Ben has been playing bagpipes for nearly 30 years beginning his education with the Cincinnati Caledonia pipe band in the late 90s. His family relocated to Minnesota where he continued his studies and received the bulk of his foundation piping education at Macalester College from Michael Breidenbach. Since the early 2000s  he has been a pupil of Gail Brown from Milton, Ontario. Gail has been pivotal in helping Ben to develop his technical skills, musical styling and approach, as well as teaching doctrine. Other influences on his playing and education include Michael Kotch, Matt Kline, Tristan Wilson, and Jake Watson. 

 

He has been playing in pipe bands competitively since the age of 11. He considers pipe band playing his primary focus and true piping love. He has been honored to be a member of the following bands over the years: Macalester College Pipe Band (Grade IV to III), Windsor Police Pipe Band (Grade I), City of Chicago (Grade II to I), Peel Regional Police Pipe Band (Grade I), St. Thomas Alumni Pipe Band (Grade II and Grade I), Greater Midwest Pipe Band (Grade II as both Pipe Sergeant and Pipe Major). He has been a part of bands that have won the US and North American Championships from Grades IV through I, and has qualified for the World Pipe Band Championships several times in both Grades II and I.

 

While it is his secondary focus, competitive solo piping is a critical part of his piping experience and something that he continues to be a part of. He has competed in all associations across the United States as well as the PPBSO in Ontario. He is a regular prize winner in Grade I and is working towards promotion to the Professional/Open grade.