I began playing bagpipes during my junior year at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy. My initial tutor was Mr. Ron "Ringo" Bowen, owner of The Bagpipe Place and teacher at my school at that time.  A highlight of this period was playing with The Chieftains at The Pabst Theatre during their San Patricio tour.  The Midwest School of Piping and Drumming was another excellent learning opportunity available at that time where I received direct instruction from such sought after instructors like Doug MacRae and Alex Gandy, and enjoyed additional guidance from Ken Eller, Bruce Gandy, and Jake Watson.

In 2010, after my high school graduation, I returned home to the Chicago area and was excited to continue my piping career.  I joined the Grade 5 City of Chicago Pipe Band where I gained my first competitive experiences.  With a focus on development as players, our band was promoted to Grade 4 the following year and continued to improve.  My next jump was much more significant as I was invited to step up to the Grade 1 band ... exactly the type of challenge I enjoy to motivate my personal improvement!

After the unfortunate dissolve of the Grade 1 band, I returned to the Grade 4 band which had been rebranded as The Chicago Scots Pipe Band.  For the first season I actually played snare drum, which was another skill I had acquired during my high school music experience.  With the band's promotion to Grade 3, I returned to the pipes and am now a member of the group's musical arrangement team and am principally responsible for tuning the band.

I began competing as a soloist in the summer of 2013. My situation was rather unique as I began in Grade 2 due to my extensive experience in so few years of playing. I placed 1st at the majority of my competitions in this inaugural season, including my first ever piobaireachd (great music) contest.  I was promoted by the Midwest Pipe Band Association to Grade 1 for the 2014 season.  I was happy to have consistently placed in the prize lists over the last 2 years in Grade 1. 

Just this past summer I was awarded "Piper of the Day" at the St. Louis Highland Games.  I owe much of my success and development as a soloist to my then private tutor, Mr. Michael Kotch and most recently I've taken up tutelage with the world-renowned piper and 2014 Glenfiddich Champion, Stuart Liddell. His wealth of experience and knowledge is a wonderful resource to have, both in his solo career and as Pipe Major of the grade 1 Inveraray & District Pipe Band.

My proudest moment came in the summer of 2014.  I was honored to be invited to play in the then grade 2 Bleary & District Pipe Band from Northern Ireland.  I flew over for the worlds and was able to perform in the Omagh County Championships as well as the World Pipe Band Championships. The band performed well and was awarded 2nd place overall. You can see me competing with the band in this video at the 2014 World Pipe Band Championships.

With these performing and competing experiences, it was an honor to be asked to teach new and developing players through the Chicago Academy of Piping and Drumming.  I’ve been teaching at The CAPD since 2011.  This educational program is designed to teach all levels of bagpipes and drums from raw beginners of all ages up to mastery level courses.  I am pleased to be able to offer classes in both piping and drumming through The CAPD.

I am lucky to have participated in levels of competition and performing opportunities often thought to be only achievable through some decades of experience.  It is all very exciting and I am always eager to share my music and knowledge with others, while I continue to seek higher levels of personal development.  If you're looking for a piper to play at an event, or maybe to teach you how to play the bagpipes, I hope you'll seriously consider contacting me and letting me be part of your musical journey!