Piper Jonas Bagpiping Biography

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. Starting competition in the spring of 2009, the band was adjudicated at Woodland, and performed well in the both the Costa Mesa and Pleasanton Games. I am currently playing as Pipe Sergeant of the new Grade II band and we look forward to another great competition season.

I have also performed for the Caledonian Club of San Francisco and on local television programming to advertise the Pleasanton Scottish Games.