Pipers
Year of birth: 1973
Place of birth: Oban
Occupation: Music Instructor/ Piano Technician
Year of joining IDPB: 2004
Stuart Liddell’s solo achievements include the Silver Medal at the 1992 Argyllshire Gathering, the Gold Medal at the 2000 Northern Meeting, and the Gold Medal at the 2004 Argyllshire Gathering. He won the Clasp at the 2007 Northern Meeting. A former member of the ScottishPower Pipe Band for six years and eleven years with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, helping win their World Championships in 1999, 2001 and 2008.
Previous teachers include P/M Ronald McCallum M.B.E., Arthur Gillies, Jim Henderson and Hugh McCallum.
Alasdair Gillies, Gordon Walker, Gordon Duncan and Alex Duthart have been major influences on his piping career while Jack & Terry Lee along with J. Reid Maxwell have inspired him from a band perspective.
Bungy jumping in New Zealand during an SFU Pipe Band concert tour has been his greatest achievement outside of piping.
Lament for Donald Ban McCrimmon is his favourite tune.
He also rates Brisbane, Australia as his favourite City, simply for the fact they have beautiful woman!!
Year of birth: 1972
Place of birth: Paisley
Occupation: Solicitor
Year of joining IDPB: 2004
Dougie started piping with Jimmy Pettigrew at Knightswood Juvenile and then received lessons from the late Duncan Johnstone from the age of 12. More recently he has taken lessons in Piobaireachd from the late Ronald Morrison and Robert Wallace.
Previous bands include Knightswood Juvenile, Black Bottle Whisky (1990-1992), ScottishPower (1994 and 1995), Black Bottle Whisky/ David Urquhart Travel (1995-2003)- Pipe Sergeant (1997-2002).
Duncan Johnstone, Jim Wark, Don Bradford and Robert Wallace are Dougie’s major influences on his piping
Dougies reckons enduring the eternal struggle by St. Mirren against relegation has been his greatest non piping related achievement.
Alison Krauss & Union Station, Rush, Irish Folk and Classical music can be found playing in Dougie’s car at any given time.
Dougie was P/Sgt of the David Urquart Travel band in grade one and assistant PM of Inveraray and District during their Novice and Juvenile seasons. He is also a composer with various pieces having been recorded including Cell Block and Rebel Without Applause.
Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Falkirk
Occupation: Piping Instructor (National Piping Centre, Glasgow)
Year of joining IDPB: 2009
Callum started piping with Bert Smith but more recently has been receiving Piobaireachd tuition from Tom Speirs and light music from Willie MacCallum.
He joined the grade one Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band when he was only 12 years old and has also won world championships with Shotts & Dykehead and SFU Pipe Band.
Silver Medalist at Oban in 2006 and has featured in the Gold Medal prize list at both Oban and Inverness in 2008.
Callum says his greatest piping influence include Willie McCallum, Stuart Liddell and Jack Lee.
His favourite Cities include Vancouver and New York… all next to Bo’ness of course.
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Dumbarton
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2003
Teachers include Stuart Liddell, Dougie Campbell, Robert Stewart, Kate Paton and Angus McColl.
Gordon Duncan, Fred Morrison, Angus McColl and Stuart Liddell are his biggest influences in piping.
Ally reached 2nd Kyu in Argyll Shukoki Karate before giving it up for piping.
Walking the West Highland Way in 2008 was his greatest non piping related achievement.
He is a keen Rangers F.C. fan.
SLOT are his favourite pipe band and the 2007 SFU Medley is his favourite medley selection.
Ally is partial to Indian and Chinese food. Non of which can be found in Inveraray!!
In 2008 Ally won the Duke of Argyll’s Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering and records that as his highlight in solo competition.
Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Dunoon
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2009
Ally was taught the pipes by Jim Henderson intially howeevr now receives instruction from Willie McCallum.
He was a member of the Dunoon Grammer School band and Scottish Power.
Major influences on Ally’s piping so far have been Jim Henderson, Chris Armstrong and Willie McCallum .
During the Lorient festival of 2008, in the very early hours of the morning, Ally found himself in the middle of a circle getting ready to compete in a sing-off with one of Brittany’s finest traditional singers Jean-Pierre Quéré. After a long and strenuous battle, singing the Gaelic Airs, Breton dances and a family favourite “There’s a Lady in Red” he emerged as the winner.
Ally is a keen rangers supporter outside of his piping.
One of is favourite composers is John MacLellan of Dunoon (with particular attention to his 3/4 marches), Rory MacLoude’s Lament is also a favourite.
