US Junior Solo Championships

Judges

Brian Donaldson, pipes Brian 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. Brian is co-owner and principal pipe maker with Inveran Pipe Makers.

Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies has had an astounding number of successes at piping competitions, winning more Highland bagpiping championships than anyone in history. Alasdair won every event he entered at the Northern Meeting in Inverness in 1986. He won the Inverness Former Winners MSR 11 times between 1986 to 2005, more than anyone previously. And in 2002, he won the Glenfiddich Championship MSR for the sixth time. No wonder the readers of Piper & Drummer magazine named Alasdair as the best piper of the 20th century. Alasdair is also in demand as a teacher and piping competition judge. For more than twelve years, he has been head of the piping program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And he formerly served 17 years as piper and Pipe Major with the Queen's Own Highlanders, preparing recruits to be regimental pipers. 

James MacColl, pipes 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.

Gordon Bell, drums Gordon began drumming at the age of eight under the guidance of Norman MacLeod in the Kenmure Pipeband. He 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 been a member of Muirhead & Sons, Kenmure, Worcester Kiltie, 78th Fraser Highlanders, and the City of Washington Pipe Bands. Gordon 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 also plays bass guitar.