robert U. Brown and
P/M Robert B. Nicol of Balmoral
Drumming
Bert Barr
Richard Baughman
Bernadette Bell
Gordon Bell
Graham Brown
Drew Duthart
John Fisher
Andrew Hoinacki
Mark Humphrey
J. Reid Maxwell
Liza McAdam
Duncan Miller
Jon Quigg
Jim Sim
Doug Stronach
Andy White