BAY AREA SCOTTISH
- SCOTTISH EVENT RESOURCES FOR THE BAY AREA AND BEYOND 

Adam has been a competitive piper for the past 12 years. He started learning pipes at the age of 11 under the instruction of Gerald Tetrualt and Dr. Al Walker of the Plattsburgh Police Pipes and Drums. He quickly took to the pipes due to his past experience with piano and trumpet. Looking to further his piping knowledge, Adam attended the Ontario School of Piping and Drumming for 4 summers. There he was taught by some of the greatest bagpipers alive : Rob Crabtree, Ken Eller, Bruce Gandy, Jack Lee, Stuart Liddell, Ian K. Macdonald, Jim McGillivray, James MacHattie, Kylie MacHattie, and Scott Williams. Following the piping school, Adam took private instruction from Alex Gandy. During this time he was the Pipe Corporal of the Plattsburgh Police Pipes and Drums, as well as a piper in the RCMP Pipe Band based in Montreal, Quebec. He had the opportunity to perform in numerous parades and Military Tattoos with the bands. When Adam left to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology, he played with many bands ranging from Grade 5-1 based on where he was located. His final competition in the East Coast was with the Grade 5 Feadan Or Pipe Band out of Rochester, NY. Currently Adam plays with the Grade 2 Irish Pipers of San Francisco and is Pipe Major and instructor of the Grade 4 Stewart Tartan Pipe Band based in Saratoga, CA and competes in Grade 2 Solos. Adam has performed for : weddings, graduations, parties, fairs, festivals, funerals, memorials, parades, corporate events, and more. He is the perfect touch for your special occasion.

Piper Jonas has performed professionally for weddings, funerals, and social events for nearly two decades. A California Bay Area native, Piper Jonas began lessons with Bill Merriman and played competitively with the Prince Charles Pipe Band of San Francisco for nearly eight years during which time he served as both Pipe Sergeant and Pipe Major for the Grade III band and traveled to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships twice. In 2010 he began playing with the Robert Malcolm Memorial Grade III Pipe Band of Vancouver, Canada under the instruction of several of Simon Fraser University Pipe Band’s membership including Rob Menzies and Jack Lee. In 2012 Piper Jonas again traveled to Scotland and placed 1st in the Grade III World Championships. Since 2012 Piper Jonas has been providing instruction to the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Pipe Band, giving private lessons, and keeping up an active professional performance schedule.

Mark started playing the bagpipes at age 16 and has a lifetime of experience. He is available for bookings in Yosemite, California, Nevada, and Arizona. ​ Mark plays a 1963 full sterling silver set of bagpipes made by R.G. Hardie with a chanter by David Chesney, used by top bands all over the world! A perfect look and sound for a wedding, funeral, or party! Mark also has a set of Walsh Shuttle Pipes (small pipes) for a more intimate setting. The Walsh Shuttle pipes have a better, bolder, and much prettier sound than other small Pipes. In the National Parks there are decibel restrictions in most areas except for hotels and churches, such as the chapel in Yosemite. Only small pipes are allowed in restricted areas. The Great Highland Bagpipe has one volume, which is very loud, and might not be appropriate for some venues. Mark Little has played for many, weddings, parties, and funerals over the years and will be more than happy to audition for you before being hired. Mark is well known and recommended by all of the Funeral Homes in the San Joaquin Valley, and any of them can be contacted for reference. Mark has played for the Fresno Police Department, CDF Fire Honor Guard, Armed Services Honor Guard, National Cemetery at Santa Nella California, and many weddings in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park amongst others. Mark has played with the St. Andrews Pipe Band of Modesto, Clan Campbell Pipe Band of Modesto, and now the Fresno Stag and Thistle Pipes and Drums.

