Seth Wells – Started playing pipes when I was 14 with the Cape Fear Highlanders. It was a Boy Scout grade 5 band, which later disbanded not long after I went to college. Went to St. Andrews for college and still play with their grade 3 band. I haven’t done solos much until this past year and will hopefully move to grade 2 this year. I also played with Charleston Police in the summers while they were in grade 2. I also enjoy scuba diving in super dark waters with huge fish.
Chandler Merrell – Is a grade 3 player from Oklahoma. He is just getting back into solos this year and has done a great job. He has spent the last 4 years at SA and plans to graduate in May. This summer he plans to live in Emerald Island with Patrick Osborne and Steve Serneels. Chandler’s real name is Toaster and when he is added with Toast and Butter he makes breakfast.
David Quillin – He is a grade 2 piper from Raleigh. DQ graduated from SA in 2007 and played in the worlds with Grandfather Mountain where they placed 6th. Dave will be a big help with ensemble and taping practices. He loves sleeping on random things and doing upside-down handstands.
Jonathan Donevant (JD) – Started playing in Myrtle Beach, and later came to play with St. Andrews at the ripe old age of 15. Played there for several years and with Charleston Police grade 2 in the summers. Came along quickly in solos and made it to the grade 2 before taking a break to focus on school. Will be playing with SA again this year and will hopefully be getting back into solos. HE enjoys naked pillow fighting and cooking Asian food.
Tim Hinson – Started learning to play at a young age with the Cape Fear Highlanders. Learned very fast and ended up playing with St. Andrews before he could drive. Later became the PM of a local police band. Plays in the grade 3 solos and has always done well. Tim likes biking down mountains and writing things down.
Josh Kipp (Darwin) - Started playing in Myrtle Beach, and later came to play with St. Andrews. Played in grade 2 his last season in out. A really good player, even if he is 9 feet tall. He just got engaged as well. Darwin loves being tall and cleaning fans that others cannot reach on latter’s.
Todd Hutzler (Hoolie) – Started playing up north and later came to the Citadel where he later became the PM. Hoolie can play any instrument in the band and can kick some butt in solos. He also played with Charleston Police grade 2. He really likes old cars and watching women’s tennis.
David Bleaking - David started playing the pipes at the young age of 13 with the Cape Fear Highlanders. David later became an accomplished solo player. After taking a short break from piping his first year in college he now plays with NCSU pipe band and is going to start competing again in grade 3 this year. David loves the name Kevin and he has a deep understanding of small engine repair.
Scott Anderson – Started playing when he was 13 with the Cape Fear Highlanders. Used to kick my butt in solos. Still plays with the local police pipe band and is looking to do more by way of band contests and solos. Scott likes frog hunting and peeling bananas.
Joseph Brady (Joe) –
Started playing the pipes back in Chicago, IL.
He now lives in Johnston County, NC with his wife and is the
founder and
Pipe Major of
The Wake and District Public Safety Pipe Band. His
goal in starting the pipe band was to
honor those men and women
who have fallen in public service to North Carolina. Joe
really likes Spanish moss and building
the number in every way possible
Steven Fisher – Lots of experience with solos and pipe bands. Played up north with Schenectady in grade 2. Currently, plays solos in grade 2 and will probably move up at the end of the year. Also, is leading the NCSU pipe band and just had a baby. He enjoys playing duck hunt and keeping time on his belly.
Richie D’Arata – Grade 2 piper – Plays with SA and is looking to stay in NC after graduation next summer. He is a great player and has a good amount of band experience down the FL. He likes to crawl around on the floor for whatever reason.
Peter McArthur – Grade I Piper – Plays with SA. Also, played with Charleston Police in grade 2. Teaches and plays pipes full time. Peter really enjoy double back flips and making soup out of beans.
Brian Jefferies – Tenor drummer. He currently plays with NCSU grade 3 and is a very solid tenor drummer. He also plays snare in NCSU grade 4. He lives in Raleigh and is about to graduate from NCSU. He likes running super fast up stairs and calling every Asian restaurant just to hear them say “Hell row”.
Kyle Davis – He is the former SA bass drummer and still their back up bass. He is also a very good drum major and band manager. Kyle learned to play the bass in 5 weeks before SA first contest and has been knocking hard ever since. Kyle lives at SA and Raleigh during the summer. He likes Mike and Ikes, but who doesn’t?
Jaime Osborne – Tenor drummer. Jaime
played as the bass drummer with the
very successful Charleston Police Pipe Band while they were on the quick
rise
to grade II. She can also play tenor and
snare drum. Jaime comes from a family
full of Scottish drumming. Jaime enjoys
throwing plates and making soup hats.
Charly Slagle – Grade 2 piper from Connecticut. He is a sophomore this year at SA and plays with the pipe band there. He started playing the pipes when he was young and has had a very successful solo career, making it to grade 2 before he turned 18. Charly enjoys spending time with his turtle Mike and taking small steps so others can keep up.
Eugene (Huge, Eug) Bland – Grade 2 piper from New Jersey. Huge graduated from SA in 2008, where he was the Pipe Sgt and a business major. He is now studying physical therapy and hopes to be a doctor. He is also an active bagpipe instructor in NJ and plays the guitar. Huge enjoys the small things in life and dipping his bacon in salmon grease
Drummers
Patrick Osborn – He will be our lead tip. Patrick grew up playing with Atlanta. Goes to school at SA where he plays. Spent last summer with Orn Mor pipe band and played with them at the worlds. He kicks butt at solos, even when little old ladies touch him while he is playing. He lives in ATL still, but will come up for practices. Patrick loves the broken handed drummer, spelling things wrong even though they sound the same, and taking short walks for exercise.
Carter Neely – Grade 3 snare drummer. He currently plays with NCSU grade 3 and really enjoys drumming. He has been play concert snare since middle school and enjoys playing a full set. Has a few students in Raleigh and loves helping lead his band. Carter loves cats.
Casie Swiger – Snare Drummer. She started out in the Myrtle Beach band before coming to play with SA. Actively plays in solos and at a grade 2 level. She also plays jazz kit. Casie likes collecting bottle tops and eating pop rocks.
Ashley Snead – Grade 3 drummer from North Carolina. She is a junior this year at SA and plays with the pipe band. Ashley has played many types of drums, but before coming to SA she had never played the Scottish snare. Ashley enjoys tanning leather and tying knots.
Chuck Sloan – Grade 3 drummer from New Jersey. He is a freshman this year at SA and plays with the pipe band. Chuck has been playing since he was 9 years old. Chuck enjoys tracking small game for food and saga
Steve Serneels – Grade 2 snare drummer from Florida. He went to SA and transferred to Lyons where he is the lead tip. He will be living with Chandler and Patrick this summer and does nothing but play sick nasty music. He loves wearing laser pants and doing the tango.
Samuel Hemingway – Played bass at SA for several years. He developed such words as “knight time” and “hello.” He is also a Tony Award winner. Samuel is cool.
Dylan Mercer – Tenor and Bass drummer. She is a sophomore at St. Andrews where she learned how to play the bass drum her freshman year. Dylan is working hard to learn the tenor drum to play this summer. She also can kick major butt on the bass drum. Dylan loves the tall people in her life and being the first female saxophone player in South America.
