Drummer Biographies

Leading Drummer Jake Jørgensen

Originally from Denmark, Jake started learning the snare drum at the age of 11 with the Copenhagen Caledonia Pipe Band and in the early years received instruction from local drummers Per Nørklit, Sven Harboe and Jens Hedegaard. He also took inspiration from visiting tutors, such as Tom Brown, Reid Maxwell, Eric Ward and Barry Wilson. In November 2000, Jake moved to Scotland to join the drum corps of the Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band, then led by Jim Kilpatrick MBE. During his time with the Shotts, he took part in winning all of the major championships, including the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships in 2003 & 2005. During the same time, the drum corps won all 5 major championship titles several times over, including the World Drum Corps Title in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2014 and seven Champion of Champions Drum Corps titles. After 12 combined years with Shotts and 2 years leading the Lothian & Borders Police drum corps, Jake took on the Leading Drummer position with ScottishPower Pipe Band In October 2014. In his first season with the band, he led the drum corps to a second place in drumming at the Scottish Championships and an overall 4th in drumming at the World Pipe Band Championships and the drum corps has featured frequently in the top 3 at Major Championships in the last few years. Jake often features in the prizes at the World Solo Drumming Championships and has placed 3rd on two occasions. Jake works as a full time Drumming Instructor at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh, where his pupils regularly claim top prizes, both at the RSPBA Majors and at the World Solo Drumming Championships.  Heriot’s were crowned World Drum Corps Champions in the Novice Juvenile Grade in 2014 and the Juvenile corps were World Drum Corps Champions in 2017. Jake lives with his wife, Nicola, and their two young children, Oliver and Amber, in Kirknewton.

Thomas Barnes

Thomas, one of the ‘Geordie’ contingent in the band is originally from the North East of England. He started to learn the art of pipe band snare drumming back in 2009 and was initially taught by Jimmy Regan and then Alex Cruickshanks. Thomas has previously played for 101 Northumbrian Regiment Pipe Band whilst he was living in Newcastle and then for a spell with Bleary & District before joining ScottishPower in 2016.

Scott Birrell

Scott Birrell began drumming at the age of six and was initially taught by his Grandfather in Burntisland, Fife. Scott later joined Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band and was initially under the tutelage of the legendary Tom Brown, followed by World Champion Gordon Brown. He joined the Scottish Power Pipe Band in 2017. Scott studied at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow where he received expert tuition from sixteen times World Solo Drumming Champion, MBE Jim Kilpatrick. He studied there for four years gaining a BA Honours Degree in Scottish Music. In 2008 Scott moved to NZ where he lead the City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band and was employed by the Southland Piping & Drumming Development Trust. He was a strong driving force behind the band moving from Grade 4 to Grade 1 in just 5 years. Scott continued to travel back to Scotland and compete with Boghall & Bathgate at the World Pipe Band Championships. In 2012 the drum corps were crowned World Champions as well as the Champion of Champions. This is one of the proudest moments in his drumming career. He took over the drum corps at the City of Hawthorn Pipe Band when he moved to Melbourne in 2013 and has won numerous state and national titles with them. Scott is currently employed by Scotch College Melbourne, where he is the Head of Highland Drumming.

James Craig

James started drumming at the age of 9 with the Paisley Juvenile Pipe Band under the tutelage of Denise Connell. They were successful in winning the World Juvenile Championships in 2000. James thereafter moved to play with the Grade 2 Chivas Regal Pipe Band in 2001 staying with them for two seasons. James moving to ScottishPower in 2003 aged just 15 where he has played ever since. One of his biggest highlights to date has been winning the British Championships with the band in 2018.

Russell Esler

Russell started drumming at the age of 9 and was taught by Eddie Mogey of the Houghton-Le-Spring Pipe Band. On moving to Dunoon, he joined the Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band, which was under the tuition of Bobbie Davie. After the school band, he moved to the Dunoon Argyll Grade 3B Pipe Band and then onto Johnstone Grade 2 Pipe Band. In 2009, he joined ScottishPower Grade 1 Pipe Band. Russell has been hugely successful in setting up his own drumming tuition business, RED (Russell Esler Drumming).

Blair Faulds

Blair lives in Stenhousemuir, Falkirk and is a Plasterer to trade, currently employed by Falkirk Council. He started pipe band drumming in 2010 aged 13 and was taught at his local band, Camelon and District, by Jason Lafferty and John Callan. He has since played with Wallacestone and District, Torphichen and Bathgate, and made his grade one debut with Dowco Triumph Street, under Leading Drummer Gary Corkin. He joined ScottishPower at the end of the 2017 season. Blair also plays the pipes, and is currently receiving tuition from Gary Nimmo.

Ollie Gardner

Ollie first took up drumming when he was 8 years old at George Heriot’s School. During his time at Heriot’s he was predominantly taught by Jake Jørgensen over a 10 year span. After a couple years of playing, he was invited to join the Development Band and from there he worked his way up through the 3 bands at Heriot’s. Ollie was leading drummer of the Novice Juvenile band and led them to winning the Best Drum Corp prize in Belfast back in the day when it hosted the European Championships. During his time in the Juvenile band, he had numerous successes, with the biggest highlight being winning the Best Drum Corp prize at the ‘Worlds’ in my final year of the band. When he was in his final year at school, Jake asked him to join ‘The Power’ for the 2017/2018 season which he gladly accepted. 

