Winter Storm Faculty, Adjudicators, and Performers

Hugh Cameron - Snare Drumming (Adjudication)

Hugh Cameron, Toronto, Canada has been a professional drumming instructor for thirty years; has taught and adjudicated throughout North America, and has developed a thorough teaching method for drummers of all ages and abilities.

Hugh has over 20 years experience in Grade 1 pipe bands as well as having won most solo drumming titles in Ontario, Canada including three consecutive Champion Supreme Awards for professional drumming.

Hugh's principle instructor was the late Alex Duthart.

Hugh is the proprietor of Cameron's Drumming Studio which distributes a wide variety of pipe band drumming products. Cameron's Drumming Studio is the Major Sponsor of the Cameron's Drumming Studio - MHAF North American Amateur Snare Drumming Championships.

Kahlil Cappuccino - Bass Drumming

Kahlil Cappuccino has been involved in pipe bands for over 20 years. He is the bass-drummer/mid-section leader with the Grade 1, 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel Pipe Band and a member of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band mid-section.

He is the recipient of numerous awards including the MHAF Gold Medal for Bass Drumming. In addition to playing, he teaches drumming at the individual and workshop levels bringing a seasoned, unique, fun and musical approach to the lessons. Kahlil is also a member of the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario's, Music Committee. Since 2009 he has also been a member of the MHAF Faculty

Kahlil lives in Ottawa, Canada, with his wife Brenda Jackson and their children, Ella and Rowan. He works in the Department of Canadian Heritage as their, Director - Strategic Planning, Reporting and Integrated Risk Management.

Stephen Creighton - Snare Drumming

Stephen Creighton is the lead drummer of the current RSPBA Champion of Champions St Laurence O’Toole pipe band from Dublin, Ireland. His honours include to date as a solo drummer include 1989 World Junior Champion, 19 World Solo Finals, 5 Senior all Ireland Championships and 3 Ulster Senior Championships. With his corps, Stephen has won five Grade 1 all Ireland drumming prizes and the 2006 World Grade 1 Drumming prize. Stephen is married to Amanda and has four children; Stephen Junior, Keith, Glen and Hannah

Alastair Dunn - Piping

Alastair started piping at 8 years old, initially taught by Freddie Russell, he now receives tuition from Roddy Macleod MBE. He is a frequent prize winner on the Professional solo circuit with his main successes including the Gold and Silver Medals, Northern Meeting; Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering, Metro Cup Piobaireachd, New York and the A Grade Piobaireachd, London.

Alastair is the Pipe-Sergeant of six-times World Champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band. Since joining the band in 1997 he has won every major pipe band competition including the World Championships in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007, under the direction of P/M Richard Parkes. Alastair was acting Pipe Major of the Band from April to July in 2004 winning the Scottish and All Ireland Championships.

He is currently General Manager at R.G. Hardie & Co. who manufacture premium quality bagpipes. He currently plays a set of Victorian Hand Chased Silver Peter Henderson Bagpipes with matching blackwood pipe chanter, hand crafted by the company. The Henderson pipes have their own unique serial number and he plays set number 06026B.

John Dunne - Bass Drumming and Tenor Drumming

John Dunne, of Dublin, Ireland, first played in the Fintan Lalor Pipe Band, which was one of Ireland's most successful Pipe Bands, winning many All Ireland band and drum corps competitions and also two Hamilton Shield Drum Corps prizes in Cowal.  At the end of the 1986 season he joined Terry Tully's St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band with John Keogh as leading drummer.  Playing for two years in grade 2, winning the Scottish Championship band and drum corps prizes, the All Ireland, 2nd at the Worlds and Cowal twice.  Unbeaten north and south of Ireland.  In 1989 with promotion to grade 1 the band was 2nd to Field Marshall Montgomery in the all Ireland.  In 1991 the bass section won the World's title and in 1992 in Cowal with the band coming 4th, the bass section took 1st prize.  

