Mike Zanre - Piper

Mike's piping career started at the age of 8 years old when his Granda introduced him to the practice chanter, The Skye Boat Song and Scotland the Brave.

    In 1987, he joined the Aberdeen BB Battalion Pipe Band under the watchful eye of Davie Duncan and Jim Lyon.  After 3 months there, he joined the 47th Culter BB Pipe Band and progressed very quickly with Jim Campbell, Sandy Robertson and “Roy the Boy”.  At the same time, he played with the school pipe band under Jim Hamilton and was made Pipe Major at the age of 14.

    Mike played with the novice band at Culter until he was 14 and then the Juvenile band until he was 17. At Culter, they won nearly every competition going.  In 1991 they were just 1 point away from winning Champions of Champions but were tragically denied on the very last day at Cowal.  However, in 1992, the band won the World Championships at Bellahouston Park.  Mike joined Culter and District in 1993 and enjoyed one season there under Neil Selbie before hanging up the pipes for a few years.  

   In 1996, Mike rejoined Culter and District and was promoted to Pipe Major of the Juvenile Band where he enjoyed some modest success.  In 1999, he moved to Glasgow to do a Masters degree and piping again took a back seat.  

   In 2003, Mike decided spectating at Glasgow Green for 4 years in a row was too much to endure and he decided to get the pipes out again.  He won the RSPBA North Branch adult piping solo competition that year and was invited by the piping judge, Rab Mathieson, to join Shotts and Dykehead.  Prior commitments to studying prevented him from staying more than 5 months at Shotts and piping, unfortunately, took another backseat.  In 2006, having completed another degree, he joined grade 1 Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band under Brian Lamond and made the 2 hour journey to band twice a week.  

   In 2008, Mike joined Grampian Police Pipe Band and we are all looking forward to tasting some of his success here!