Throughout the solo circuit Ally has been successful in the B grade March & Piobaireachd events at the 2009 Cowal Highland Gathering the March & Strathspey and Reel events at the 2009 Northern Meetings.
Year of birth: 1991
Place of birth: Lochgilphead
Occupation: Hospital Domestic
Year of joining IDPB: 2008
Geordie was taught the pipes Rod Buchanan from kilmartin, and now receives lessons from Stuart Liddell
His biggest influences are, Stuart Liddell, Gordon Duncan, John D Burgess.
He has played pipes since he was 11 and started out with the Mid Argyll Pipe Band and a few cadet pipe bands across Scotland and as of 2008 season IDPB
His favourite pipe band is SLOT.
He loves snowboarding, shooting, Muay Thai, and listening to music.
His biggest achievement outside of piping was coming 3rd in the junior British Clay pigeon shooting, becoming the youngest team captain in his shooting club, and never getting less than a 3rd in any competition he has entered.
Year of birth: 1985
Place of birth: Glasgow
Occupation: Quantity Surveyor
Year of joining IDPB: 2008
Finlay was taught the pipes by his Grandfather Alistair Sinclair, Tiree and his Mum Anne Johnston. He now receives solo lessons from Ronnie McShannon.
A former member of the 52nd Lowland Regiment, 78th Citadel Highlanders & Spirit of Scotland bands.
His favourite pipe band is Victoria Police from Australia.
Finlay cannot commit to a favourite piper as he says there is a different one each day of the week.
Outside of piping Finlay is a keen downhill mountain biker and kit drummer (also a closet snare drummer).
The highlight of his piping career to date has been the Silver Medal at Inverness in 2006.
Year of birth: 1990
Place of birth: Greenock
Occupation: Agricultural Trainee
Year of joining IDPB: 2007
Previous teachers include Annie Grant, Kate Paton, Dougie Campbell and Craig Campbell.
Raymond is a former member of the Dunoon Grammer School Pipe Band.
Annie Grant, Stuart Liddell and Angus McColl are the biggest influences on his piping.
Walking/hobbling the West Highland Way in 2008 with IDPB is his greatest feat outside of piping.
Raymond’s favourite band outside of IDPB is the Strathclyde Police and is a big fan of the Earl of Seaforth’s Salute.
The 2008 Juvenile season with IDPB is his greatest band experience to date.
Year of birth: 1990
Place of birth: Vale of Leven
Occupation: Storeman
Year of joining IDPB: 2005
Nick like his younger brother also started his piping with Rod Buchanan beforing progressing to the Mid Argyll Pipe Band.
He now receives lessons from Stuart Liddell.
His favourite pipers include Donald MacPherson, Ian MacLellan, Gordon Duncan and Stuart Liddell.
SFU, Victoria Police and SLOT are his favourite pipe bands.
Nick’s favourite food is curry and outside of piping his greatest achievement to date is completing the west Highland Way!!!
Year of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Lochgilphead
Occupation: Student/Piping Instructor
Year of joining IDPB: 2005
Scott started his piping with Rod Buchanan before joining the Mid Argyll Pipe Band. He now receives solo lessons from Stuart Liddell.
His favourites pipe band is SLOT.
Scott likes all types of food as long as he has Irn Bru (in vast quantities) to wash it down!
His greatest non piping achievement to date is completing this profile.
Favourite tunes are Lament for the Children and Nameless (Cherede Darievea)
Year of birth: 1991
Place of birth: Glasgow
Occupation: Waitress at the George Hotel, Inveraray
Year of joining IDPB: 2004
She has been a regular prize winner in the junior solo competitions having just won the 2009 Kintyre Piping Society Junior Championship.
Her greatest influences in piping are Stuart Liddell, Fred Morrison & Margaret Dunn.
Laura’s favourite tunes include The Henningham Reunion by Bruce Gandy and the Earl of Seaforth’s Salute.
Her favourite competition pipe bands include SLOT & SFU.
Year of birth: 1993
Place of birth: Dumbarton
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2007
Euan’s previous instructors include Craig Campbell, Alasdair Henderson, Kate Paton and Stuart Liddell.
He is a former member of the Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band.
Major influences on his piping are Stuart Liddell, Angus McColl and Gordon Walker.
Euan is a Ranger F.C. supporter in his spare time.
Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is his favourite band outside of IDPB.
His favourite tune is Lament for the Departure of King James.
Highlights of his piping to date are the results of 2009 with IDPB.
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Campbeltown
Occupation: RSAMD Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2009
Sarah learned her piping from Ian Mckerral and Jim Henderson throughout her time in the Kintyre Schools Juvenile Pipe Band.
Willie McCallum is her greatest piping influence.
