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One of the most gifted pipers in the world today, Stuart Liddell has won three Clasps at Inverness, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban five times, both Gold Medals, is a three-time Glenfiddich Piping Champion and has won the Donald MacLeod Memorial in 2016 and, most recently, The Springbank Invitational in Campbeltown 2023.
Stuart is founder and Pipe Major of the Inveraray & District Pipe Band, winners of the World Pipe Band Championship in 2017, 2019 and 2024 in Grade 1. Previously he was a member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band for seven years thereafter joining the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada with whom he played for ten years.
A piano tuner by trade, he is also a piping instructor at Mid Argyll Primary and Lochgilphead High Schools.
Steven McWhirter is a native of Northern Ireland and now resides in Falkirk, Scotland with his wife Grace and children, Harry and Maggie. He is the Lead drummer of 2024 world pipe band champions, Inveraray and District pipe band and is twelve time, and current, Adult World Solo Drumming Championships.
Steven teaches drumming full time at The Edinburgh Academy and Falkirk Schools authority.
Steven began drumming in 1993 at the age of ten, with initial lessons from his father, Dessie. Steven joined his local Cullybackey Pipe Band in 1994, receiving snare instruction from Adrian Hoy until 2001. Steven played with the SFU Pipe Band from Vancouver, Canada, from 2002-2008, winning the World championships both as a band and drum corps. 2008 saw Steven assume the role of leading drummer of the Inveraray and District Pipe Band.
The band and drum corps have become a regular feature of the prize list, winning the World Championship titles in 2017, 2019 and 2024.
Born in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, and now residing in Stirlingshire, Scotland, Jordan Bailie began tenor drumming at the age of 10. By the age of 13, he was competing on the Grade 1 circuit.
Jordan has enjoyed success at over 30 RSPBA Major Championships, including seven World Pipe Band Championship titles, as well as multiple World Drumming titles.
As a solo tenor drummer, Jordan is a three-time World Solo Tenor Drumming Champion and has competed successfully at numerous solo competitions, including the Gold Medal competition at Winter Storm.
Alongside performing, Jordan is a Bass and Tenor Drumming Instructor at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh and is a recognised PDQB Assessor. He has over 11 years’ experience teaching within school and competitive pipe band systems.
Jordan continues to perform at the highest level with Inveraray & District Pipe Band, while also teaching and developing bass and tenor products through his own business, JB Bass & Tenor.
Piping
Stuart Easton is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s most distinguished solo pipers and is among the select few who have established a professional career in piping. He has won every major solo piping award in New Zealand and Australia multiple times and has also achieved outstanding success in Scotland and France.
Stuart serves as a senior adjudicator on the New Zealand Judging Panel for both solo piping and pipe bands. He is deeply involved in teaching and mentoring throughout New Zealand and Australia, including at the RNZPBA Summer Schools, and as a principal tutor for Commun na Piobaireachd. Additionally, Stuart Easton is the director of the National Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand.
Hamish Hepburn is a Scottish bagpiper and flute player from Carrbridge in the Scottish Highlands. Beginning his musical journey on the fiddle before switching to pipes at age nine, he studied traditional music at Lews Castle College on Benbecula and is deeply influenced by Gaelic culture and his time in the Outer Hebrides.
He was a founding member of the award-winning band Eabhal, with whom he recorded two albums with and toured internationally for over a decade.
Hamish is a previous member of the Glasgow Skye Association grade one pipe band, he now plays with the Christchurch-based Canterbury Caledonian pipe band.
Meleana started her piping journey with Horowhenua Pipe Band age 10 before moving onto the John Haig band under the guidance of Vern Andrews. She started playing with Hamilton Caledonian when she moved to Auckland to join the Navy, where she was the ship’s piper on HMNZS Canterbury. Meleana has been teaching the pipes privately and in Hamilton schools for the last 20 years and in that time helped form the Lewis Turrell Memorial Trust whose aim is to offer quality tuition, promote all things piping and have a competing juvenile band. Meleana is currently in her 9th season of being Pipe Major of Hamilton Caledonian, in which time the band has won 4 national championships and has just performed their 7th annual Pipe Works concert. She also had the opportunity to play with Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band grade 1 at the Worlds in 2023 alongside her 2 children Ishbel and Seumas.
Snare Drumming
Allan started learning the bagpipes in Oamaru some 46 years ago at the age of 12!
Over the last 46 years, Allan has performed with some great pipe bands with many highlights of championships and great friendships – including travelling overseas to compete at the World Pipe Championships with the Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band.
Allan has been involved with band management and leadership, and currently serves as a William Boyle Memorial Foundation Trustee – a great trust to help promote piping and create initiatives to support that outcome in New Zealand.
Allan judges at all levels of solo piping and pipe bands from an Ensemble and Piping perspective.
Doug began drumming at the age of 8 at the Manawatu Scottish Society hall in Palmerston North under the guidance of Jeremy McLaughlin. He quickly rose through the ranks to join the New Zealand Police Pipe Band at age 13, until he moved to Auckland in 2021 and began drum sergeant in 2024. Doug played with Inveraray & District Pipe Band in 2018, where he won the drumming prize at the British Championships and placed second overall at the World Pipe Band Championships. Earlier this year, Doug won the RSPBA Oceania World Solo Drumming Qualifier and is about to head to Scotland to compete in the Semi Final and (fingers crossed) the final. Doug now resides in Invercargill and teaches drumming.