Ed Best

Assistant Director, UCR Pipe Band

E-mail: edbest@hotmail.com

Ed has been playing drums since he was 8 years old.  His first influences were Scottish drumming from his dad’s band in Grove City, PA.  From there he sought out teachers at schools, seminars, and privately.  He also participated in all the school musical ensembles available to him both.  In 1993, he attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Music Education, Percussion Emphasis, with Dr. Cosmo “Gus” Barbaro. Then, he went to do graduate studies at the University of La Verne.

Ed has performed and competed throughout the country and all over the world, including Alaska, New England, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, France, Scotland, and Canada.  He has also performed with many Artists, including Korn at the K-Rock “Almost Acoustical Christmas” and at the Hollywood Bowl with the Cheiftains, Charlotte Church, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the L.A. Philharmonic.  Ed is also sometimes a guest performer with the Santa Ana Symphony, and has been the Principal Percussionist with the Orange Coast Orchestra.

He has attained many awards both in band and solo competition including, North American Champion, Canadian Champion, Alaska Champion, Eastern United States Champion, Western United States Champion, and various places at the World Pipe Band Championships, including 11th, 7th, 4th, and 3rd.

You will also find him as an adjudicator at many Pipe Band and Solo drumming competitions all over the country.   He also currently teaches more than 30 private students in Southern California, making him one of the most prominent Scottish drumming instructors in the area.  His students regularly appear in the solo prize list for all levels of competition.  He is also a well respected, regular clinician for many bands in the U.S. and Canada in all aspects of pipe band drumming. 

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