Band Member Listing - City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums

City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums

Band Roster

Jim Allen - Drummer
Jim joined the band as a tenor drummer in the fall of 2003. He is a veteran of drum & bugle corps and an accomplished musician on several different instruments.

Homer Babcock - Sergeant Piper/Secretary
Homer, a former Pipe Major of the band, was one of the original "founders" of the band. Homer is truly a "country gentleman" and as the Secretary keeps the band affairs and all of us in order! Homer is a steam locomotive nut.

Ian Boyd - Drummer
A high school student, Ian joined the band in 2006 and has been a welcome addition to the drum line

Terry Brenzo - Piper
Terry got hooked on pipes soon after his son Matt began taking bagpipe lessons. He joined the band in 2005 and has been consistently among the top competitors in Grade 4 individual piping.

Matthew Brenzo - Piper
Matt is a college student and piper in Grade 3 individual competitions. He frequently assists the pipe major in tuning the pipe section.

Matt Dolan - Lance Sergeant / Quartermaster
Former commercial pilot, extreme sports enthusiast, and currently a stay-at-home dad, Matt has taken to piping with a dedication that has been an inspiration to the entire band. He took first place in his debut performance in Grade 4 individual competition. He recently became band quartermaster and we’re sure that he will do a fine job.

Mike Dow - Corporal Piper / Exec Member at Large
A transplanted New Yorker, Mike is the former pipe major of the Long Island-based Northport Pipes and Drums. He joined the band in 2004.

Greg Duncan-Peters - Sergeant Piper / Treasurer
Greg, as the Band Treasurer, makes certain that our money is in safe hands.... Potential sponsors feel free to contact Greg!!!

Kenny Flynt - Piper
Kenny joined the band in 2006 after having taken a break from bagpipes to pursue his college education. Newly married, he looks forward to good times ahead.

Kevin Ford - Drum Sergeant
As our lead tip, Kevin does a great job of keeping the drum line in good order. One of several Terps in the band, Kevin was a member of the University of Maryland marching band and competed in many DCI events.

Donna Franklin - Recruit Piper
Donna is a student piper who has rendered a valuable service to the band as our resident videographer. As a result, we can now view the good, bad and the ugly of our performances.

Kate Frear - Drummer
Kate became a member of CAPD in 2007 and has impressed everyone with her drumming skills and lively personality. A college student majoring in percussion, Kate will receive her degree from George Mason University in 2008.

John Gustafson - Pipe Sergeant
Former Pipe Major and current Pipe Sergeant of the Band... John got into bagpipes when nobody else liked them! Three favorite things: Grand Prix Racing, Bagpipes and the Matterhorn... not necessarily in that order!

Thomas Haman - Sergeant Drummer
Tom, as the Bass Drummer, provides the heartbeat of the band. One of our most consistent and reliable performers, somehow he also finds time to pursue full time studies at the University of Maryland.

Mike Hamilton - Piper
Mike played the pipes as a kid but quit playing under the pressure of career and family. He's returned to piping and encourages anyone with a neglected set of pipes to start playing again!

Don Hausser - Piper
Don is a major in the US Army who has a love of the bagpipes. He has made steady progress in learning all the band tunes and entered the CAPD ranks in 2008.

Joe Hefferon - Corporal Piper
We're not quite certain what Joe does for a living as he has informed us that "if he tells us he would then have to kill us"????

Richard Hunter - Corporal Piper
Richard returned to piping in 2003 after a hiatus of over 30 years. He originally learned the pipes at the College of Wooster (Ohio) in the 1960s and later was a member of the Balmoral Highland Pipe Band in Syracuse, New York. In addition to playing with CAPD he has been drum major of the Prince George's County (Maryland) Police Pipe Band. As a result, his model railroad has been gathering dust for the last few years.

Charles King - Piper
Charles has played bagpipes for a number of years.In the real world, he occupies the Ratiu Chair of Romanian Studies in the school of Foreign Services at Georgetown University. An expert on eastern Europe, nationalism, and ethnic conflict, Charles has lectured widely on these topics and has worked with broadcast media ranging from CNN and the BBC to the History Channel and MTV.

Pam Levy - Corporal Piper
Pam joined the band in 2002. At home she plays bagpipes with canine continuo.

Wayne Lowery - Piper
Proving that it’s never too late to begin a new hobby, Wayne took up the bagpipes after reaching the mid-century mark. He joined our ranks in 2007 and looks forward to marching and competing with the band for years to come.

Mike McLean - Piper
A long time CAPD member, Michael "Mac" McLean returned to the band in 2006 after an overseas job assignment in Italy. While there, he played with the City of Rome Pipe Band

Sam McVane - Piper
One of our most accomplished young pipers, Sam will be starting his college career at William and Mary in the fall of 2007. We look forward to having him around during breaks and in the summers for years to come

Chris Moss - Lance Corporal Piper
Chris is the only member of the band that is into curling (nothing to do with hair) and "old crows"!

Joe Ogulin - Piper
When not working at his job in information technology or playing the bagpipes, Joe can be found at local skating rinks, where he spends his time as a hockey referee.

J. J. Powers - Drum Major
J.J. is responsible for the Dress, Drill and Deportment of the band and anyone who has seen the band will attest to the outstanding job he does!

Ann Reesman - Corporal Piper
Ann began piping as part of a midlife crisis. She recently retired from her employment law practice in D.C. to concentrate on her high G doublings.

Phil Rose - Piper
Phil started piping in his native England, where he played with Grade 2 Beeston and District pipe band before moving to the United States and joining Long Island's Inis Fada pipe band in the 1990s. He became a member of CAPD in 2000.