Lachlan Gibb

Lachlan started competing in 2002 with Bucksburn and District Pipe Band under the tuition of Scott Niven. In 2008 he went on to win the Scottish, British and World Pipe band Championships in the Novice Juvenile section with Bucksburn before moving to their Grade 2 band. In 2014, Lachlan went on to play for Boghall and Bathgate where they won the Scottish drumming title. He then moved to the City of Discovery Pipe Band in Grade 2 in 2016 before taking on the Lead Drummer position for Deeside Caledonia Pipe Band in 2018. He joined ScottishPower for the 2019 season. Outside of pipe band competitions, he has been successful in the North of Scotland Solo Drumming Championships. He was also placed 6th in Juvenile Section 1 of the World Drumming Solo Championships in 2008 and then placed 2nd in Juvenile Section 3 in 2013.

Cameron Sharpe

Cammy Sharpe joined ScottishPower Pipe Band in 2012, having previously competed with Grade 1 bands Dysart & Dundonald and Lothian & Borders Police. Hailing from Aberdeenshire, he got his drumming start with the Culter Pipe Bands before moving down to the central belt. Now working as an Engineer for a HiFi company, he is rather happy to be making noise in multiple fields.

Anaël Tanguy

Anaël started playing the snare drum 21 years ago, in Brittany where he was first taught by Patrick Camenen of Bagad Ronsed Mor Locoal-Mendon. He then joined the Bagad’s youth band in 1999 and after a couple of years he progressed to Grade 1 with the 1st Category Bagad. He continued playing with the same Bagad until 2013. In 2011, as part of his Civil Engineering Masters degree he took up job experience in an English speaking country and a post with Glasgow City Council, Land and Services Department. It was whilst in Glasgow he joined Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band, under leading drummer Alan Craig and was also lucky enough to meet his future wife, Paula, who was a tenor drummer in the band. He made the move from Brittany to Scotland at the end of 2013. Anaël joined ScottishPower in 2014 and is enjoying playing the music that first inspired him to think about joining the band as far back as 2006.

Chloe Taylor

Chloe is one of the youngest members of the band who joined at the age of 15. She also has the accolade of being our first female snare drummer. Originally from Pitlochry, Perthshire, she was taught by Paul Turner. Chloe still has a strong connection with Paul and looks up to him with great respect and thanks him for all of the life lessons and teaching he has brought to her. Previous bands have included The Vale of Atholl Novice Band, MacKenzie Caledonian and then back with The Grade 1 Vale of Atholl for a year before moving to ScottishPower. Chloe’s biggest successes include winning the 16 & Under World Solo Drumming Championships, winning several Kingdom Thistle Championships titles as well as her local branch competitions. Chloe is currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - Traditional Music Course. Chloe also teaches at various schools and privately and if she is not going that, she is gigging with Drums and Roses!

 

Bass Section

 

David MacDonald

David started his pipe band career in 2006 with Boghall and Bathgate Novice Juvenile Pipe Band, working his way through the ranks at Boghall getting taught initially by Tom Brown and 'The Big Road Brusher' Ian McLean. After leaving Boghall David went to play in Grade 1 with Arthur Cook at Gleneagles Denny and Dunipace Pipe Band. After the band disbanded David joined Grade 2 Scottish Fire and Rescue Pipe Band for one season before joining ScottishPower Pipe Band for the 2017 season. David has a BA honours degree from the University of Edinburgh in Community Education and works as a Community Development Worker for a local charity in Whitburn, West Lothian. David's nickname in the pipe band world is ‘Boab’. This is because when he joined Boghall in 2006 he convinced the band that his name was ‘Boab’, when he came clean he was too late and the name has stuck with him for his whole pipe band career!

Blythe Gerrie

Blythe is originally from Toronto, Canada and influenced by her piper sister, began her pipe band career at the age of 11 with Lakeridge Pipe Band. After a short stint playing snare drum, she began tenor drumming and worked her way up through the grades before joining Toronto Police Pipe Band in 2008; where she played many memorable medleys for 7 seasons before moving to Scotland. This is Blythe’s fifth season with ScottishPower, throughout which time she has had the opportunity to teach workshops in Spain and travel to Colorado with the band. Blythe is a graduate of the Concurrent Education Program at Laurentian University in Northern Ontario and received B.A. honours in French Studies as well as a Bachelor of Education. After teaching P1 French Immersion for many years, she now works at George Heriot’s School teaching tenor drumming in addition to working in their After School Program. In her spare time she enjoys pursuing her love of adventure and travel and looks forward to continuing to explore this side of the Atlantic. Her adventuring once took her on a 3-day bus journey across Canada to attend the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Emma McDougall

Emma started playing the tenor drum in 2002 with Williamwood Pipe Band, followed by a spell with the Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary. Emma then joined Torphicen & Bathgate before joining ScottishPower in the winter of 2014. Emma loves to travel and playing in pipe bands has taken her to various countries throughout the world. Emma is a critical care nurse. She also has a Westie called Archie, who enjoys watching videos of the band on YouTube!