Most recently, with Stephen Creighton as lead drummer, John and the St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band drum corps have won 7 All Ireland's,  5 Bass and tenor sections and two World's drum corps and 2 World's middle section championships.  Since 1998 the drum corps has been regularly in the top three at almost every major competition.

John is a fanatical pipe band member, supporter and a dedicated band's man.

Ken Eller - Piping

Ken Eller, also known as "The Captain", has had a 50 year piping career … 15 times a winner of the North American Pipe Band Championships with two bands: the 78th Fraser Highlanders and the Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band. He is now retired from active competition and has expanded his teaching career with on line lessons. He has been a member of the Piper's and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO) since 1962 and is also a member of EUSPBA, the Eastern US Pipe Band Association. In 1984/85 he was admitted to the panel of Adjudicators for both of these organizations. Most recently (2005), he has been accepted by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) to their panel as an international adjudicator.

Ken teaches piping full time since retiring from a 32 year career as a mathematics professor at Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology. During the summer months, you will find him teaching at the various summer schools across North America and judging at Highland Games both here and in Scotland.

He is married to Diane, an internationally recognized triathlete and former age group world champion. They have two children, Lindsay, 33 and Cameron, 29.

John Fisher - Snare Drumming

John Fisher is one of the most versatile players and educators of our lifetime. His career has spanned over 3 decades dividing his passion between drum set and pipe band genres.

He is a former North American Champion and was the lead drummer of the City of Victoria Pipe Band, member of the Shotts & Dykehead Drum Corps under the direction of the legendary Alex Duthart, and former lead drummer of the 78th Fraser Highlanders of Ontario Pipe Band.

Currently, John is the lead drummer of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band. In 2008, the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, comprised of world-class players, was the subject of an award-winning documentary by John MacDonald.

John’s other ‘passion’ is drum set. He is both a master player and educator. He was a former faculty member at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles where he also performed as a studio session drummer. His reputation as a drum set player has brought many famous drummers to his doorstep including Grammy, Billboard Magazine, American Music, MTV music award winners as well as Modern Drummer Magazine poll winners.

Steve Foley - Bass Drumming

Steve was born in Glasgow Scotland, June 2nd, 1971 and immigrated to California July 7th, 1976. Steve began his pipe band career at the age of 9. He was a tenor drummer with LAPD Pipe Band, Beach Cities Pipe Band and Prince Charles Pipe Band. He started bass drumming at the age of 16 with the Scottish Heritage Pipe Band and is currently with the LA Scots Pipe Band. Steve feels fortunate to have accomplished the following awards both as an individual and band member: 2009 & 2010 MHAF Winter Storm Gold Medal Bass Drumming Champion, 1999 Grade One World Bass Drum Champion and 1997 Grade Two World Pipe Band Champion and 1997 World Bass Drum Champion. Outside of the pipe band world, Steve is a Firefighter. Steve is married to World Champion Highland dancer Natalie Anne Hall. Steve is the proud father of three children; Connor,Brennan and daughter Tess. Steve and his family reside in Mission Viejo, California.

Bruce Gandy - Piping

Bruce Gandy makes his living teaching piping full time at home in Halifax, with an ever-growing stable of students coming to his work office at the Halifax Citadel; or his computer as he is one of the most in demand teachers on the growing Skype network with over 40 students
coming online to see him.

Bruce is a multiple winner of most of North America’s premier contests and the winner of both Gold Medals at Oban and Inverness as well as the Bratach Gorm.

A new venture for Bruce has been the start of his new non-profit society, The Bruce Gandy Bagpiping Development Society. This is a corporate group designed to raise monies in order to provide tuition scholarships for deserving pipers, locally, nationally and one day internationally. In March of 2011 he released his newest CD, “Front Row Seat” which has received great reviews, and he is personally donating a large portion of the profits straight to the society.

