Portland Metro Pipe Band – Band Member Profile
Name: John R. OsburnPiper or Drummer? Piper Sergeant
How long have you been playing pipes or drums? Since 1980
Provide some info about your piping/drumming background and other bands you’ve played with: Started with the Eugene Highlanders under P/M Hector Smith, who taught me how to play to Great Highland Bagpipe. For which I am grateful. Moved on to form the Pearl Street Pipers with some good friends. Eventually wound up forming the Willamette Valley Pipe Band and playing with more friends for 6 years. Joined the Maple Ridge Pipe Band in 1997 and played for 10 years under P/M Angus Macpherson, competing in the Worlds’ 4 times, the North Americans 3 times, and many more. I’m thrilled to be helping start a new band in Portland and look forward to many years of musical enjoyment.
High points of your band and/or solo career, including awards or trips: Got tired of getting up early enough to compete solo, and a better band player than formal competition player anyway. Highlights of band career include Happy Camp, Santa Rosa (in the old days – TSPB water follies at the El Rancho, wine coolers before massed bands, many others); many trips with WVPB, MRPB, the after–games parties, rubbing shoulders with the greats in Scotland, rubbing shoulders with great people in all the bands. High placings at overseas comps are nice but not as satisfying as being there with good people and playing well.
Misc. fact about you: Allergic to kittens and certain judges at the Worlds’.
Send email to: john@pm-pb.org