AR2 Drumming

Very cool watching a young studio player grow from a total beginner in late 2023 into a successful band competition debut in 2026. Congrats, Ian!

Great start to the season for our G5 Pipeband, 1st place

Great weather, great venue, good catch up with friends, kudos to the PPBSO & PPBSO Niagara Hamilton Branch for a good event. 🎶🇨🇦🎶

First report from the 40th Annual Chicago Scottish Festival and Highland Games:

Congratulations to AR2 Drumming studio player Alyssa Allegretti (age 17), who was presented a substantial award from the Charlie Jenkins Memorial Scholarship Foundation! The generous opportunity CJMSF is providing will allow Alyssa to attend her very first Winter Storm - The Pipes & Drums Event in Kansas City in January 2027.

Congratulations also to AR2 Drumming affiliate Ian Hess (age 14), who was presented the same award from the Charlie Jenkins Memorial Scholarship Foundation. This won't be Ian's first time attending Winter Storm, but the generosity of the foundation's support will go a long way to offset costs of his continued learning experience.

Thank you to the CJMSF board for keeping Charlie's memory alive and supporting piping and drumming education.

Congratulations again to Alyssa and Ian!

It was an honor to perform a few weeks ago at the Kane County Police Week memorial ceremony. The event is held in remembrance of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities.

Despite instructing the group since late 2012, this was somehow the first occasion where schedules aligned to be able to actively support a performance of the Aurora Police Pipes & Drums. There could not have been a better opportunity than this to do so!

Thanks to the Chicago Fire Department Pipes & Drums for having me in last night to give your bass line a boost to get the new guys off to a strong start! Indulging in the silly narrations and funny ways to remember details about technique and timing is going to serve them well as they prepare to support the band.

Look forward to checking back in next month and getting further into the boom boom beats!

- AR2

Reporting in from the Milwaukee Highland Games where every drumming caption prize was awarded to a studio band!

Congrats to:

Celtic Nations Pipes and Drums
G5 Best Drums and Midsection
1sr Place Overall

Madison Pipes & Drums
G4 Best Drums
1st Place Overall

Dundee Scottish Pipe Band
G4 Best Midsection

Chicago Celtic Pipe Band
G3 Best Drums and Midsection

Great day on the solos for studio affiliates as well:

G3 MSR
1 Scarlett
2 Alyssa

G2 MSR and HJ
1 Andrew

Nov Tenor 2/4
1 Ian
2 Andrew
3 Alyssa

Very proud of everyone!

Congratulations to new studio player William Scigliano, who competed in the Grade 4 Snare solo events yesterday at the St. Louis Scottish Games. William is taking home medals for 3rd Place in his 2/4 March and 1st Place in his 6/8 March. He'll be one to watch this season!

Meet Fergus 💥 the booming heartbeat of Celtic Nations Pipes and Drums.

Along with the rest of the drums and even most of the pipers, we spent a day focused on ensemble as the band prepares to debut a new quick march medley and a bunch of new players at the upcoming Milwaukee Highland Games.

Pleased to share that 2 one-hour virtual lessons have been donated for auction as part of the Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band's Concert & Ceilidh event happening tomorrow.

The silent auction is entirely online, so bids can be placed from anywhere in the world! The auction closes at 8:15 PM CDT tomorrow evening, so click below to get your bid in now and keep an eye on it until then to be sure you're the top bidder.

2026 Midlothian Pipe Band Silent Auction All items in this auction were donated, and all proceeds go directly to funding Midlothian's operations, including the development program, competition uniforms, drums, etc.

Always glad to support the Charlie Jenkins Memorial Scholarship Foundation and grateful for the support they provide to young pipers and drummers including two studio players who were the recipients of 2025 and 2026 Winter Storm endowments!