Iona Underwood

From a small village near Oban, Iona began her tenor drumming career with Inveraray & District Pipe Band after they competed at their first ever competition at Cowal Games in 2005. As one of the original tenor drummers for the band, she moved up the ranks winning World Pipe Band Championships in Novice Juvenile, Juvenile and the Grand Slam in Grade 2 with the band before she moved to Grade 1 with them. She joined ScottishPower for the 2013 season as leading tenor drummer, under L/D Barry Wilson. Along with playing with ScottishPower, Iona played with the GSUOTC Pipe Band at University and performed for royalty at the Horse Guards Parade. Over the years Iona has also had the opportunity to travel to France, Spain and Colorado through tenor drumming, along with competing in solo competitions and teaching students from all over the world. Outside of Pipe Bands, Iona holds two BSc (hons) degrees in Anatomy and Medicine and has finished her MBChB at the University of Glasgow, to become a practicing GP. During her time at University, she has presented at the International Congress of Clinical Anatomy and has won an award for her research work. Along with playing the tenor drum, Iona plays the piano, flute and fiddle and also collects gin in her spare time.

Lexy Letham

Lexy was introduced to pipe bands, at the age of 8, by her father who is a piper with Williamwood Pipe Band in which she played tenor for 4 years. She then progressed into North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band where she spent 2 seasons. Lexy was given a place in The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland and travelled to represent her country in the 2016 Avenches Tattoo in Switzerland. Lexy joined Scottish Power Pipe Band in 2016, this year being her third season. She is also the youngest member of the band. Lexy teaches tenor drumming at Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band. Lexy is studying a honours degree in Sports Studies at the University of Stirling and aspires to become a P.E teacher. She is also interested in health and fitness and also hopes to become a personal trainer.

Lucy Carroll

Lucy started her pipe band career as part of the West Lothian Schools Novice Juvenile Band in 2010, under the tuition of David Ross. After a few seasons, in 2014 the band won the Novice Grade ‘Champion of Champions’ and were subsequently promoted to the Juvenile Grade. Lucy joined the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland in 2013, where she played at the Avenches Tattoo in Switzerland, as well as for members of the royal family at Buckingham Palace in 2017. Aside from her band playing, Lucy participated in various solo events, enjoying success at Lothian and Branch competitions and in 2015 was crowned Under 16 World Tenor Drumming Champion. Lucy joined ScottishPower in 2017 and in her Grade 1 competitive debut was crowned a British Champion along with the rest of her band mates. Lucy is currently attending Glasgow Caledonian University studying a BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. In her personal life, Lucy has a humorous pipe band rivalry with her boyfriend Cammie, who is a member of Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band.

Nicola Cairns

Nicola has moved over from Australia to play with ScottishPower along with her husband Adam. Originally from Auckland New Zealand, Nicola started tenor drumming in 2002 under the tutorship of her father Tony Purvis at the Auckland and District Pipe Band. In 2006 she moved to Scotland where she played for 3 years under Lead Drummer Mick O’Neil in the Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band and later the Fife Constabulary. In 2011 she moved to Vancouver Canada where she spent 4 years playing with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band under Lead Drummer Reid Maxwell. In 2016 Nicola played in the Jim Kilpatrick led drum corps of the reformed Spirit of Scotland band. Before joining ScottishPower Nicola was a member of the New Zealand Police Band under their Lead Drummer Angus Crowe. Nicola has an older sister Andrea that is also a tenor drummer. Although not twins the two siblings look so alike that on many occasions people have held full conversations with Nicola thinking she was Andrea.

Sharleen Muir

Sharleen started her pipe band career at the age of 10, in her Dad’s band, learning under LD Jim Whitefield in Strathclyde Fire Brigade Pipe Band. She was invited to join Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band in 2003, playing under LD Jim Kilpatrick, where she developed her craft over the next 4 years, and studied Music Education at the RSAMD. Sharleen moved to London to further her career goals and guested with Strathclyde Police Pipe Band under LD Eric Ward for 1 year in 2009. Moving back to Scotland, Sharleen landed a secondary Music teaching position in Dumfries and Galloway where she joined the Constabulary Pipe Band under LD David Sheridan. Having secured a position closer to ‘home’, Sharleen moved back to Lanarkshire and joined old band mate Jacob Jorgensen in his new venture as LD of ScottishPower Pipe Band in 2015. She took 2 years out to focus on her career and currently holds an APTC Expressive Arts post in a large secondary school in West Lothian. Sharleen is an SQA Visiting Assessor for National 5 and Higher Music and also teaches Piano in her ‘spare time’. Sharleen has had over 20 years experience tutoring drummers and recently judged the International Juvenile Tenor Drumming Championships. An interesting fun fact is that Sharleen invented ‘The Co-ordinator’ flourish.