Melody Pipes is a female bagpiper of Scottish heritage (Clans Farquharson & MacKay) located in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a member of the Western United States Pipe Band Association (WUSPBA), Melody is an awarded solo and band piper, competing at events throughout California. She pipes with two Bay Area Pipes and Drums Bands and should you desire additional pipers, drummers, or even highland dancers to make your event successful, Melody can make arrangements to fulfill your needs with additional players. Melody is committed to making your event successful, and she prides herself on going the extra mile for her clients. She thoroughly discusses her client's needs beforehand, helping them to plan and select appropriate tunes for their event. If needed, she is happy to meet her clients at the event venue beforehand to work out logistics. On event day, Melody arrives early to the venue to ensure she understands her role so things go as planned. Should last minute changes need to be made, she is flexible and adapts easily. Your event is important, and Melody's purpose is to help make your event successful and something beautifully memorable to look back on. Charitable & Memorial Events: Every year on her birthday, 9/11, Melody donates her time piping at various fire stations throughout the South Bay in remembrance of firefighters and their service on 9/11. Throughout the year, Melody donates her piping skills to various charitable fundraising events such as Honor Flight for Veterans, Operation Surf for Veterans, Relay for Life, and memorial events such as Wreaths Across America.

Elise MacGregor Ferrell learned to love bagpipe music as a toddler, when she began marching every summer weekend behind Canada's 100-year old Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band. Nowadays she plays bagpipes in those same parades, and she performs solo as "phantom piper" at a historical lighthouse in Kincardine harbor. In California, she plays solo bagpipes for weddings, funerals, memorial services, veterans' ceremonies, running races, holiday parades, and Santa Cruz area concerts, as well as playing both bagpipes and fiddle with Celtic band Charmas. Elise's repertoire ranges from traditional Songs of Glory, battle marches, showy dance tunes and modern hornpipes, to Celtic rock riffs that she plays with Charmas, and tunes learned by request for weddings and memorials. She wears a modern, green and black version of her family's MacGregor tartan, and with the Monterey Bay Pipe Band she wears the MacKenzie tartan.

Bruce Cotter has been a piper since 1983. He began playing with the Prince Charles Junior Pipe Band of San Francisco before joining the Los Angeles Police Pipe Band and is currently a member of the Alameda County Sheriff's Pipe Band. Through the Balmoral School of Piping and Drumming Programs, Bruce has studied with world-renowned piper James McIntosh of Carnegie Mellon University and Pipe Major Ian McLellan of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, Glasgow. Bruce has performed for many special occasions in the San Francisco Bay Area. These events include weddings, Scottish and holiday celebrations of every kind, birthday and retirement parties, country club golf tournaments, fundraisers, memorial services, corporation functions, store openings, parades, Rotary and school presentations, and church services. His musical selections range from Scotland the Brave and Amazing Grace to traditional lively jigs, reels, marches and strathspeys as well as to contemporary Scottish arrangements.

Richard D. Katz, a professional piper, began his piping career playing the Scottish Highland Bagpipes. He competed in local Scottish Highland Gatherings for 7 years being awarded 16 medals before retiring from competition. He has been tutored by Sgt. Gordon Walker (Scotland), Robert Wallace (Scotland), Harry McNulty (PM Power of Scotland, Scotland), and his piping teacher, Robert Boyd, California. Richard's highland pipes were custom made for him by Allistair Sinclair (Wm. Sinclair & Son) of Leith, Scotland. Richard became interested in Irish music and purchased an inexpensive tin whistle. While learning the tin whistle, Richard, became more aware of the world of Irish music. After seeing Davey Spillane perform on Uilleann pipes in "Riverdance" he decided to learn Uilleann pipes. He had a full set made for him by Charles Roberts of County Sligo. ​ Richard has been taught by such noted Irish pipers as Mick O'Brien, Eoin O'Raighaigh, Gay McKeon, Jimmy O'Brien-Moran, and Martin Nolan. He has also been tutored by Bay Area uilleann piper, Todd Denam. ​ Richard has performed four times with The Chieftains and also with the Marin Symphony Orchestra. He has performed at Davies Symphony Hall and the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, the Marin Symphony Hall in Marin, and the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Richard plays a concert D tin whistle made by Chris Abell of Ashville, North Carolina and a 18" bodhrán made by Eoin Leonard (Belgarth Bodhrans) of Orkney, Scotland. ​ Richard plays at weddings, memorials & funerals, parties, corporate events, etc. He also teaches all of his instruments.