Photo courtesy of

Stuart Lowe Photography

Jake Jørgensen - Snare Drumming

Born and raised in Denmark, Jake started playing the drums in 1991 at the age of 11 and enjoyed playing with several different pipe bands in Denmark. With great inspiration from both local and visiting instructors, he soon developed a passion for pipe band drumming. In November 2000 he moved to Scotland to join the drum corps of the Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band, led by Jim Kilpatrick MBE. During his time with the band he took part in winning all of the major championships, including the grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships in 2003 & 2005. During Jake’s time in Shotts, the Drum Corps picked up all 5 major championship title many times over, including the World Drum Corps title in 2002, 2003 & 2005 and seven of a possible ten Champion of Champions Drum Corps titles.

In October 2010, after 10 years with Shotts, Jake took on the Leading Drummer position with Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band, where he is currently building his own corps. In the solo drumming arena, Jake’s best results so far include a 10^th place at the 2004 World Solo Drumming Final.

Jake lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he has been working as a full time Drumming Instructor for the last 10 years. He currently teaches children aged 7-18 at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh. The school band completed their first competitive season in 2011 and won numerous prizes including 3^rd prize at the World Championships, 2^nd prize at the Cowal Championships and two championship wins (European and Cowal) for the drum corps in Novice Juvenile. George Heriot’s was recently upgraded to the Juvenile grade and the school will be entering a second band for the 2012 competitive season.

Matt Kline - Piping

Matt began piping with the William Jewell College Caledonian Pipe Band, ultimately serving as Pipe Sergeant at the age of fifteen. From there he joined the Kansas City St. Andrew's Pipes and Drums, helping them win numerous competitions, including placing second overall in piping in Grade 3 at the 2001 World Pipe Band Championships. Matt competed with the band during their formidable years in Grade Two and served as registered instructor and Pipe Major of the first ever Grade Five Band of the organization.

Matt is currently a member of the City of Chicago Pipe Band, instructs several bands in the Midwest and is a prize winning Open Bagpiper. He is an active and sought after instructor in the Midwestern United States. In addition to his piping accomplishments, he earned his Bachelor of Divinity from Raphael University in 2008.

He has been an assistant instructor at Winter Storm since its inception and was also an original founding Director of the Winter Storm Workshop. Matt currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Midwest Pipe Band Association and President of the Missouri Valley Competitive Piping and Drumming Society. His instructors have included Andrew Wright, Lindsay Kirkwood, Jake Watson, Jim Higgins, Ken Eller and Donald McBride.

Mike Kotch - Piping

Michael Kotch has been playing bagpipes for 15 years. At the age of 18, Mike won 4 first place solo prizes at the United States championships in Alma, Michigan in Grade 1. After turning professional he started competing with the Kansas City Grade 2 Pipe Band and was a key member with the band until 2005, and also played with the James J Coyne Memorial pipe band under the direction of Seamus Coyne. Mike currently plays with the City of Chicago Pipe Band.

Mike is a jet and turbo-prop Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor with over 10 years experience, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Logistics.

Terry Lee - Piping

Pipe Major Terry Lee is one of the most prominent and successful pipe band leaders in the world. Under his direction, the SFU Pipe Band captured the World Pipe Band Championship of 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2008 and 2009, and is one of only two bands in history to win both the Medley and MSR events at the World Championships more than once (MSR five times, Medley five times). Terry is also one of only seven Pipe Majors to win the World Championship more than twice.

His ability to produce superb band performances in both the contemporary and traditional style, and to significantly enhance the musicality and technique of his players is respected worldwide. Terry serves as General Manager of the well-known Scottish supplies store, Tartantown. On September 10, 1999 P/M Terry Lee and P/S Jack Lee were each presented with Canada's Meritorious Service Medal by Governor General Romeo LeBlanc in Quebec City, Quebec.

Stuart Liddell - Piping

Stuart Liddell, from Inveraray, started piping at the age of nine and was originally taught by his grandfather, the late Pipe Major Ronald McCallum M.B.E.  He has also had tuition from Jim Henderson and Hugh McCallum.

