Mike Cole is one of the world’s foremost experts and educators in pipe band bass and tenor drumming. Mike has also had experience as a leading drummer. He has instructed in workshops throughout North American as well as Scotland.
Mike began playing the drum set in 1964 and started his pipe band career in 1987. He won the 1998 Best Bass award in Grade 2 at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow and numerous North American trophies. His bass sections secured the Grade 2 North American titles in 2004 and 2005 as well as Grade 1 in 2006, 2007 and 2011. In 2007 Mike won MHAF’s Davis Drums Gold Medal in professional bass drumming competition. Since then he served as a judge and instructor at that event for three years. He served as a member of the board of directors in 2011 to 2012. In 2013 he returned as a competitor and won his second Gold Medal. This year Mike returned as an instructor, performer, and adjudicator.
In 2009 Mike was asked to fill the vacated bass drumming position for the Grade 1 Inveraray and District Pipe Band. He moved to Scotland for the summer, played all of the major contests of the 2010 season, and trained his replacement for the 2011 season. Shortly after his returning to his home in Chicago, Mike accepted the bass drumming position with the City of Chicago Pipe Band and played with the band from 2011 to 2013.
Mike continues his involvement with Inveraray and District. He performed with the band at their Ascension concert in Glasgow.
Mike has written volumes of snare, bass and tenor scores and has also has served as a drum technician and consultant to some of the world’s top level competitive bands, including Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, Inveraray and District, and the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band. Mike is an accomplished drum set player and hand percussionist. Before becoming active in pipe bands he played professionally for 15 years, drumming in a wide variety of bands including work with Chicago blues artists Junior Wells, James Cotton, Sam Lawhorn, J.W. WIlliams, Jody Noa, Lefty Dizz, as well as R&B legends Sam & Dave.
Mike is a featured artist with Premier Percussion.
Mike contributes much of his success to the support of his wife, MJ, a former piper and his greatest fan. MJ serves as manager for The Greater Midwest Pipe Band.
Mike began playing the drum set in 1964 and started his pipe band career in 1987. He won the 1998 Best Bass award in Grade 2 at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow and numerous North American trophies. His bass sections secured the Grade 2 North American titles in 2004 and 2005 as well as Grade 1 in 2006, 2007 and 2011. In 2007 Mike won MHAF’s Davis Drums Gold Medal in professional bass drumming competition. Since then he served as a judge and instructor at that event for three years. He served as a member of the board of directors in 2011 to 2012. In 2013 he returned as a competitor and won his second Gold Medal. This year Mike returned as an instructor, performer, and adjudicator.
In 2009 Mike was asked to fill the vacated bass drumming position for the Grade 1 Inveraray and District Pipe Band. He moved to Scotland for the summer, played all of the major contests of the 2010 season, and trained his replacement for the 2011 season. Shortly after his returning to his home in Chicago, Mike accepted the bass drumming position with the City of Chicago Pipe Band and played with the band from 2011 to 2013.
Mike continues his involvement with Inveraray and District. He performed with the band at their Ascension concert in Glasgow.
Mike has written volumes of snare, bass and tenor scores and has also has served as a drum technician and consultant to some of the world’s top level competitive bands, including Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, Inveraray and District, and the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band. Mike is an accomplished drum set player and hand percussionist. Before becoming active in pipe bands he played professionally for 15 years, drumming in a wide variety of bands including work with Chicago blues artists Junior Wells, James Cotton, Sam Lawhorn, J.W. WIlliams, Jody Noa, Lefty Dizz, as well as R&B legends Sam & Dave.
Mike is a featured artist with Premier Percussion.
Mike contributes much of his success to the support of his wife, MJ, a former piper and his greatest fan. MJ serves as manager for The Greater Midwest Pipe Band.