bagpipe band, Scottish, bagpipers, pipers

Keep scrolling down...there's a LOT of us!!

Lots of changes have been going on so I am editing the Meet the Band page. Most of the work is done but we are still collecting biographies and a few pictures....so keep staying tuned..

Thank you

Piper Major Grant Harbison

Grant began piping under the tutelage of Ron Lopez, Don Watts, and Susan Westergard as a junior at Boise High School in 1989. He has permanently returned to the band after almost 20 years living away from Boise. During those years, Grant played in several competition pipe bands and is now successfully starting to close the full circle of Piping self-actualization: know-it-all kid; rank-and-file piper; grizzled, burnt-out veteran; and, finally, enthusiastic instructor. He regularly contributes his expertise in musicality and tone/tuning issues at band practices and performances. As of April 26, 2012 Grant is the first elected Pipe Major of the Boise Highlanders.



Band Manager Ron Lopez Ron was Pipe Major from 1972 and after serving for 40 years has retired. He's seen the band grow from a very small group to over two dozen uniformed members and many more coming up. Ron's whole family have been, or currently are, members in the band. Ron's wife Joyce has been a piper even longer than Ron. Ron's daughter Sara was a fine dancer before taking up the tenor drums which she still continues to play and leads the tenor corp. Currently Ron enjoys retirement and three grandsons. Contact Ron at thebigdrone@hotmail.com to hire the band, or call 208-362-3144.



Drum Sgt Locke Nuttall Locke has been the drumming backbone of the band since the early 70's. He likes us inspite of the fact that we drag him all over the place with our tempos. His is a thankless job! After many years, he stood down as drum sgt to make room for some youthful leadership, but in the absence of former lead drummer Evan Meck, Locke has once again stepped up to the plate and will be leading us.



Pipe Sgt. Jordan Pierce Burns 2009 was Jordan Pierce's coming out with the band. He began with the band's school in the 2007-08 session and was one of Cindy Wolfenbarger's students. It wasn't long before she passed him onto one of the senior staff and he has excelled since then. Jordan attends Boise State University, so we'll get to keep him in the band for time being!



Pipe Sgt. Carolyn Watts Carolyn is a person of many talents. She plays pipes, does celtic knotwork, and has published a book on music theory specifically for bagpipers. Check out her website in our links page.



Carol Klungle - The Voice of the Boise Highlanders Carole was born in Paisley, Scotland which makes her the perfect "perfect" voice for us, which she has been since 2001. Before comIng to us,she sang with the Scottish National Orchestra in Glasgow. Carole loves to trial around with the band to our various venues and we love having her.



Drummer Sara Aycock Sara is looking pretty serious here. And she is serious about what she does. But when she smiles, the world lights up. (you need to ckeck out the gallery pages to see one of Sara's smiles!) Sara is our acting Drum Major as well. Though she's the apple of our Band Manager s eye (his daughter) she holds her own on the drum line or leading the band and is a great asset to the band. She is the drummer rep on the Board.



Drum Major Sara Aycock See what I mean? Sara doubles as our Drum Major and does a great job of it, having learned from the best, George Earley Sr. It's hard for her to be stern as he is, because she's got such a kind nature, as you can see by this photo!



Piper Lloyd Blackstone Lloyd, like most of the members in the band, learned piping through community schools. UNlike most of us, Lloyd is kind of quiet!



Piper Marge Butterfield Marge has suffered from Adult Onset Piping for more than 20 years. Willing and able to perform under most circumstances. Contact Marge at the link below.



Piper Lon Blair Lon has been playing with us since 2007 and added yet another zany personality to the group. Although he's a serious dentist by day, and is a pretty serious dad by night, in his free time he skis and whitewater rafts. And when he's not bagpiping, he's collecting other types of musical instruments and learning to play them. He says he credo is: "Don't spend too much time trying to achieve playing perfection when you can have a perfectly good time playing around!" HEY, I'm for that! Lon is now serving as the treasurer on the band board.

Drummer Bill Curtis

Bill has been a side drummer in the band for a number of years. He keeps a cheery disposition even though the pipers tend to lure the drummers away from a steady beat.



Piper Bill Earley Bill's serves as our dance piper and has been a member of the band for many years. He quite often is the master cook at our BBQ's as well. Bill represents the Dancers on the Board.



Drummer Isiah Fletcher Isiah has been drumming for 6 years and 1 year with the Boise Highlanders. Isiah will be graduating from Boise High School in May of 2012 where he played tenor in the marching band and was a drummer for the Jazz band. In the fall he will attend Boise State with hopes to be drumming for the marching band there. He plays in various other bands in different genres around Boise. Isiah loves drumming!!

Piper Rob Gallas

Rob is another one of our double duty pipers, who also plays with the Boise Police Pipe Band and now serves as the Pipe Major of that band, and is a member of the Boise City Police force. He's affectionately referred to as Robbie the Bobbie by band members. And true to form of most of the cops in the band, a trouble maker, so he fits right in!

Piper Anna Garlock

Anna has been a member of the band for several years and is one of the many ladies in the band without whom the ranks would be rather sparce. Anna likes to garden in her spare time.



Dancer Amy Ginter Bio coming soon

Piper Dan Grothaus

Dan performs double duty as he is also a member of the Boise Police Pipe Band, as well as an officer with the police force. Dan was named Patrolman of the Year for 2005 and we're all busting with pride for him. Now retired from the Police Force, Dan keeps busy doing farm work and honeydo lists and the like.



