Pipe Major Ron Lopez

Ron has been Pipe Major since 1972.  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 twin grandsons!  Contact Ron below to hire the band, or call 208-362-3144.

Drum Major George Earley

Although George is not as active with the band as in the past, he is the inspiration for many elements of the band.  He has been faithfully training all the tenor drummers since they first came to the band.  He has trained several drum majors as well, and is responsible for the dress and deportment of the band.  If our lines are straight, and we march with pride, it's due to George's influence and training.  In his life outside the band, George keeps busy with guitar and swimming, horse-shoeing, and is a retired Marine Corp Sgt. Major.

Drum Sgt. Evan Meck

Evan comes from a strong DCI background and is the drummer rep for the board of governors for the band.  Evan's enthusiam is catching and even influencing the pipers!  In 2008, he agreed to step up as acting drum sgt filling the shoes of Locke Nuttall who stepped down.  He's actively teaching new drummers and getting the drum corp built up to a new and exciting level.  Evan also represents the drummers on the band Board.  He's also a brand new proud papa.

Piper Marge Butterfield

Marge has suffered from Adult Onset Piping for more than 20 years. Willing and able to perform under most circumstances. Marge has been serving on the Board of Governors and is now our Vice President.  Contact Marge at the link below.

Pipe Sgt. 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 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.  Carolyn is also serving as the President of the Board of Governors for the band.

Piper Judy Pittman

Judy's been in the band for more years than she can remember and goes way back in time.  She has a good time piping but takes it seriously as she competes around the NW area.  She is the band secretary and enjoys the company of her fellow bandmates and looks for any opportunity for a reason to laugh.

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!

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 Piper Rep on our Board of Governors.

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. 

Piper Tim Martin

Tim's also a very serious person.  If you'd like to buy a used Jaguar, contact Tim.  (Tim is NOT a used car salesman)  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 Samuel Ward

Samuel Ward, one of our newest pipers, 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.  He dazzled the audience at the Burns show 2009 and has the promise of a great piping career ahead of him.

Drummer 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 will be ever present to help out and keep the drum corp strong.

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.

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.

Drummer Mike Morrison

Mike has bass drummed with the band for several years and has contributed to the band with his offspring...all of whom have played in the band at some point.  He makes great blowstems for us and all for the price of a coke.  I asked him to smile for this photo, and he said he was!

Piper Jeannine Hall

Jeannine is one of the red headed beauties of the band.  She teaches junior high school art, so she has to be "with it" to keep up with them.  And she's a pretty fine piper and a talented artist to boot!

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.

Piper Rich Fuhriman

Not only is Rich a fine piper in our band, but he also doubled as the Pipe Major for the Boise Police Pipe Band and just recently stood down from that position.  He's a retired member of Boise's finest we all miss seeing him around town doing official police business on his motorcycle.  He's one of the band's cheeriest and nicest members.

"I think the thing that most amazes me about myself  is that I started lessons when I was 55....my goal was to march in my first parade before I turned 60.....which I did, and turned 60, 5 days later."

Cindy is a Clinical Microbiologist by day, also plays guitar and piano, has been married for over 40 years to the same man and has 8 grandchildren.  She told Judy Pittman that Judy was part of her inspiration to play when she heard Judy play pipes at Paradise Point camp ground many years ago.  Cindy also teaches at the piping school the band runs.

Piper 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.  A high school senior, Jordan plans on attending college at Boise State University, so we'll get to keep him in the band for time being!

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.

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 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.  Aside from her piping skills, Leah is a very talented artist as well.

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 Pipe Major's eye (his daughter) she holds her own on the drum line or leading the band and is a great asset to the band. 

Drum Major Sara Aycock

See what I mean?  Sara doubles as one of our Drum Majors 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 Mark McCullough

Mark has been  a member of the band for several years, and doubles up with a few of the Boise Highlanders as a civilian member of the Boise Police Pipe Band.  His double duty keeps him busy, and when not piping he's busy playing small pipes and making music with his wife Sandra.  Not only is he an accomplished musician, but also one of the most excellent dutch oven chefs in the band.  Our trips to Athena are incomplete without him.

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!  Lloyd is now on the board of governors.

Piper Marsha Hood

Marsha is another of the fine force of ladies in the band.  She has learned patience over the years from teaching elementary age kids.  She also teaches at the band's piping school.

Pipe Sgt. Martin Janssen

Martin joins our band from the Sleekit Beasties, our "sister band", or maybe it's a brother band?  Anyway, Martin brings humor along with his piping talents.  He also shares his knowledge by teaching at the band's school.  Martin is our newest appointed Pipe Sgt for the band.