Portland Metro Pipe Band – Band Member Profile

Name: Bruce Case

Piper or Drummer? Band Manager

When did you begin playing pipes or drums? Back in about 1995 or so, my family and I attended a family wedding. A bagpiper was playing at the wedding. My youngest son, Patrick (then about age 8), was facinated by the piper and later announced he would like to learn to play the bag pipes. This was my first introduction to this instrument that makes a rather strange sound. But it began to grow on me. Once Patrick joined a pipe band a few years later, I was hooked.

Provide some info about your piping/drumming background, musical influences, and other bands you’ve played with: When Mark Tomasetti and John Osburn approached me to manage Portland Metro, I was quite humbled and honored at the same time. This has been one of the best experiences of my life. Others who have influenced me include Jeff Brewer, Rob MacNeil, and Joe Hewitt, all who have provided valuable guideance and great conversations over a couple beers.

High point(s) of your band and/or solo career, including awards or trips: Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know many terrific and supportive people in the pipe band community. Many from the Vancouver BC area. They’re all great people.

Funniest band moment: My 2001 trip to the World Pipe Band championships in Glasgow, Scotland with the Sir James McDonald Pipe Band. That particular trip was very very wet. Every day it rained in Glasgow, and rained hard. The day of the Worlds was expecially wet. Standing in the rain for 2 hours watching it puddle around your soggy shoes while watching each and every band march onto the field and be announced was an experience I will never forget. Remember my wife finally saying "I’m not having fun anymore!" while we were soaked.

Of late, probably the funniest is Bruce Riggs dropping his kilt while performing on another very wet and rainy 2009 Shamrock Run.

Misc. facts about you: Spent 8 years as the Piping & Drumming Chairman for the Portland Highland Games. Absolutely loved this job and an opportunity to meet some great people, but it was time for a change.

My wife and I are very proud of our 3 sons, Patrick being the youngest. All grown up now and living in various parts of the country. We are looking forward to our first grand child in March 2010. In real life, I’m a certified project manager (PMP) working in the Information Technology field. I have found managing a band is not much different than managing a project. Both have lots of people to please and managing expectations is always a challenge.

Update: Blakely, our first grand daughter, was born March 24, 2010. Mom, Dad, and Blakely are to the right >>>>>

I am also responsible for this website - good or bad.

Send email to: bruce@pm-pb.org