Meet the Pipers
William Thayer
Years of Experience: Over 15 years
Bagpipes he plays: 2004 McCallum Bagpipes
Favorite Tune: Road to the Isles
Will has been playing the bagpipes since he was a kid. He is an accomplished Grade 1 bagpiper in the Western United States Pipe Band Association. He is also the longest tenured bagpiper at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. With Over 15 Years of experience, Will has played hundreds of venues locally, Nationally, and Internationally. Some of these venues include playing for The Chieftains, the Millenial and Choral Organization at the Mesa Arts Center, The National Renaissance Circuit, and even for the Governor of Sonora, Mexico. Don't let the stern look fool you! He is extremely compassionate, he has a knack for going above and beyond for his clients, and he has a five star rating on Google- which is why we he is here with us!
In his long piping career Chuck is a Professional level solo competitor, has played with several bands at the World Pipe Band Championships, and has a renowned reputation as a piping instructor. He has played on BBC radio, the soundtrack for the Harrison Ford movie 'The Fugitive', and numerous television, stage, and orchestral performances. Chuck has also played hundreds of weddings, wakes, funerals, parties, parades, and even the occasional Bar Mitzvah in North America and Scotland. He insists on working closely with his clients to ensure you have a memorable and very professional experience at your event.
Years of Experience: Over 48 years
Bagpipes he plays: 1975 Sterling Silver and Ivory RG Hardie's
Favorite Tune: Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran
Charles Burgin
Leonard Wood
Years of Experience: Over 50 years
Bagpipes he plays: 1965 Henderson's
Favorite Tune: Highland Wedding
Very few people in the Phoenix area have been playing here longer than Len. In fact, when people in the Phoenix area talk about bagpiping, Len's name is often comes to mind. He is one of the more kindhearted, professional pipers that we have ever met. Len started playing bagpipes in Upstate New York at age 12 and has since played in bands in Charleston, Atlanta, Savannah, San Diego, and Tucson. He continues to play with the Phoenix Pipe Band after 15 years as Pipe Major. Len is also a guest player with the De La Salle Pipe Band in Waterford, Ireland. Len knows what it takes to sound great. It is an honor to have Len on our team!
Elijah started playing bagpipes under the tutelage of Charles Burgin (also featured on this site) in the late 1990s and immediately became a very active solo competitor. In 2002 Elijah was the Western US Champion of Champions in his grade and has competed at the North American Championships, World Pipe Band Championships, and dozens of contests throughout the United States in Grade 1. He served as a police officer for 10 years and piped at numerous high profile events for audiences that included cabinet-level officials during that time. Elijah's ability to identify a client's needs, provide the right music for the venue, and execute a flawless performance every time are why we've included him on our site.
Years of Experience: Over 20 years
Bagpipes he plays: 2007 Silver & Ivory McCallum Bagpipes
Favorite Tune: Glasgow Police Pipers
Elijah Woodward
Jeff Anderson began his gratifying Scottish arts career in the 1980s as a student in the Dunedin, FL school system. Following relocation to Indianapolis and piping instruction by his mother and the late Roddy MacDonald, Jr., Jeff returned to Florida and joined the Grade II City of Dunedin Pipe Band. At that time, Jeff began private instruction with Sandy MacPhee and climbed the solo ranks. He won the Southern United States Pipe Band Association (SUSPBA) Champion Supreme title for multiple consecutive years and was promoted to the professional class by the mid 1990s. Jeff was further influenced by instructors Sandy Keith, Mike Cusack, Donald MacPhee, and Jimmy McIntosh, MBE.
During his university years, Jeff organized and led the University City Pipe Band in Gainesville, FL. After graduation, Jeff returned to the Tampa area and the City of Dunedin Pipe Band. Jeff served as chairman of the SUSPBA Music Advisory Board from 2003 to 2012. He chaired the Music Initiatives Advisory Committee for the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations (ANAPBA) summit in 2006. He is a qualified piping adjudicator on the EUSPBA and WUSPBA judges’ panels and has judged from California to Florida. Jeff resides in Scottsdale, Arizona and is the pipe major of the Grade 3 Phoenix Pipe Band. He serves on the WUSPBA Music Board and teaches piping in the Lifelong Learning program at Yavapai College.
Years of Experience: Over 30 years
Bagpipes he plays: 1965 MacPhersons
Favorite Tune: Full Force