Our Instructors
Meet our faculty for 2024
Jori Chisholm-Lead Piping Instructor
Jori Chisholm is a highly accomplished and world-renowned American professional bagpipe player and teacher. Jori is a successful solo competitor, having won the United States Gold Medal four times and earning top prizes at prestigious events like the Northern Meeting at Inverness, the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban, the Royal Braemar Gathering, and the Cowal Highland Gathering. He was a member of the Grade One Simon Fraser University Pipe Band for 19 years, during which he won the World Pipe Band Championships three times and also performed as a featured soloist. He's performed at the Sydney Opera House, New York City's Lincoln Center, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and at sold out concerts with legendary rocker Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The Chieftains, and Carlos Núñez.
In 1999, Jori founded BagpipeLessons.com, providing pipers of all levels with invaluable resources, and in 2003, he became the first to teach bagpipes online. His popular and highly regarded BagpipeLessons.com Inner Circle Membership and BagpipeLessons.com YouTube Channel provide an extensive collection of lessons, product demonstrations, and insights on technique, bagpipe maintenance, and more. His instructional videos cater to both beginners and advanced players, providing guidance on essential piping techniques and strategies to improve musicality and performance. PipesDrums described Jori as "one of history’s great innovators for the Highland pipes" and The New York Times described him as a "top-tier teacher" in a front-page story about the growth of online music lessons.
Additionally, Jori has invented several award-winning products for pipers, including the Tone Protector™ Chanter Cap and Reed Case, the InTune Mic™, the Piper’s Ultimate Reed Poker, and the Piper’s Metronome™. He resides in Seattle with his family, enjoying music, travel, and the outdoors
Robbie Graham-Lead Snare Instructor
Robbie is a Grade 1 level player from the Pacific Northwest, and has competed at the highest level with SFU pipe band over the past few seasons.
SFU’s corps won the G1 worlds drumming title in 2022 and 2023.
Robbie is also a Gold Medal winner at the Winter Storm solo event in Kansas City.
Robbie is currently testing for a spot with Seattle FD, and hopes to join our public safety ranks very soon.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Andrew now lives in Houston, Texas, where he teaches drumming at the Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School. As a member of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, Andrew has won every RSPBA major title, including 4 World Pipe Band Championships since joining the band in 2013.
As a solo player, Andrew has won the American, Canadian, and North American Championships on numerous occasions as well as being an 8 time MHAF Gold Medal winner, and the only person to have ever won the Gold in both bass and tenor drumming. In 2005, Andrew made his first set of tenor sticks. As the years progressed, tenor drummers took notice of the high quality and custom designs produced by Ace. Today, Ace Percussion sells bass sticks, tenor sticks, and accessories world wide. Andrew continually develops products and strives to deliver the highest quality bass and tenor products on the market.
Andrew Elliott-Lead Tenor Instructor
Eric Albert-TNT Piping Instructor
Lament for the Children, a piobaireachd (pronounced Pee-Brock) or classical music of the pipes was recorded by James McColl in 1958 and would become the inspiration for Eric to study pipes.
Instruction from world class players such as Don Lindsay, Iain Donaldson, Jake Watson, James MacGillivray and Willie McCallum laid a solid foundation for his studies. Attending the graduate business program at Carnegie Mellon University afforded the opportunity to study with Jimmy McIntosh and Alasdair Gillies playing in the Grade 3 CMU band under Alasdair's’ direction. More recently, Eric has been fortunate to study with the inspiration of his youth, Gold Medalist James McColl now, 86 years old and living on the west coast.
Although passionate about solo piping, Eric has played in numerous bands over his 35 years of piping, including 6 years with the Grade 1 Oran Mor Pipe Band under PM Donald Lindsay. In 2004 he became the P/M of his local New York Grade 3 pipe band, Feadan Or which he Co-founded.
Serving several years as Pipe Major of the Eugene Highlanders, Eric is now principal instructor for the Lane Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums and is the faculty piping instructor at the Shedd Music Institute in Eugene, OR
A focal for students Eric instructs is ease and maintenance of the instrument with special attention to reed selection. An unpleasantly hard instrument simply isn’t fun to play.
Competing across the US he is regularly in the prize list at Highland Games. Recent majors include winning the Oregon Pipers Society Grade 1 aggregate award in both 2018 and 2016 and The PM Angus Macdonald Invitational in 2015.
Steve Foley-Lead Bass Instructor
Steve is a highly successful Open grade bass player, and is a regular instructor, and judge for Winter Storm in Kansas City.
Steve has played for LA Scots, SFU and is currently the bass man for Grade 2 North Stratton Pipe Band of Canada.
Steve is also a Captain for Cal Fire/Riverside County FD
Brennan Foley-Piping Instructor
Brennan is the youngest member of The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe band, from Northern Ireland.
He is an extremely experienced player, and brings a wealth of knowledge to the table for our students.
Brennan is currently testing to become a firefighter, and follow in his fathers footsteps.
Dave England-Bass Instructor
David England started his fire service career in 1992 in Manor TX and is currently a 24 year Captain at Georgetown FD and a Driver at Sam Bass FD. In 2006 David was a charter member of the Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums band. He began learning the Bass drum from John Mounce with the Capitol City Highlanders. He furthered his knowledge receiving instruction from North American Champion Stephen Cameron. Stephen established the base of knowledge that gave David what was needed to understand the instruments role in the pipe band. Mike Cole was another big influence on David’s style and knowledge of the craft. After attending KTA for years he was asked to assist instructing new bass students, then was the lead instructor for the bass room at Georgetown’s annual clinic for several years. He has been a guest instructor at the Ft. Worth public safety clinic as well. He enjoys helping new public safety bass drummers learn the critical role in the band.
Victor Reyna-Snare Instructor
A product of the St Thomas Episcopal School in Houston, TX, Victor has a fantastic upbringing in the Pipe Band world. Victor is currently wing player for The Westminster Pipe Band Grade 3 corps, and is a founding member of the Taylor Swift Fan Club.
Hunter Nichols- Piping Instructor
Hunter is an accomplished Grade 3 solo player, recently winning 3rd place at the prestigious Winter Storm Piobaireachd solo competition.
Hunter is taught by the legendary Jack Lee, and has quickly risen up the grades, and solo rankings, due to his hard work and dedication.
Bryan Martin- Drum Major Instructor
Current Drum Major instructor for the prestigious British Columbia Regimental Drum Major Course, Bryan has an extensive amount of experience in teaching up and coming Drum Majors the ropes.
He will have you squared away in your M&D in no time flat!
Chris Stephens- Snare Instructor
Chris is back for his second year as snare instructor for TNT. Chris is the current lead drummer for Orange County Fire, and a member of the IAFF P&D.