Drummer Kaitlyn Heusser Snare drummer Kaitlyn Heusser is a high school sophomore and has been playing drums and percussion since the 5th grade with the goal of playing with the Boise Highlanders. Besides music, Kaitlyn enjoys art, math and science (especially zoology) and games and puzzles. She enjoys hanging out with the older folks in the band and we enjoy having her. You might forget her name but you'll never forget her smile. Kaitlyn follows her grandmother Anna Garlock's footsteps in the band, which brings a great deal of pride and satisfaction to Anna.

Piper Bill Hughes

Bill looks pretty tough in this picture, but it was just a cold day. I had said he'd been in the band for ages, but he told me it made him sound old. So now I'll just say something like, you know, he's a pillar of the band. He's a steadfast member for sure. One of his favorite tunes is "The Old Rustic Bridge". Bill stays on top of things by regularly attending the Mastery of Scottish Arts School in Seabeck, Washington.



Dancer Tasha Jackson Tasha has been dancing since 2008. Tasha likes dancing because it's fun and because people have fun watching her dance. She began dancing following the footsteps of her sisters who are all dancers with the band. Her favorite dances are the strathspey and reel, and her favorite performance during the year is Robbie Burns. You should come along one year and watch her dance!



Dancer Camille Jackson Camille has danced with the band since 2006 when she was just 8 years old. Camille really enjoys leaning new dances and her favorite is the Flora McDonald's Fancy. Along with her sisters and the other dancers, Camille adds a lot of grace to the band.



Dancer Daphne Jackson



Drummer Brandi Janssen Brandi began Scottish Country dancing in 2001 and in 2005 she became a dancer for the Boise Highlanders. In the fall of 2012 Brandi traded in her dancing shoes for a pair of drum sticks. She is currently learning tenor drumming and we'll have photographic proof on her as soon as possible.



Piper Martin Janssen Martin has taught at the Boise Highlanders School and has served on the board. As. Of late. He has been attending college and getting a degree in nursing.



Piper Bud Lancaster "Jarheadpiper" Marines will understand. Graduated in the 07 08 class of the Boise Highlanders Piping School. Started on pipes in 2009. First performance with the band was the New Plymouth Parade in 2011. The most fun I've had so far is competing with my friends as part of a trio. In 2012 accepted the job as the bands Quartermaster. When I'm not playing bagpipes I work as a special education teacher in the Meridian School District.



Dancer Hannah Lawson



Piper Tim Martin Tim's also a very serious person. (Do not discuss British cars with Tim, he still suffers from PTSD and may become violent if the subject is brought up.) Although Tim appears to be quite serious on the exterior, I happen to know first hand, he's a real jokester underneath. He keeps those of us on email laughing with his regular contributions.



Piper Scott McCain Bio coming soon



Piper Judy Pittman Judy's been in the band for more years than she can remember. She has a good time piping but takes it seriously as she competes around the NW area and studies via Skype with John Cairns. She enjoys the company of her fellow bandmates and looks for any opportunity for a reason to laugh.



Dancer Moira Rodgers



Piper Leah Shaw Leah's been a member of the band for quite some time, and of course, is one of the fine ladies that makes up a good portion of the Boise Highlanders. Leah has been teaching at the Boise Highlanders school for several years. Aside from her piping skills, Leah is a very talented artist as well. Leah is serving on the board representing the pipers.



Piper Samuel Ward Samuel Ward started taking lessons from Uncle Tim (Martin) when he was eleven and received his pipes in April 2008. Samuel has loved the pipes since he was a "wee laddie". He loves the fast tunes and has an IPod full of Pipe and Drum music. He placed 2nd in his division at the 2008 Highland Games in Boise and is saving to go to Scotland. Samuel is an Eagle Scout and is also active in choir and also is learning the piano.



Piper Don Watts Don is a very serious piper and also very chameleon-like in his appearance. For instance, there could be times when you look at his image here and swear he looks just like somebody else. But, you'd be wrong.



Piper Susan Westergard Susie has been with the band for quite some time, though motherhood has taken up a good deal of her time recently. She's one of the two females representing in the Boise Police Pipe Band and has written a 6/8 march to commemorate them. She was commendated by the Boise Police Chief for her efforts too! Susie is now serving as the Band Board President.



Piper Brian Whipple My parents sent home a set of Pakistani pipes while they were on a church mission to England. They remembered that I had wanted to play pipes as a child. At a little over age 40, I started to learn piping with Albert Rowe of the Galloway Highlanders of Ogden, Utah. Joined the Boise Highlanders in 2004. Music is my hobby and besides the pipes I play piano, baritone with The Dunkley Music Community Band, and have started on the saron barong (part of an Indonesian Gamelan Orchrestra). Having no Scottish ancestry I am free to play all types of tunes.



Piper Rob Winkle Rob’s interest in piping was pressed upon him by his wife who, enjoying Scottish culture, wanted him to find Scottish ancestry in order to join a clan. This was no small feat, since, as a direct descendent from the House of Plantagenet, his many-times-great-grandfather King Edward III executed the Scottish national hero, William Wallace. However, that same lineage established his descent from the first Scottish King, Kenneth MacAlpine. Rob has served for many years as the Idaho State Commissioner for the Clan MacAlpine Society. When not piping, Rob is a patent attorney, who owns a law firm in downtown Boise.