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My
Scottish ancestry lies with the surname 'Burns' on
my mother's side of the family who, interestingly
enough, was part of the Campbell Clan.
The
first Scottish Games I attended was the 1999 Pleasanton
Games in Pleasanton, CA. It was there that I first
encountered bagpipes. However, it wasn't until two
years later, in 2001, when I met Prince
Charles Pipe Band manager and instructor
Bill Merriman. After buying a set of Naill pipes from
House
of Bagpipes, I began taking private lessons
from Bill in Fremont, California and practicing with
the band during the weekends at the Caledonian
Club of San Francisco Hall.
From
2001 to 2003 I played with the Grade IV band and competed
in various Grade IV solo competitions held at the
Scottish Games throughout California. Near the beginning
of 2003 I began playing with the Grade III band as
they were preparing to compete in the World
Bagpipe Championships in Glasgow Green,
Scotland. It was in 2003 that the Prince Charles band
became the World Champions in Grade III.
After
the World's, the band came under the direction of
PM Cameron Scott, who served as pipe major from late
2003-2005. In
summer 2005, the band again travelled abroad, this
time to Scotland and Ireland. I played with the band
at the World Championships and we placed fourth out
of dozens of Grade III bands from around the world.
Following
2005, I became the Pipe Major and led the Grade III
band in all major competitions and performances. In
late 2008, the band saw an opportunity to form a third
band. By combining elements of the previous Grade
I band with the growing skills of the Grade III band
members, Prince Charles began to form a third band,
called the Grade II band. I am currently playing with
this new Grade II band and we hope to begin performing
this competition season.
I
have also performed for the Caledonian Club of San
Francisco and on local television programming to advertise
the Pleasanton Scottish Games. |