|
|||||||||
 Anne Astley, Pipe Sergeant Anne "Annie' Astley began her Scottish trek
as a Highland dancer, then started piping lessons at age fourteen. Her first pipe
band experience was with the St. Andrews Lady's Pipe Band of New England. The
renown, Lezlie Paterson Webster, provided excellent piping instruction to enhance Anne's
progress. Following her high school education, Anne attended harvard University
where she completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1997. That same year, she took up
temporary residence in London, England, and attended workshops at the Piping Center in
Glasgow, Scotland. Anne moved from Boston, Massachusetts, to Florida in 1998, and
launched her professional career. She has taught preschool, high school, tutored
students, worked with social services and coordinated summer arts and culture youth camps
involving hundreds of campers. Anne became a member of the Melbourne Pipes and Drums
in 1999, where her expertise as a piper was recognized and appreciated. She is a
Grade II piper, and holds the rand of Band Pipe Sergeant. Annie continues to tutor
several piping students and convincingly demonstrates that, "Pipes are a meditation
beyond my Scottish ancestry and heritage." |
 George Bell, Piper George Bell began piping in 1996,
with the Oceanside Pipes and Drums. He now considers piping a part of his life. George has
played at the flag pole on Chimney Rock,, NC, in a cave in Nashville, on board the USS
Alabama, numerous Boy Scout camps in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida and even at the
security area of the White House. In fact he even hiked with practice pipes to play on a
thirty-four mile hike with his son. Obviously, George believes there is not a place the
sound of pipes should not be heard. George can be found practicing in many of our areas
parks and even on the sides of highways when it is close to a competition. He has competed
and won at the highland games in piping competition. George is available for piping in
many areas throughout central and East Florida. Email him at gbell8 @ [NOSPAM] yahoo.com for prices and availability. |
 Bruce Crocker, Piper Bruce Crocker was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Sanford, Florida, while a youngster in the early 1940s. Following 1959 graduation from Seminole High School in Sanford, he enlisted while still age 17 in the US Navy. Bruce's naval career spanned 20 years of service, and his professionalism was acknowledged by numerous commendations and decorations. His primary duty as a flight engineer was an exacting specialty, engaging him in many deployments, including Vietnam and the Mediterranean. Upon his milatary retirement in 1980, Bruce launched yet another career as a certified structural welder. He attended Skigit Community College in Mt. Vernon, Washington, and the University of Hawaii. Bruce returned to Florida "for good" in 1991, and settled in the Atlantic coast town of Vero Beach. brucesaddress @ [NOSPAM] yahoo.com
|
 Michael Dalton, Piper Michael Dalton began piping at the early age of 14 in Miami, Florida when his younger sister took up Scottish highland dancing. Michael is originally from London, Ontario, Canada and moved to Miami with his parents in 1965. Michael is of Scottish and Armenian heritage and is probably one of the very few pipers to have ever performed in an Armenian Orthodox Church. Michael has been an active member of several bands including the Saint Andrew's Bagpipe Band of Miami (c1970s) under the direction of Pipe Major Jack Sutherland and the SpaceCoast Highlanders Pipe Band (c1980s) under the direction of Pipe Major Sam Ferguson. After graduating Florida Institute of Technology with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Space Science / Physics he has been active in NASA Space Shuttle launch activities, services, and software development at the Kennedy Space Center. In 2002, Michael joined the City of Melbourne Pipes and Drums and is now the band webmaster and enthusiastically involved in competition activites. Michael is also the webmaster and owner of www.BJRnet.com. editor @ [NOSPAM] BJRnet.com |
 Tom Greenawalt, Snare Drum Tom Greenawalt began his lengthy and gratifying percussion career in 1950 as a member of the Plant City High School Band. He was a drummer in the Gator Marching Band while a student at University of Florida. Following his retirement as Professor Emeritus from the UF faculty in 1991, he was attracted to the distinctive and delightful character of Pipe Band drumming. He has performed with bands in the Scottish tradition in a variety of venues, engagements and competitive events throughout North America. His continued interest in learning and teaching Scottish snare drumming skills has been enhanced by workshop instruction from world-class tutors such as Scott Armit, Hugh Cameron, Jim Kilpatrick and John Quigg. Tom and his family moved to the Space Coast from Gainesville in 2001, where he enjoys snare drumming with the popular and enterprising City of Melbourne Pipes and Drums. |
 Adam Hungerford, Piper Adam was born in Brevard County Florida. He has had a love for the sound of the Bagpipes and a desire to master them throughout the years. He picked up the chanter at the early age of nine years old and he demonstrates his dedication every time he plays his bagpipes. Adam attributes this love for all things Scottish to his Scottish heritage, which runs on both sides of his family. He traces his ancestry back over fifteen generations to Aberdeen Scotland. His lineage is documented and associated with nine of the major clans. Four of his closest are Gordon, Marr, Matteson and Shaw. He has been called on occasion A-Scott because Scott is his middle name. His instructor is none other than our very own Pipe Sergeant Annie Astley Padnuk. Adam has been home schooled all of his life and is very serious about his music. He has been awarded two music scholarships in 2003 and 2005 from the Scots-American Society of Brevard, Inc. Adam performs with the band and on private engagements and venues in and outside of the County of Brevard. Adam joined the City of Melbourne Pipes and drums in the Spring of 2003.vggordon6 @ [NOSPAM] nebutel.com |
