BAND MEMBERS
PIPERS
Anthony Puckett - Pipe Major, dancer (That is Dr Puckett to you!) He says he married into it. He is probably the only piping member who actually practices on an almost daily basis. member since 2004..
Anthony needs to give more information on his driving desire to be an enginerd at lanl and a piper.
Don Machen, president of the Board of Directors and assistant organizer/former P/M of the Albuquerque & Four Corners Pipes and Drums. I joined the band when it was the Albuquerque Pipes and Drums in early 1983 or so, and have played with the group ever since that time.
I began piping at the age of 12 in the Bay area of Northern California and played for 6 years with several bands. University life and the US Navy created a break as did getting married and working in Switzerland. During a sabbatical year in the UK, in 1977, I purchased my present set of Hardy pipes. I finally attended a Colorado piping workshop in 1982 to get going again. This began a constant stream of workshops and piping schools over the past 29+ years.
Besides helping organize the band, I was a solo competition piper playing light music in Grade II and piobaireachd in Grade I. I retired from solo competition in 2006 and find my set of Scottish Small Pipes and additional challenge to my piping life.
In my professional life, I have worked for the Lawrence Livermore and Berkeley National Laboratories, CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Daresbury Laboratory in the UK. In 1983 I formed my own company, Scientific Systems International, Ltd. in Los Alamos doing electrical and electronic engineering for the scientific community. The company survived my piping career, either because of it--or perhaps in spite of it. Now my retired life survives my continued piping career.
Tristan Goodwin - Piper - 10th grade Los Alamos High School. Started piping to get away from his sister then discovered that playing the pipes is a chick magnet! Update....He says it turns out it isn’t but being a member of NJROTC might! Member 6 years
Peter Hraber - Piper- WELCOME BACK PETER! We have missed you...
Anthony Puckett - Pipe Major, dancer (That is Dr Puckett to you!) He says he married into it. He is probably the only piping member who actually practices on an almost daily basis. member since 2004..
Leslie Guthrie Puckett beginning piper, dancer- was bored in Orono Maine waiting for Anthony to finish his doctorate so she and Anthony decided to join a pipe band in Maine and take lessons. Member off and on since 1985 as a dancer then 2004 as a piper. Started doing Highland Dance at age 5 in Ontario. Competing at age 6, Leslie has danced and competed Nationally and in Canada and Scotland. She is a BATD Highland dance teacher in Los Alamos.
DRUMMERS
Caroline Spaeth Snare - Caroline first picked up drumsticks when she was in fifth grade. That drumming spell lasted seven years, followed by a multi-decade dry spell of no drumming at all. Don Machen hounded her for a year before she finally joined. She has been with the band for six years.
Scott Beguin -Snare- Professional drummer for 25 years (since he was 15- how time flies!) He has been with the band since 2006 (3 years) When the band took in Scott the orphan drummer, he discovered a new challenging form of drumming and has been happy ever after AND he is now competing as a Grade IV drummer. Scott has also composed drum settings for the band. Personally we like having any band member with the name of “Scott”.
Margaret Guthrie Tenor, Bodhran, Djembe, and doumbek (branching out) Was sitting at practice waiting for my son Ian to finish when they said they needed a tenor drum again. I single handedly (with a little help from Arthur) doubled the band size before we moved here from Ontario. a member since 1992.
Chris Rand- Bass -Chris inherited the position of bass drummer from her father, Roger. She really enjoys being part of the band and playing bass is a great (and easy way) to do it. It doesn’t hurt that she is tall enough to handle the drum for long periods of time during parades or performances. She likes being the backbone of the band and makes great scones and jam which she brings to competitions and other band functions... A member since 1999
students: We need students adult and kids with a desire to be involved with things Scottish!
Gone but here when they come to town:
Ian Guthrie piper, making more money and children in Anaheim Hills, Orange County CA.
member since 1988
Affilitates and friends of the band-
special category
Arthur Guthrie head roadie (groupie)
Highland Dancers
Leslie Guthrie Puckett
Anthony Puckett
Jillian Puckett (8)