I have 30+ years of piping experience and always perform in full highland dress, Campbell tartan of course. I stay very active playing between 6 to 10 engagements a month. I've played with six time Grammy winners The Chieftains. I've performed for the Mayor of San Francisco and opened for Mark Victor Hanson, a nationally known speaker and author of Chicken Soup for the Soul. I was also part of a group that played for the Queen of England when she came to San Francisco. I played on Evening Magazine, Live 105 radio station for the Alex Bennet show, a TV commercial for Tennent's Scottish beer, Channel 11 KNTV morning news, and Raiders playoff half time show. I studied under World Champion Pipe Major Donald Shaw Ramsay, B.E.M. I have played with the San Francisco Irish, Alameda Sheriffs, Dunvegan, Seattle Clansmen and Diablo Highlanders pipe bands. If interested, I also have a drummer, Scottish highland dancers and Irish step dancers that I can bring to supplement my act.

Highland bagpipe music has just that certain quality about it that has moved the hearts of people for centuries, whether in stately march, aire, hornpipe, gig or reel. With 15+ year’s performance experience, John B maintains a commitment to this timeless music, serving the communities of Northern California from Carmel to Napa to Yosemite National Park. “The most rewarding aspect of playing pipe music is in fulfilling the musical vision of those I play for,” says John. “It’s about the music that so many love. Whether playing in front of a boisterous crowd at a reception, or for a family grieving a departed loved one, I strive to bring that same energy, and focused attention to the music, holding true to tradition.“ From beaches, giant redwood groves and vineyards, to churches, reception halls, and golf or yacht clubs, John has been honored to perform for weddings, dignitaries, receptions, parties and memorial services. The music includes many traditional Scottish favorites, old and new, including Highland Cathedral in accompaniment of pipe organ. Playing with the Stewart Tartan Pipes & Drums, and through John’s contacts, a performance can be expanded to include pipers with drums, or even a full pipe band with highland dancers making your day musically memorable.

Alan plays many different kinds of bagpipes, several diatonic accordions, and numerous other wind and percussion instruments. Alan began studying the music of the British Isles and Ireland soon after taking up the Highland bagpipe, and has now mastered a sizable tune repetoire played on a number of different folk instruments of these lands. The traditional music and instruments of continental Europe were also introduced early on to Alan from his many encounters with other folk musicians. Instruction with the greats of European traditional music both here and abroad has enabled Alan to master each instrument and musical style. Alan's solo playing experience includes frequent performances at weddings, funerals, parties, dances, festivals, and corporate events. He has also appeared a number of times in theatre productions and on radio and television. Alan has been extensively involved in group instruction, workshops, lectures and demonstrations at schools, music camps and festivals. This page contains recent 'thank-you' notes and testimonials from some of Alan's many hundreds of clients. If interested, Alan can supply and perform with other pipers and/or drummers, and can provide accompaniment for his or your Scottish Highland and/or Irish step dancers.

Jay Salter has performed on his Great Highland Bagpipes for hundreds of Northern California events ranging from weddings and funerals to birthday parties, wedding proposals, and corporate functions. With over three decades of experience you can be assured of an outstanding bagpipe performance for a very memorable event.

With over 35 years as a professional bagpiper and a repertoire of hundreds of tunes, I work closely with clients to select exactly the right music for their setting. I live in Mendocino County, in Calfornia USA and perform throughout Northern California at weddings, memorials, parties, openings and ceremonial events of all types. For events that require larger numbers of bagpipers, I can provide a group of pipers who play to a very high standard.