Andy is from Aberdeen, having lived most of his life in Bucksburn. He started playing the pipes when he was in Primary 6 and was a member of Bucksburn & District for about 10 years. He also competed in solo competitions. After Bucksburn, Andy played with Deeside Caledonia, then took a break before joining Culter & District to help with the development band.

Some of Andy’s most memorable piping experiences include winning the Worlds in Novice Juvenile with Bucksburn and the Grade 3 Scottish Championships with Deeside. Pipe band is also how he met his wife Fiona who also now plays with Culter.

Andy was pipe major for the band in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Andy says the best thing about being pipe major was watching the band and individual players grow in ability and confidence, and that teaching is his real reason for taking on the role. Andrew now serves as our band manager. 

Fiona comes from Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides. She started learning the chanter in 2003 after her father bought her a chanter and said she had no choice but to play it! Fiona was fortunate to be taught by Donald Bàn MacDonald, a highly regarded piper from the area.

In first year, Fiona joined the Sgoil Lionacleit pipe band and had a great time playing all over the islands. A major highlight was attending their first competition in 2008 – the Worlds, no less! Considering they were only a couple of points off qualifying, it was a great achievement for a small school band. While at school, Fiona was also a frequent participant in solo competitions but now prefers pipe bands – much more fun!

During her university years in Inverness, Fiona joined the Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band – great for distracting her from essays and placements! Later, after a few years away from the pipe band scene and several moves around Scotland, Fiona joined Deeside Caledonia before ultimately moving to Culter.

Fiona's many memorable experiences include winning the 3A European Championships with Deeside, 2nd place at the Europeans last year with Culter and 3rd place at the Scottish Championships this year. She also met her husband Andy – Culter’s pipe major until very recently – when she joined a band he was in, and she says playing with him at Culter has been fantastic. She’s enjoyed seeing all his hard work and dedication to the band rewarded with recognition from the judges!

Fiona is a fan of Fred Morrison and has always admired his playing. She was lucky to see him at recitals in Benbecula every few years while at school. For Fiona, playing in a pipe band is an amazing experience for the camaraderie and the lifelong friendships she’s made along the way. On the flip side, she could do without massed bands – hates them and no one will ever change her mind! 

Tanisha hails from Dunoon, home of the Cowal Highland Gathering and the source of her love of pipe bands. She began learning the chanter in primary school from the inspirational piping legend Annie Grant, but unfortunately didn’t stick with it for long. She started again years later in Dublin, but stopped when she moved away and didn’t pick it up again until age 28.

Tanisha’s first band was Rubislaw Pipe Band in Aberdeen. The late PM John Lawson very kindly taught her and got her moved onto the pipes, but the band didn’t compete and Tanisha was looking for a challenge. She eventually joined Culter & District and hasn’t looked back!

Her most memorable piping experience was the 2019 season with Culter & District when they came second at the Worlds. And certainly an unforgettable experience was piping at her own wedding (in her wedding dress) with some pals from the band and her husband Scott’s uncle.

Tanisha says there are loads of amazing musicians out there, but she has great admiration for anyone who’s willing to give music a go at any level.

For Tanisha, the best thing about playing in a pipe band is the camaraderie, as it’s like having a weird family. She loves the shared high when the band do well at something, and the bus ride home is always fun. “We all work hard at band so it’s good to let our hair down.”

After a year off to have a baby, Tanisha couldn’t resist that pipe band life so we’re delighted to see her back with us for the 2026 season!

Benny Fraser is one of the longest-serving members of the band. Benny started learning the chanter at the age of eight, and the first band he ever played with was the 47th Culter Boys Brigade Novice Juvenile Pipe Band and then the 47th Culter Boys Brigade Juvenile Pipe Band. When he turned 18, Benny moved up to the Culter & District Pipe Band, where he’s been ever since apart from one season with the Bucksburn and District Grade 2 band.

Benny’s had many memorable piping experiences, but three in particular stand out in his memory. These include winning the Worlds with the Novice Juvenile Band and then again with the Juvenile Band (both 47th Culter Boys Brigade bands), and then playing with Culter & District when they won Champion of Champions in 2019. The latter was a great season overall, as the band won every major competition apart from the Worlds. It was hard work, but worth the great rewards at the end.

What Benny likes most about playing in pipe bands is all the places he gets to visit and making friends for life. Looking forward, he hopes to see the band continue to improve, which he feels certain it will.