The Piper's Farewell Project

Ian Macpherson BEM

Born in 1962, Ian Macpherson was raised in Yorkshire. He began to study percussion at the age of 13, undertaking professional drum tuition with Ronnie Bottomley.

Ian first began his career at the age of 14, working in a working men’s club and gaining valuable experience at such a young age. This opened the way to performing in local shows.

He joined the Army as a professional musician, studying percussion at the Scottish Divisional School of Music in Edinburgh. After two years there, he continued his studies for a further year at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, London, under Bernard Harman, a former Professor of Percussion at the Royal College of Music. On completion, Ian was posted to The Band of the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), where he served in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Germany.

In 1988, Ian was selected to attend the three-year Bandmaster’s Course at Kneller Hall. On completion, he was awarded The Major Alf Young Memorial Prize for Best Church Service and graduated as a British Army Bandmaster.

In 1991, he was appointed Bandmaster of The Peninsula Band of The Royal Green Jackets in Dover. After a successful tour of duty, Ian retired from the Army in 1994.

After 15 years of Army service, Ian moved to the Sultanate of Oman, where he worked for The Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra as Teacher of Percussion. He was later appointed Musical Adviser to The Royal Oman Police with the rank of Major.

On returning to the UK, Ian extended his teaching in schools before opening his own music studio in Harrogate, where he now manages and teaches full time.

Ian has an extensive catalogue of original compositions and arrangements, all of which can be found through SafeMusic.

Ian was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2020 New Year Honours List for Services to Education.

Explore Ian's full catalogue

Scott Morton

Scott began playing the bagpipes at the age of 11 and has had a deep connection to music throughout his life. In addition to mastering the pipes, he also enjoyed playing the flugelhorn in his school band.

In 1985, Scott began basic training with the Scots Guards. After passing out in 1986, he attended the Guards Depot Piping School under the instruction of Pipe Major Jimmy Banks and Sergeant Roger Huth, later Pipe Major. Upon graduating, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in 1987 and soon performed in his first Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade, followed by the Queen’s Birthday Parade.

Following an operational tour of Northern Ireland, Scott transferred from the Pipes and Drums to the Corps of Drums, taking up the flute and bugle. In this role, he had the honour of playing the Last Post on numerous occasions at the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, including one performance for leaders of the G7 nations.

Scott was later posted to the Footguards and Parachute Regiment School of Drumming, later known as the Army School of Ceremonial and Drumming at ITC Catterick, as a Flute, Bugle, and Machine Gun Instructor. He earned a distinction on one of the first Class One Drummers Courses under the direction of Major Mike Hall.

After leaving the Army in 1998, Scott returned to the bagpipes and has since performed regularly, including appearances on BBC local radio. He currently serves as the Bagpipe Tutor at Oundle School.

He currently plays with the Laidlaw Memorial Pipe Band.

Visit Scott's website