Jon Andes is a founding member of the Ocean City Pipes and Drums. Originally from Danville, PA, Jon moved to Maryland to pursue a career in public education. After serving as a high school teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent of schools in the Harford County Public Schools, Jon was appointed as the superintendent of the Worcester County Public Schools, MD in 1996, retiring in 2012. Upon moving to Worcester County, Jon met Piper Jim Fry, and became interested in learning the bagpipe. The pipe lessons with Jim proved to be a delightful, if challenging, break each Tuesday night! With Pipers Pat Harmon, Matt Wallace and Brian Hastings, they formed the Ocean City Pipes and Drums, playing in parades, weddings, funerals, and memorial services since 2000.

Growing up in New Jersey, Mike played various woodwind and brass instruments in elementary and high school, including flute, trombone, baritone, and tuba. It wasn’t until many years later, when he turned 40, that Mike was encouraged and inspired to play the bagpipes by his wife, Mary Ellen, and his bagpiping friend Scot Brown. His initial bagpipe tutor was Jock Nesbit of the Kearny (NJ) Caledonian Pipeband, a world renowned player. He then became acquainted with Gerry Rooney owner of Pipeline Bagpipes, another world champion piper.

Joe McBride, Bass Drummer, is originally from Kearny, a very Scot town in North Jersey where he taught high school English and K-12 English as a Second Language for 37 years. He coached track & field, and soccer while directing school drama and musical programs.  He served as the Athletic Director, Vice Principal and retired as Principal at Cedar Grove High School in NJ in 2014.

Joe played drums in his high school band and was a road techie for several bands in the 1970s.He was a choral member of the Hudson Bergen Opera Company during that time performing in several opera productions.

After retiring, he relocated to Berlin, MD and joined the Ocean City Pipes & Drums in the fall of 2018 fulfilling a lifetime dream of playing in a bagpipe band.

My interest in my Scottish heritage began when my uncle, Wayne Wallace, told me about our ancestry. My uncle was a genealogist and was very proud of our name. My interest sparked even more when the movie, Braveheart, came out in 1995. After watching this blockbuster movie, I wanted to travel to Scotland. I finally got the chance to go in 1997. I saw bagpipers on the street corners in Edinburgh. I told my mother that I wanted to learn how to play the pipes. My mom laughed and said, “Who is going to teach in Somerset County?”
I grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and I had never heard a bagpiper play in our area. I was so thankful to find out that a man named Jim Frye from Ocean Pines was giving lessons. Mr. Frye had moved here from Long Island, New York. He started the Ocean City Pipes and Drums Band! I started taking lessons from him in 1997 and have been playing in the band ever since!
I have many fond memories over the past 25 years. My son, Payton, started playing with us when he was 10 years old. He is now in the Navy and only plays with us when he has time. It was a privilege to play with The High Kings and The Chieftains on stage in Ocean City, Maryland. I will always cherish the memories of those members of our band that have retired or passed on. They will always be a part of the band.