For seven years he was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band thereafter joining the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada with whom he played for eleven years. Stuart is one of the world’s most exciting  pipers and is noted for his excellent solo performances and recordings at numerous Simon Fraser University Pipe Band concerts. A piano tuner to trade, he is also piping instructor at Mid Argyll Primary and Lochgilphead High Schools.

His solo achievements include:-

Young Piper of the Year  1994, 1995 and 1997

1992 – Silver Medal (Argyllshire Gathering, Oban)

1997 - Silver Star (MSR) 3^rd Place

2000 – Gold Medal (Northern Meeting, Inverness)

2001 – Uist & Barra Overall Winner

2004 - Gold Medal (Argyllshire Gathering, Oban)

2006 – Scottish Pipers Association Knockout

2007 - Scottish Pipers Association and Scots Guards Knockout Competitions

2007 – The Clasp (Northern Meeting, Inverness)

2008 – Piping Live! Masters (Glasgow)

2009 – The Dan Reid Memorial (San Francisco)

2009 – The Homecoming Gathering (Edinburgh)

2009 – Dunvegan Medal

2009 – The Clasp (Northern Meeting, Inverness)

2009 – Glenfiddich Piping Championship

2009 – The Bratach Gorm & Overall Winner (Highland Society of London Competition)

2010 – The Metro Cup (NY)

2010 – Donald MacDonald Quaich (Skye)

2010 – Silver Star (Argyllshire Gathering, Oban

2010 – Silver Star (Northern Meeting, Inverness)

His pipe band achievements include:

Winning the World Pipe Band Championships with SFU in 1999, 2001 and 2008. Forming the Inveraray & District Pipe Band in 2004, winning the Novice Juvenile World Pipe Band Championship in 2007 and Juvenile in 2008, winning the Grade 2 Scottish, British, European, World and Cowal Pipe Band Championships in 2009 and achieving 9^th place at the Worlds and 5^th place in Grade 1 at Cowal Pipe Band Championships in 2010.

Finlay MacDonald- Piping

Finlay MacDonald, Glasgow, Scotland, has blazed a trail as one of the Scotlands finest exponents of contemporary and traditional Piping. He has worked with many leading artists in the traditional music scene including Fred Morrison, The Unusual Suspects, La Banda Europa, Old Blind Dogs and Chris Stout. His own Finlay MacDonald Band have created a unique take on traditional and contemporary Scottish music with virtuosic tune playing and energized, creative arrangements to be heard on the latest album Re-Echo.

Finlay’s passion for the music he has grown up with has led him to the post of “Head of Piping Studies” at the National Piping Centre and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he continues to inspire and develop the very best of new Piping talent.

Roddy MacLeod, MBE - Piping

Roddy MacLeod, MBE, is one of the most distinguished and widely accomplished pipers of his generation, and one of Highland piping's most profoundly influential identities.

A student of the late Duncan Johnstone, he played with the Red Hackle and British Caledonian Airways Pipe Bands, the last of which became theScottishPower Pipe Band. In 1995, Roddy MacLeod became its Pipe Major and, over the next decade, led it to over 45 Grade 1 Championship prizes including the Cowal Championships and All Ireland Championships. In 2008, Roddy was involved in the formation of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band which brought together a group of elite solo pipers and drummers for one week. The band with Roddy as its Pipe Major played in Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championship and qualified for the final. A movie called "On the Day" was made documenting the band's preparations and performances.

As a soloist, Roddy won his first Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1986, then the Argyllshire Gathering Gold Medal in 1988. Alongside innumerable successes as a light music competitor, Roddy MacLeod flourished as a player and interpreter of piobaireachd.

He most recently won the 2011 Glenfiddich Piping Championship. Including the 2011 win, he has won the Glenfiddich Piping Championship four times and the piobaireachd event a record eight times, the Bratach Gorm five times, the Silver Chanter six times, the Northern Meeting Clasp on two occasions, Bi-centenary medal (1988) and Former Winners MSR, the Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering twice and the Former Winner MSR twice and the Gillies Cup Open Piobaireachd in London nine times. He continues to be a dynamic and exceptionally successful competitor.