 Mark Jafrate, Piper Mark Jafrate, a native of West Virginia, developed an eagerness and talent for music as a child, and has actively pursued that 'crusade' into adulthood. Beginning with classical piano at age six, he became the church organist and guitarist by age twelve. High school music explorations led him to bluegrass and the style of clawhammer banjo. The quest for new horizons of music continued at West Virginia University where Mark learned bluegrass fiddle and mandolin, performed with several bluegrass groups, and played acoustic guitar in a light rock band. |
 Joe Leonard, Drum Major With tenor drumming of the Black Watch (Canada) and drum major tutoring by Bill Elms (Drum Major of the 48th Highlanders of Canada), Joe's career was cut short by answering Uncle Sam's call to prepare for the Korean conflict. Because of a sudden hearing loss, Joe was honorably discharged, and returned to his home in Syracuse, New York, where he joined the American Scottish as a tenor drummer. Joe moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1958, where he and his brother founded the Phoenix Scots. Later he was founder of the Phoenix Police Pipe Band and the Tempe Police Pipe Band, all still going strong. He is currently a Drum Major of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, whose members have Black Watch affiliations, with headquarters on the Queen Mary permanently anchored in Long Beach, California. He attended the George Brown (World Champion) Drum Major School in California, and in 1969-1970, Joe was Champion Tenor and Bass Drum of the Southwest and Pacific Coast. And, winning a few awards in drum major contests. Moving to Florida in 2002, to be with his family, Joe was welcomed by the Melbourne Pipes and Drums, and is currently the Drum Major. |
Jeff Morris, Piper Bio and Photo Coming Soon! |
 John Nisbet, Piper Bio not yet available... |
 Christoph Schutze, Bass Drum Christoph Schutze moved from New London, Connecticut to the Spacecoast of Florida in 1989. During his Cocoa High School years he was very active in a variety of music, athletic, and theatrical events and organizations. And, he found the time to complete the rigorous requirements for Eagle Scout honors while a member of Cocoa B.S.A. Troop 706. Following high school graduation in 2000, Christoph attended Brevard Community College and graduated in 2002 with an Associate of Arts Degree in General Education. he discovered the Melbourne Pipes and Drums in 2003, and rapidly emerged as a major player in the Drum Corps. His spot-on bass drumming approach has greatly facilitated a heightened level of band achievement on the field of competition and general performance. Also, he is making remarkable progress toward tackling the bagpipe 'monster'! His rhythmic grasp of traditional Scottish music has been greatly enhanced by a diversity of personal experiences arising from piano, guitar, and jazz 'sorties.' Christoph is locally employed as a horticultural landscape professional in Brevard County, Florida. |
Mike Schutze, Piper Michael Schutze was born and reared in New Jersey, which is also the home state of many outstanding pipe bands. His interest in the Great Highland Bagpipe began in high school after witnessing a memorable performance by one of New Jersey's touring pipe bands. Fascinated by a range of musical horizons and dimensions, Mike began playing guitar, piano, and college singing. Following studies in math and physics at St. Ambrose College and New York State Univ., he completed a science degree in 1973. Mike's expertise in physics, math and electronics served him well as a classroom teacher before becoming an engineering physicist in 1978. He admits to being called, "The Crazy Physicist," with some history and theology thrown in just to make things interesting. Mike has also served as a math and science Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia. He moved to Florida in 1988, and began a spirited piping initiative that led to a variety of performance experiences including funerals, parties, parades and special events. His piping path soon converged with the Melbourne Pipes & Drums, where his solo and band musicianship abilities have enhanced the band's performance outreach. Furthermore, Mike's active participation in the band extends to his cheerfulness and dedication as an organizer and facilitator. Although busily engaged as a professional engineer with the space industry, Mike manages to remain very much involved with piping and performing. |
 Pat Sullivan, Drum Sergeant Pat grew up in an Air Force family that moved from Edwards AFB in California to Brevard County in 1967. His fascination with the unique rhythms and traditional technique of Scottish drumming began in 1970. Numerous Pipe and Drum recordings featuring the incredible Scottish drumming of Alex Duthart further nurtured his interest. Fortunately, Pat found an ideal opportunity to express and expand his percussion enthusiasm when he became a charter member of the Oceanside Pipes and Drums in 1991. In 1997, the band changed it's name to The City of Melbourne Pipes and Drums, and Pat, under the tutelage of side drummer Dave Schmidt, dramatically enhanced his skills. He has participated in a variety of solo and band competitions, and continues to take advantage of instruction presented by Scottish drumming tutors such as Andy White. Pat also enjoys playing bass guitar, keyboard, tin whistle and recorder, however, percussion is his passion. He is adept in development and presentation of expressive snare drum beatings, and relishes "cautioning" other members in his drum corps to, "Only practice on the days that you eat". seansacheo3 @ [NOSPAM] webtv.net |