Jason Rutchauskas - Drummer
An elementary school teacher by trade, Jason has been a welcome addition to the drum ranks and a member of CAPD for the past three years.

John Sprague - Pipe Major
John (also known as "Snuffy" due to a rather disgusting habit that he used to have!) is a Grade 1 piper, the Pipe Major of the band, and the teacher/instructor to many future pipers. Rumor has it that he can cook up a mean rack of lamb, too.

Matt Tourville - Drummer
Matt recently joined our drum ranks. He comes to us with a wealth of experience from playing with the world famous Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. He is also a founding member of Edsall Road, a popular Celtic Band in Northern Virginia.

Peter Walker - Lance Corporal Piper
Pete has been playing in the band since 2005. He has competed successfully in Grade IV solos. In addition, Pete is an accomplished Scottish fiddler, and competed in the '04 and '05 US National Championships. When not playing music, Pete is a Space Physicist working at the Naval Research Laboratory.

Dottie Whitehead - Drummer
Dottie has been an accomplished tenor drummer with local pipe bands for a number of years, and she joined CAPD in 2005.

Bryan Wilson - Drummer
A recent addition to the snare line, Bryan brings extensive drumming experience to the band.

Conrad Wong - Corporal Drummer
Conrad, in addition to being a tenor drummer, has another love: "American muscle cars".

Susan Hyams - Dance Director
Susan started bagpipe and dance lessons with Lezlie Patterson Webster in MA. She went to St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, NC, where she played in the college pipe band under P/M Bill Caudill. A member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, Susan is the founder and director of the Thistle Dancers, a group of talented dancers who perform the traditional dances of Scotland. Her students range in age from 4 1/2 to adult. The Thistle Dancers compete and perform locally - including with the pipe band. Susan also dances with the pan-celtic band IONA.

Sean Shelton - Web site design
Sean Shelton is the designer and builder of the website for the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums.

Rich Adams - Retired/Alumni
Rich spent 3 1/2 years playing for the Canadian Forces Europe Pipes and Drums under P/M Hugh Macpherson in Lahr, Germany. Rich can be persuaded to pipe for weddings, funerals, and the occasional party when not traveling or indulging in his other passion as a sailing instructor.

Frank Buydos - Retired/Alumni
Frank, a former Pipe Major of the band, took the lead in being the "sound" man for the band and kept everyone in tune!

Rab Carrick - Retired/Alumni
Rab, originally from Glasgow, Scotland, learned with the Boys Brigade and then played with the famous Clan McRae Pipe Band.

Paul Cassens - Retired/Alumni
Paul is currently on leave from the band to concentrate on full time college studies at George Mason University.

Tom Chandlee - Retired/Alumni
Tom is a former “lead tip” and long time CAPD member. He is currently on hiatus from the band while he pursues his career interests.

John Cody - Retired/Alumni
John is a former Drum Major of the CAPD

Doug Dearie - Retired/Alumni
Doug is a former piper with the CAPD.

Joe Gott - Piper (Inactive)
Joe joined the band in 2003. He is currently on hiatus due to his heavy work schedule, but hopes to rejoin the ranks in the future.

Doug Gow - Retired/Alumni
Doug retired from piping in 2005 to tend to his estate in Virginia's horse country and to spend more time with his grandchildren!

Helen Harlow - Retired/Alumni
Helen, originally from Scotland, is the guru for piping competitions at many of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) Games; Helen is also responsible for EUSPBA Memberships.

Joe Jordan - Retired/Alumni
Doctor Joe (formerly the band's official physician) maintains contact with CAPD from his home in Manhattan.

Alexander McAdam - Retired/Alumni
Alex is a former Pipe Major of the band and for his sins has served in the band for over 30 years. Alex retired from active playing so that he can play more golf!

Merton Meade - Retired/Alumni
Merton is a former Pipe Major of the CAPD!

John Morrisson - Retired/Alumni
During his playing time with the band, John was "Mr Dependable"... could always be counted on to be on time and perfectly turned out!

Harry Raab - Retired/Alumni
Harry recently retired from the band after many years of distinguished service. He was one of our most accomplished side drummers and was responsible for many of the scores played by the drum section.

Dan Sloan - Retired/Alumni
Dan (hole-in-one) Sloan was a mainstay in the band for many years, serving as sergeant quartermaster. He retired to Florida in 2007 to pursue his dream of joining the Senior PGA Tour!

Ken Smith-Christmas - Retired /Alumni
Ken was one of the founding members of the band and served as Drum Sergeant on numerous occasions over the years! Ken speaks several languages; however, he made most of them up himself! The band spent much time looking for Ken, who was always sneaking off to "play" (we use the term loosely) his fiddle!

Dorothy Taft - Retired/Alumni
Dorothy joined the band in 1984. Proud of her Douglas ancestry, Dorothy prepared a CD of Douglas-related music and verse, entitled: O Douglas, O Douglas, Tender and True. and a book "Scotland through the Douglases" which offers historical detail about the Douglases during Scotland's years of independence (1320-1707).

Jim Taft - Retired/Alumni
Jim took up the drums after his attempts to become a professional baseball player failed!!! Jim started with the band in 1984.

Greg Trevarthen - Retired/Alumni
Although a piper, Greg started life as a drummer. He began his drumming career at age 11 with the Colonial Williamsburg Fife & Drum Corps in Williamsburg, VA. Greg has played pipes with the Honolulu Police Pipes And Drums, and University of Mary Washington Pipes And Drums. He recently retired from the US Marine Corps and lives in South Carolina.

Ben Williams - Retired / Alumni
Ben Williams has been a friend of the band for over 20+ years; some time before he joined the band! He competed with the band on bass drum and rhythm tenor drum. Other interests include guitar,Scottish folklore and living history.