About Us
Drummer Biographies
Barry Wilson
Started playing around 1982 and was taught by various people including Ian Brown and Dougie Scott in Grade 4; Alan Sanger in Grade 3, Hugh Smillie for his solo work as a junior and Jim Kilpatrick when he moved to Grade 1. Barry holds the Elementary Certificate in drumming from the RSPBA. His pipe band achievements to date are 24 Major Pipe Band Championship wins including 3 World Pipe Band Championships; 40 Major Drum Corps Championship wins including 12 World Drum Corps Championships with 11 of them achieved consecutively. Barry's solo drumming achievements include 2 Juvenile World Solo wins with various top 6 finishes in the Adult section since 1990 culminating in winning the World title in 2007 and defending it successfully in 2008 to remain the current World Solo Drumming Champion. His previous bands include Mauchline and District; Killoch Colliery and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia. Barry has been leading drummer for ScottishPower Pipe Band for 7 years. He has appeared on the Generation Game twice with both Jim Davidson and Bruce Forsyth with his old corps and also on the Kelly Show over in Ulster on the same bill as Jerry Lee Lewis – what a claim to fame!
Fiona Bowes
Started her drumming career in 2007 where she was taught by Hayley MacNicol then received further instruction from Stevie Kilbride. Previous Pipe Band experience has been two years with the Johnstone Novice Juvenile Pipe Band and a year with the Johnstone Pipe Band in Grade 2. Fiona is also a member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland and performs all over the country with them.
James Craig
Started learning in 1998 and has been taught by Denise Connell, Brian Purvis and latterly Barry Wilson. His pipe band achievements include Juvenile World Champion pipe band and drum corps in 2000 and 2001. In solo drumming James has achieved 5th in the under 16 World Solo Drumming Championships, 3rd in the under 18 World Solo Drumming Championships and made it to the Adult World Solo Drumming Championships semi final. His previous bands are Paisley Juvenile Pipe Band, Carluke Baron of Lee Pipe Band and Chivas Regal Pipe Band. James has been a member of ScottishPower Pipe Band for 6 years.
Russell Esler
Started playing when he was nine and was originally taught by Eddie Mogey of the Houghton-Le-Spring Pipe Band. On moving to Dunoon he was taught by Bobbie Davie. During his time in Dunoon he travelled to Shotts every week learning from Jim Kilpatrick MBE. Previous pipe bands have included The Houghton-Le-Spring Pipe Band, The Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band, where he was leading drummer, The Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band and latterly the Johnstone Pipe Band before joining ScottishPower. Russell has achieved the RSPBA Level 4 Certificate and is a keen teacher. He has taught the Paisley Novice Juvenile Pipe Band since February 2010 and already they have secured a fourth place for drumming at the Scottish Championships and a third place for drumming at the World Championships.
John Henderson
Started playing in November 1996 and was taught by Mark Gibson at Burntisland Pipe Band. John's pipe band achievements include being Leading Drummer of Burntisland & District Juvenile Pipe Band. He was a regular prize winner with Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band under the leadership of Paul Turner and he was Leading Drummer of Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. His solo drumming prizes include being twice World Solo Drumming finalist in the senior grade, Ulster C.S.O runner up twice, Junior Ulster winner, Lothian and Borders Branch winner, Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch winner, Festival de Cournouaille winner, Torphichen and Bathgate solo competition winner, World Solo Drumming Champion under 18's in 2002 and runner up in the under 19's in 2003 and 2004. John has played for Scottish Power Pipe Band for 2 years.
Stuart Hunter
Started playing in 1997 and was taught by Mark Gibson at Burntisland Pipe Band. His solo drumming prizes include Brechin Champion in 2007 and 2008 and Fife Champion in the under 13's in 2001. Stuart's previous bands are Burntisland and District Pipe Band and Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band.
Simon Lipp
From the North East of Scotland, Simon started drumming in 1986 and was originally taught by Cliff Simmonds. He then received tuition from George Clark until settling under Jim Kilpatrick of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band for what was to become an impressive few years competing. Overall during this period with Jim, Simon amassed 21 Major Pipe Band Championships, including 3 World titles and as a Drum Corp won, 17 Major Drum Corp titles, including 6 World Drum Corp Championship titles. Drumming qualifications, Simon has passed the RSPBA Elementary and Intermediate Drumming Certificates. Previous pipe bands have included, Banchory & District, Stonehaven, Shotts & Dykehead, Grampian Police and has now returned to ScottishPower after a 6 year break.
Scott Mackenzie
Although Scott only picked up a set of sticks in 2005, he is already showing that he has a huge talent for drumming. A product of the North Lanarkshire Schools he has been extremely well taught by some of the best around including Colin Mackenzie, Bert Barr, Willie Kerr and Steven Nelson. Scott has won all the best Drum Corp Championship honours in the Juvenile grade and also Grade 3A, Champion of Champions Drum Corp titles in 2009 and 2010. Previous bands have been the North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe band and Linlithgow and District Pipe Band. However his highest accolade to date is winning the 2010 World Juvenile Solo Drumming Championship.
Lisa-Jane McLauchlin
Originally taught by Iain McAllister in 2003, Lisa-Jane has flourished to the top of the grades. She is a keen teacher and has been tutoring Craigmount High School Pipe band for the past 3 years teahing all aspects of the Bass Section to them. Her previous pipe band experience has been with Polkemet Pipe band for 3 seasons and a further 3 seasons with the Lothian & Borders Police Pipe band before joining ScottishPower in 2009.
Iona MacLeod
Iona started playing in 2003 aged 14. Her previous band achievements include Best Drum Corp at the British Championships in Juvenile grade in 2005, 2nd at the World Championships in Juvenile grade in 2005, Best Drum Corp at the Scottish Championships in Grade 2 in 2007. Iona's previous bands are Dunoon Grammar School from 2003 to 2005 and Lomond and Clyde from 2006 to 2007. Iona joined ScottishPower in 2008.
Ian MacMillan
Started playing in 1972 and was taught by Derek Martin. Ian's previous pipe band achievements include World Champions Novice Juvenile, World Champions Grade 2 and Cowal Champions Grade 1. Ian has won the World Championships Best Bass Drummer 4 times, Cowal Championships Best Bass Drummer 3 times and the Scottish Championships Best Bass Drummer 6 times. His previous bands are Knightswood Juvenile Pipe Band, Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band and 100 Pipers Whisky. Ian has been a member of ScottishPower Pipe Band for 10 years.
Annette McPherson
Played her first season in 1999 at Paisley Juvenile Pipe Band where she played Bass for 4 years. She was taught by Agnes Morrison. Annette holds the RSPBA Elementary Certificate for Bass and Tenor drumming. Her pipe band achievements to date include World Champions Juvenile grade in 2000 and World Champions Novice Juvenile grade in 2001. Annette's previous bands include Paisley Juvenile Pipe Band from 1999 to 2002 and Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band 2004 to 2008.
Alana Stewart
Started her drumming career in 2006 aged 12 with the Pitlochry and Blair Atholl Pipe Band and played with them for her first season. Alana then moved onto play with Tayside Police for two seasons before coming onboard with ScottishPower. Tenor drumming achievements so far have been winning the Novice Solo Tenor Drumming competition at The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band Solo Competition at Pitlochry High School and the 18 and under Solo Tenor Drumming Competition at the Dundee, Perth and Angus Branch Solo's.