Bagpipe Instructors
President: Colin Patrick Drummond
Colin started playing as a member of the The Isle of Mull Pipe Band at the Grade 3 Level in Colorado 31 years ago.
He then moved east to Central Jersey in 1992 and played with CuChullain Pipe Band Grade 4 and honed his piping skills under the instruction of Joe McGonigal and Seamus Coyne. In 1998, Colin moved to Philadelphia and joined Washington Memorial Grade 4 Pipe band and continued his development under the tutelage of Pipe Majors Col. Phil Townsend and Derek Midgley. Colin was Pipe Major of Washington Memorial Pipe Band for 17 years and led the band to dozens of awards and commendations.
Colin teaches beginners as well as running the day to day operations of the piping and drumming school and The Philadelphia & District Regional Pipe Band. Call or Text for lessons 484-432-2142
Pipe Major: Dan J. Emery
Dan started playing as a member of the Grove City Highland Pipe Band in 1979. His first instructor of note was Pipe Major and piping judge, Tom Hinchey. Dan developed into a top-notch piper learning from piping notables such as PM Chris Hamilton, PM Scott Walker, Sir James MacIntosh, MBE; PM Alasdair Gillies, Norman Gillies, PM Brian Donaldson, PM James McGillivray, PM Al MacMullan, Mike Rodgers and June Hanley. Dan was the Pipe Major of the Cameron Highlander’s PB Grade 3 Competition Band (Philadelphia) in the mid-2000s.
As a soloist, Dan has competed at the Grade 2 Level, amassing 13 first places, 10 second places; 9 third; 3 fourths. Dan is a retired highland dancer and often plays for highland and country dancing and can be heard on several country dancing CDs. In addition to highland pipes, Dan also plays border pipes, small pipes, flute, and fiddle.
Dan is now the pipe major of Philadelphia & District Pipe Band and teaches intermediate and advanced pipers.
Pipe Sergeant: Rich Hall
Rich began playing the bagpipes at the age of 8 years old in Rockledge, Pennsylvania. He followed in his father's footsteps, who emigrated from Northern Ireland. Rich was taught by world renowned pipers such as Donald Leslie, John Rae Miller, and Robert Gilchrist. Starting his solo career at the age of 11, Rich quickly elevated grades and earned the distinction of Grade 1 status by the time he was 17 years old.
Rich has played in numerous prize winning bands over 4 decades, including City of Wilmington, Olgilvie Highlanders, Lehigh Valley PB, and Delmar and District PB. Recently, he was the pipe major of First Highland Watch and the Philadelphia Emerald Society PB where he led the bands to numerous prizes in Grade 4.
Rich is currently the pipe sergeant of Philadelphia and District Pipe Band and teaches all levels of pipers.
Pipe Sergeant: Brian Widelitz
Brian started piping in 1973, in Portland, OR. Bitten by the bug he traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland to begin a brief stint as an apprentice bagpipe maker. While in Edinburgh, Brian studied piping with P/M George Stoddard.
On returning home Brian joined the MacGregor Pipe Band and continued studying with P/M Carl Laughlin. From there he joined the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band, becoming Pipe Major in 1980. During that period Brian had the privilege to be able to study with Murray Henderson who was living in the US. Brian then continued his lessons with Scot Walker and soon joined the nascent Lehigh Valley Pipe Band.
Brian has also had the opportunity to study with Jimmy MacIntosh, MBE, Alasdair Gillies and P/M Iain Morrison.
In addition to his being Pipe Major of the Philadelphia Emerald Society, Brian has been pipe major of the Lehigh Valley Grade 4 pipe band and the Cameron Highlanders of Philadelphia, leading them from Grade 4 competition to Grade 3 competition
Life Members
- Charlotte Hannagan – Downingtown, Pa.
- Miles Hannagan – Downingtown, Pa.
- Jim Hunter – Wilmington, DE
- John Norman – Downingtown, PA
- Larry Paden – West Chester, PA
- Joe Sanderson – Crumpton, MD
- Phil Townsend – Ireland
- Ben Wilkinson – Gilbertsville, PA
- Sam Montgomery-Wayne , PA
- Jim Taggart – Wayne, PA
- Angus Wallace – Malvern, Pa.
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