She likes to play badminton in her spare time and notes the under 18 badminton championships 2009 win as her most noteable non piping achievement to date.
Sarah states cheerios and Irn Bru as her favourite food and drink, not together though.
First in the under 15 and under 18 pibroch competitions in Cowal, Inveraray and Strachur are her most noteable piping prizes so far.
Year of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Glasgow
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2003
Laura started the practice chanter with Arthur Gillies and now receives regular instruction from Stuart Liddell and Angus McColl.
She is a founding member of the IDPB.
Her major Piping Influences are Stuart Liddell, Angus McColl, Gordon Duncan and Fred Morrison.
Laura’s favourite bands outside of IDPB are the Victoria Police, SFU and FMM.
The 2009 season with IDPB has been her piping highlight to date and she states Barcelona as her favourite City!!
Year of birth: 1990
Place of birth: Cumbria
Occupation: Student (University of Glasgow)
Year of joining IDPB: 2008
Craig is a former member of the Dunoon Grammer School Pipe Band having played there from 2003-2007.
His greatest influences in piping are Gordon Walker and Filed Marshal Montgomery.
Craig is a former Junior Curling Champion and is a keen sailer in his spare time.
He has been successful in Junior solo competitions however notes the 2008 season with IDPB as the highlight of his piping career to date.
Year of birth: 1994
Place of birth: Kirkaldy
Occupation: Student
Date of joining IDPB: 2007
Iain formerly played with the Dunoon Grammer School Pipe Band.
He states Gordon Walker, Angus MacColl and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as his greatest incluences in piping. He is also quite fond of Field Marshal Montgomery!!
Iain is also a keen Shinty player and has just started playing for the Struchur Adult team.
The 2004 SLOT medley is Iain’s favourite competition selection and Gordon Walker’s Fiddler’s Rally is his favourite tune.
Snare Drummers
Year of birth: 1983
Place of birth: Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Occupation: Drumming Instructor
Year of joining IDPB: 2008
Steven has enjoyed great success in both solo and band circles winning the World Solo Championship at Juvenile level in 1997 & 1998 then the adult title in 2006 and 2011. He first competed with the local Cullybackey Pipe Band, helping win the 2001 Grade 2 Drum Corps World Champion title. Shortly after, he joined J. Reid Maxwell’s Simon Fraser University Pipe Band corps, and helped win the Grade 1 World Champion Drum Corps title in 2004 and more recently the World Pipe Band Championships in 2008 along with a second drumming title in SFU. Steven travelled from his home in Northern Ireland to Inveraray for four years to teach the Inveraray and District band until they decided to progress into grade two in 2009.
Steven was previously taught by his father Dessie, Adrian Hoy, Andrew Scullion and Bobby Rea and has been receiving guidance for his solo playing from Ian Lawson since around 2003.
His major influences in drumming are Adrian Hoy, J. Reid Maxwell, Alex Duthart, Paul Turner, Barry Wilson, Jim Kilpatrick and Ian Lawson.
Victoria Police “Live in Ballymena” being his all time favourite Pipe Band album!
Highlights of his drumming career to date include winning the Sash with SFU in 2004 & 2008 and the World Solo Drumming Championships in 2006 & 2011.
Steven now lives in Glasgow, with his Fiancée Grace.
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of birth: 1989
Place of birth: Oban (The Ban!)
Occupation: Apprentice Electrical Fitter
Year of joining IDPB: 2008
Andy was taught drumming initially by Brian Graham and Liza McAdam (Aunt)
He is a former member of the Oban Pipe Band and also competed for a Summer with the Prince Charles (Caledonian Club Of San Francisco) Pipe Band
Major drumming influences include Alex Duthart, J.Reid Maxwell, Davey & Liza McAdam , Eric Ward, Paul Turner and Brian Purves.
Surviving a weekend unscathed in Reno with his uncle Davey McAdam is his greatest achievement to date!
Andy is a big Rangers fan and states Ally MCoist as his favourite sports personallity.
Year of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Alexandria
Occupation: Professional Mario Kart Driver (part time high school student)
Year of joining IDPB: 2004
Graeme’s previous teachers include Brian McCombish, Brian Graham, Blair Brown and Steven Mcwhirter.
His first pipe band experience was with the Oban Pipe Band.
Graeme notes Alex Duthart, Jim Kilpatrick, Barry Wilson and J. Reid Maxwell as his greatest influences on drumming.
He did not provide a noteable “non drumming achievement” as he says there is nothing outside of drumming!!
Graeme’s favourite Cities outside of Inveraray are Vancouver and New York City.