Deeply loyal to piping's traditions, Roddy MacLeod also has been potently engaged with innovation and development. As Principal of TheNational Piping Centre, established in Glasgow in 1996, he has been a prominent driving force behind such highly significant initiatives as the institution of theBA (Scottish Music - Piping), degree programme, the establishment of theNational Youth Pipe Band of Scotland and the inauguration of thePiping Live!, Glasgow International Piping Festival of which he is a Director. He has so far been responsible for the production and editing of two influential teaching books, the National Piping Centre's Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book and its Transition to Bagpipes book.

In 2003, he was made a Member of the British Empire in recognition of his services to piping and, in 2004, was awarded the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Music.

Willie McCallum - Piping

A native of Campbeltown, Kintyre, he received his main tuition from his uncles Ronald and Hugh and also came under the guidance of another relation, P/M Ronald McCallum, MBE.

Willie’s competitive record is impressive and he has won almost every prize in piping including the Highland Society of London Gold Medals at the Northern Meeting and Argyllshire Gathering, the Glenfiddich Championship 8 times, the senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering 3 times, the MSR Former Winners at the Argyllshire Gathering 5 times, the MSR for Former Winners at the Northern Meeting 3 times, the Bratach Gorm 4 times, the P/M Donald MacLeod Memorial 7 times, the Dr Dan Reid Memorial 7 times…..

He is in demand as a tutor and recitalist at home and abroad and in recent years, his pupils have gained major prizes at the piping gatherings at Oban, Inverness, Skye and London.

Willie lives in Bearsden with his wife Christine and children Hailey and Scott.

Willie runs a piping business (Willie McCallum Piping) launched in 2007 selling mainly his own McCallum Solo Chanter, and is an agent for McCallum Bagpipes. Iin October 2010 Willie decided to devote his working life to piping, expanding his teaching and performing as well as taking up a position at McCallum Bagpipes as Product Development Consultant, as well as expanding his retail business.

Willie is also a member of the Grade 1 Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.

Stevie McQuillan - Tenor Drumming

Stevie McQuillan of Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band is ranked amongst the world’s top pipe band drummers and is the holder of 6 world bass section and 5 world drum corps championships, as well as over 40 major pipe band championships wins. Stevie specializes in
instructing tenor/bass sections, and has competed in Grade 1 since 1981.

Stevie’s charismatic and energetic teaching style is well known; teaching master classes, seminars, certificated courses, examinations for the PDQB, and adjudicating throughout the UK, Europe and North America. He has also held office within the RSPBA National Council and Music Board and has pioneered the development of the solo tenor drumming scene in Scotland. Professionally, Stevie is the Managing Director of moon developments UK Ltd., and is a partner in Pro-line tenor sticks.

Jason Paguio - Drum Major

Jason Paguio was the 2004 Juvenile World Champion Drum Major and in 2007 became the first Drum Major outside the United Kingdom to win the Adult World Championships and repeated his win at the World Championships in 2010. Jason has been Drum Major for the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band and is currently Drum Major for the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.

Jason is also a founder and managing partner of Regimental Mace Company, LLC, and founder of the non-profit groups World Drum Major Association, Inc. and Parade Band Foundation, Inc.

Piero Ricci - (Concert) Zampogna Italian Bagpipe

Piero Ricci is considered to be one of the finest zampogna (Italian bagpipe) players in the World. A skilled composer as well as an eclectic musician, Piero is also proficient on the accordion, flute, keyboards, mandolin, and guitar. Piero has been a driving force in building an appreciation of the Zampogna throughout the world, and he has appeared at the La Scala Theatre in Milan with the La Scala Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti.

As a music scholar and master Zampogna maker, Piero has abated the musical and technical limits of the “traditional” Zampogna by designing improvements, resulting in better intonation of the instrument. What is more, Piero manufactures zampognas that are able to produce the entire musical scale, instead just six notes as played on the traditional instrument, resulting in a much more versatile instrument.

