Meet Our Instructor

We are delighted to share with everyone that our Pipe Major, Jim Ryan, continues to give his excellent instruction and mentoring to all our pipers while leading our quest for excellence as we work towards being the best performance band we can be. Jim has improved multiple bands and developed many people to perform at very competitive levels, and we are thrilled to have him.

If you are interested in exploring a new instrument in 2026, or perfecting your craft and reaching your performance potential, you will not find a better place to do that than with Williamsburg’s own pipe band, instructed by Jim Ryan.

Jim Ryan

Pipe Major and Bagpipe Instructor

Jim was born in a log hospital in the frontier of America…wait, wrong story!

Jim has been Pipe Major (P/M) of the Williamsburg Pipes and Drums band for the last three years, basically since he moved here and asked, “Do you guys want some help?”

While Jim has had a relatively successful amateur piping career in the 46 years he has been playing, his primary focus has been playing with, leading, and teaching pipe bands. Jim has played with bands across all competitive levels including the LA Scots (Grade I) and the City of Washington and MacMillan Pipe Bands (Grade II). He was fortunate enough to win a World Championship with the City of Washington in 1999 under P/M Mike Green. Jim was also P/M of the Grade III Phoenix Pipe Band when he lived out west.