Besides pipe bands, U2, Eric Clapton, Coldplay and The Spice Girls can be found on his iPod.
Year of birth: 1978
Place of birth: Quimper, Brittany
Occupation: Web Developer – IT guy at The National Piping Centre, Glasgow
Year of joining IDPB: 2009
Gus was taught his drumming by his uncle Ronan Sicard
He has been a member of three bands previous joining IDPB, they were: Kevrenn Brest St Mark, Bagad Cap Caval & Scottish Power Pipe Band
His major influences on drumming includes his uncle Ronan, Tom & Gordon Brown during workshops in Brittany and playing under Barry Wilson for three seasons. He also enjoys listening to Andrew Scullion, Reid Maxwell, Paul Turner and Jim Kilpatrick.
His greatest achievement outside of drumming was becoming the first winner of the Matrix Carbonara Cook Off in 2009, defeating Tano Martone (SFU).
Gus didn’t fill out the “favourite food” section of this questionnaire but simply stated “I Love Meat & Seafood!”
He is the 2009 Junior All Ireland Solo Champion.
Band achievements include: 2 Breton Bagad Championships with Cap Caval in 2008 & 2009 with drumming wins in 2005 & 2008 along with a 2nd place in drumming at the 2006 Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championships.
Year of birth: 1994
Place of birth: Oban
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2004
Brian McComish, Gary Smith, Steven McWhirter and Bobbie Davie have been instrumental in teaching Amy.
Her major influences in drumming include Barry Wilson, Paul Turner, Reid Maxwell, Jim Kilpatrik, Scotty Fletcher, Tommy Johnston and Alex Duthart.
Getting through to the Scottish girls football semi final as her biggest achievement outside of drumming.
Amy’s favourite tunes include Fiddler’s Rally, Tommy MacDonald of Bargullion, The High Drive and Crossing the Minch.
Winning the 2008 World Juvenile Championships and Drumming title is the highlight of her drumming career.
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Bass Section
Year of birth: 1996
Place of birth: Glasgow
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2007
Mark was initially taught the Bass Drum by Gary Smyth and Allan Duff. He has also received instruction from Mike Cole, Tyler Fry and Kathryn Tawse.
He started bass drumming in the IDPB Novice Juvenile band and is the first to progress from the “wee band”.
The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, SFU and St Lawrence O’Toole can be found on Mark’s iPod.
His favourite football team is Celtic and his favourite city is Sydney, Australia.
To date, his best band experience has been finishing 4th at the worlds with IDPB novice in 2009.
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Lochgilphead
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2006
Eilidh was taught the tenor drumming by Gary Smyth and has also received instruction from Simone Reid and Tyler Fry.
Her biggest influences on her drumming has been Tyler fry, Simone Reid, Gary Smyth and Mike O’Neill .
Eilidh is also a keen Saxophone player and has won individual and Quartet competitions.
Outside of her musical abilities she also is a competent highland dancer and has won various prizes over the last few years.
SFU and Shotts are her favourite pipe bands.
Eilidh also states that her favoutie city is Los Angeles.
Highlights of Eilidh’s tenor drumming so far have been her wins at tenor drumming competitons in Northern Ireland and Scotland along with the IDPB’s Novice and Juvenile World Championships.
Year of birth: 1992
Place of birth: Dunoon
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2007
Karen’s initial instructor was Bobby Davie however has further taken lessons from Gary Smith and Tyler Fry.
She was a former member of the Dunoon Grammer School Pipe Band.
Major influences on her Tenor drumming include Simone Reid, Mike O’Neill and Tyler Fry.
Taking part in Britain’s Got Talent is one of her most noteable achievements outside of Pipe Band.
SFU and Shotts are her favourite Pipe Bands
Karen is also a big Mac & Cheese fan!!
Year of joining IDPB: 2011
Year of birth: 1993
Place of birth: Vale of Leven Hospital, Alexandria
Occupation: Student
Year of joining IDPB: 2005
Iona was taught tenor drumming initially by Gary Smyth but more recently has received lessons from Tyler Fry.
Ty Fry, Simone Reid and Mike O’Neill are her biggest influences on tenor drumming along with the mid sections of SFU, Victoria Police, Shotts and the 78th Frasers.
Iona once entered Britain’s got talent only to be knocked out by some guy who can eat 4 Ferrero Rocher in 1 minute.
Iona lists Sydney, Australia as her favourite City as she reckons the guys have great accents… nothing to do with the weather!
Iona has won two world titles with IDPB in Novice and Juvenile as well as being part of the winning drum corp in 2008. She has also won the Kintyre Piping Society tenor drumming championships for the last three years.
