My name is Andrew Ray and I play the bagpipes with one of the world’s top pipe bands, the grade 1 Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band. We compete at the highest level and in 2007 we placed 2^nd at the British Championships and 4^th at the European Championships.

Before joining Boghall and Bathgate I gained most of my experience with the George Watson’s College Pipes & Drums where I was Pipe Sergeant of the top band and Pipe Major of the junior band. I enjoyed a very successful time at Watson’s, winning many accolades in the juvenile grade such as the Scottish, British and European Championships; and in 2002, the Juvenile World Championships.

I have recently started teaching the bagpipes on a regular basis and now have a portfolio of seven pupils of varying ability.

Over the past ten years I have played my pipes at many weddings, burns suppers, corporate events and reunions and in many different countries such as Japan, Russia, South Africa, Belgium and Canada, but some of the highlights of my piping career are listed below:

• Solo performance on Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location: Best and Worst Live with Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer to an audience of 3 million.
• Other television appearances include: Songs of Praise and the World Pipe Band Championships
• The opening night of ‘Mamma Mia’ at the Playhouse theatre
• Scottish rugby internationals at Murrayfield.
• Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian FC European and domestic football matches.
• A reception for Princess Anne at Holyrood Palace.
• Edinburgh Rocks basketball games
• Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey games
• International business meetings at Edinburgh Castle

If you would like any more information regarding my piping background please get in touch via the enquiry page.