Jimmy Ryan

Hailing from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY and having vacationed in the Southeast, my love affair with the South Carolina Lowcountry came full circle when I matriculated as a cadet at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, located in Charleston. After four years with the Jesuits at Xavier High School, the rigors of The Citadel were not too much of an adjustment. After school there was no chance I was going to leave better weather, shrimp & grits, and gals in sundresses (never saw a sundress in Brooklyn!).

My love for the Great Highland Bagpipe is as strong as my love for the South. My Dad played with the Clann Eireann WarPipe Band in NYC, reputedly the oldest continuing pipe band in the area. The sound of the pipes has been with me all of my life and I finally made the decision to learn after the passing of my Dad in January of 2000. Soon thereafter, I began my instruction in this amazing instrument under the expert tutelage of Pipe Major Sandy Jones, Director of the North American Academy of Piping & Drumming. Very few things in my life have made me happier than playing the pipes.

I play with the City of Charleston Police Pipes & Drums, a member of the Eastern US Pipe Band Association, and wear the City of Charleston Police tartan. In addition to the regular duties of a police pipe band (parades, funerals, various civic functions), the band also competes at several highland games along the East Coast. In addition to competing with the band, I also compete at the Grade IV individual level.

I am available for any number of events that is only limited by your imagination. I am a firm proponent of letting folks know that the stirring sound of the bagpipe is not reserved for funerals. A piper at your wedding (especially when it is a surprise!), adds an unmatched level of excitement and beauty. The pipes can also be used to promote events for your company. Have a piper for your next cocktail party to welcome your guests. I will gladly discuss the wide range of options and my repertoire.