Bill Wilkerson joined the Nashville Pipes and Drums in 2010. That year, Bill returned to Tennessee from Maryland. In 2001, at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, Bill’s response to bagpipes was, “I gotta do that!” That day, he had a practice chanter, a “Sandy Jones” book and a teacher who soon had him up on pipes and in the circle of a Grade V EUSPBA pipe band. The next few years, Bill performed in countless parades, placed in band competitions, attended the North American Academy of Piping and Drumming and the Balmoral School of Piping and Drumming, began solo competing and studied under several teachers including Paula Glendinning and currently, Dan Lyden.
In 2006, Bill became 2nd in Overall Points in the EUSPBA at Grade Four Senior, and moved to Grade Three in solo competition. Several personal setbacks slowed Bill’s progress, but in 2017, he was 2nd in Season Standings (missing 1st by one point) at Grade Three. Bill continues to compete in Grade Three and perform with NP&D. He holds two bachelors’ degrees, one masters’, has been an ordained pastor and church planter, a licensed insurance salesman, currently hosts a weekly radio show and works with Ryman Hospitality Properties.
Bill and his wife Margaret were married in 1991. She is a CPA and CFE for the state of Tennessee. Bill’s daughter Emily has been a snare drummer for NP&D and is currently a film student at Lipscomb University.