Piero was born in Campobasso and currently lives in Isernia, Molise, Italy.

Blake Schmidt - Tenor Drumming

Blake Schmidt liives in Delta, BC and has been a member of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band for more than 12 years. He began side drumming at the age of 12. After playing with the White Spot Pipe Band, Blake moved to the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band under the leadership of J. Reid Maxwell.

Blake joined the SFU Pipe Band in 1999, the year the band won their Third World Pipe Band Championship as well as winning the World Drum Corps Championship. In 2001 Blake traveled with SFU to New Zealand and Australia to record “Live at the Sydney Opera House” and play in the Australian Pipe Band Championships. That year Blake won his second World Championship with the band. In 2003 Blake traveled back to New Zealand to help teach at St. Andrews College and play with the Grade 1 Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band, winning the New Zealand Drumming Championship.

Over many years of playing with the band and teaching at multiple drumming schools around the world Blake has helped develop the “SFU style” of tenor drumming. In 2008 and 2009 the SFU Pipe Band won the World Championships with the Drum Corp winning the Sash and the bass section winning the Hosbilt cup.

John Scullion - Snare Drumming

John Scullion, of Northern Ireland, is one of a few to win the Triple Crown of Scottish snare drumming,  is a four-time winner of the World Solo Drumming Championship, led the drummers of the Shotts and Dykehead Caladonia Pipe Band to a World Championship,and, more importantly of all, has won the coveted Champion of Champions snare drumming award, a competition in which only former World Champions are allowed to compete.

Not just a popular teacher and performer, John is a much sought-after judge of drumming and bagpipe competitions all over the world. He is also a prolific composer of band and solo drum scores.

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Doug Stronach - Snare Drumming

Doug Stronach is one of North America's top pipe band players and educators. He is a World Junior Solo Snare Drum Champion and winner of the Scottish, British and European Pipe Band Championships. He has been the leading drummer of both the Toronto Police and Peel Regional Police Pipe Bands and winner of two Grade 1 North American Drum Corps Awards. He is the author of five books on pipe band drumming and has played and taught many clinics and events throughout the world including Canada, USA, South Africa, Chile, France, Germany, Sicily, and the UK. He is also an accredited judge and frequently judges contests throughout North America. He currently plays with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Jack Taylor - Piping

Jack Taylor, St. Andrews, Scotland, was taught piping by Bert Barron, a winner of the Braemar Gold Medal. Jack then studied medicine at Aberdeen University and during that time he learned Piobaireachd with Bob Nicol and Bob Brown. Jack won the Gold Medal in Inverness in 1973 playing the Lament for the Children. He also won the Gillies Cup in London in 1978 and the Silver Chanter in 1983. Jack has recently retired from medical practice in Aboyne and has been President of the Piobaireachd Society for 5 years. Jack is a senior judge for Piobaireachd and is currently playing with the Grade 2 Buchan Pipe band.

Tristan Wilson - Piping

Tristan Wilson started piping at the age of 9 as a third generation member of the Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes & Drums. At a young age, Tristan attended workshops throughout the United States, Canada, and Scotland. His most influential private instruction came from P/M Tom McKee, P/M Jim Higgins, the late P/M Angus MacDonald MBE, P/S Jake Watson, the late Lindsay Kirkwood, Jimmy McIntosh MBE, Alasdair Gillies, and Andrew Wright. Notable solo accolades include 1st places at the George Sheriff Memorial and United States Piping Foundation competitions, and simultaneously receiving prizes in the top 5 of all Major US Pipe Band Associations Grade 1 solo contests. Tristan played with the Grade 3 and Grade 2 Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes & Drums, and is currently the Pipe Sergeant of the successful City of Chicago Pipe Band. Tristan privately instructs numerous piping students and bands in the Midwest U.S., has a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, and is a prolific composer.