Our Family
Behind the Band
Nick Wright
President, bagpiper
Nick has played bagpipes for nearly 15 years. He is a biology teacher at Gloucester High School, where he also coaches football and Track & Field.
John Anderson
Vice President, bagpiper
25 years ago, John started playing the bagpipes when he wanted a guaranteed way to get beat up but couldn't find anybody to teach him how to play the accordion. John is an engineer who pines to be a lumberjack and, as a fitting nod to Walter Mondale, is the band's Vice President.
Greg Coxe
Secretary, drummer
Greg is a patrolman for the Gloucester City Police Department and likes to spend his spare time yelling at officials while coaching his kid’s sports games. Despite historically reading below grade level, Greg has beat the odds and was voted onto our Band Committee as secretary! We’re so proud of him!
Thom McNulty
Treasurer, bagpiper
Thom has been playing bagpipes for a wee tad over 15 years, so he’ll add a wealth of knowledge and experience to our band. Thom loves to travel and spend time with his kids. He works construction by day, and runs “McDrinky’s Irish Treats” by night. If you ever want to crash a wedding in Ireland, Thom is your guy!
Bill Lent
Marshal
"Wild Bill" Lent is a parade marshal and a fire safety specialist for the Department of Veteran's Affairs. He wanted to join a bagpipe band because, after many years of being a volunteer fireman, he has has become really keen on loud, obnoxious, siren-like sounds. Bill is a big fan of the beach, where the sea breeze and kilts don't always mix so well.
Joe Heintz
Drummer, Drum Sergeant, Band Manager
Joe Heintz wears many hats for the GCIS Pipes & Drums. He comes to us with many years of experience with the well-respected Camden County Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. Joe is a police officer for the Collingswood Police Department, but of all of his titles, his favorite is "Dad."
Liam James
Bagpiper
Liam joins us as a legacy bagpiper, following in his father, Bill James’, footsteps, who was a bagpiper for the Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums for many years. Besides spending his days teaching social studies to eager high school minds, he also lends his time to the basketball court as Gloucester High’s head boys basketball coach. Liam has been married six years to his high school sweetheart, Bernadette James, and has three kids, Ryan, Kaiden, and Kennedy.
John Anderson, Sr.
Bagpiper
John Anderson Sr decided that being a pilot and a sailor was not enough to talk about at family parties, so he decided to learn the bagpipes. He is a family man and, despite being from Long Island, loves the Eagles (otherwise we may not have let him in). John comes equipped with knowledge, determination, and attention to detail, and the capital of Nebraska is Lincoln.
Ed Wright
Bagpiper
Ed, sometimes known by the alias “Sparky,” is an electrician and a member of IBEW 351. He has spent his entire life on Morris Street, moving from the 300 block to the 900 block in his early twenties. He and his wife, Tammy, have three children, Nick, Kelly, and Dave, who are listed here in order of most to least favorite. Ed also has four grandchildren and a new Newfoundland named Kona, all of whom he definitely loves more than his actual kids.
Ian James
Drummer
Ian, a former Gloucester High standout athlete and Wesley football alum, resides in Audubon with his wife Samantha, daughter Parker, and dog Arnold. Ian peaked early in life, scoring the first walk off overtime touchdown in the history of the Gloucester High Football program. Ian is a big fan of the holiday season, and particularly loves getting together with his family and friends for theme parties. He enjoys getting down to Wildwood in the summertime and sending Snapchats of every beer he drinks.
Brian McGlinchey
Drummer
Brian comes to us with many years of experience playing the tenor drum, but he's excited to broaden his horizons and learn the snare drum. Brian is a dedicated family man, and if you spend any time around him you'll soon learn just how much he loves his wife Pam and daughters Devon and Rylie.
Jack Enright
Bagpiper
Jack, who has a few years of experience with the bagpipes, is everyone's future best friend. Jack has a way to make everyone around him happy, either by providing a good joke or just by being a good human being. Jack is a good bagpiper, but his musical talent will never touch his capacity to be a great person. Jack is a loving husband to Christy and a great father to two daughters.
Kyle Mcnamee
Bagpiper
Bagpiper, outdoorsman, cut-off shirt aficionado. Although Kyle is relatively new to the bagpipes, he's no stranger to music. Kyle has played in bands for many years, mostly as a bass guitar player. In his spare time, Kyle enjoys spending time at Pine Cone Antlers Hunting club, where he seems more keen to kill Miller Lite's than deer.
Raul "Chang" Rivas
Drummer
On the fateful evening of September 25, 2021, the Rutgers Scarlet Knight football team played the Michigan Wolverines. Chang, a Michigan fan, was watching the game with band President, Nick Wright, a Rutgers fan. A bet was made, and a bet was lost. Consequently, Chang found himself in the band.
Mark "Turtle" Tourtillott
Drummer
Turtle likes his music loud, so he fits in very well with our band! He lives in Pine Hill, NJ, and has spent a lot of time in Oakland, CA, but he loves getting out to the Menominee Indian Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin to relax and visit his family. This Turtle is definitely Turtley enough for our Turtle Club!
Bob "Shaggy" Kelhower
Drum Major
Shaggy walks tall and carries a big stick...literally! It takes a lot of patience and authority to keep this group walking in step and playing in rhythm, but Shaggy seems to manage it well. He, and his wife Kathy, are heavily involved in local Irish initiatives, and we're fortunate to have both of them in our band family.
Jen Martin
Drummer
Jen joined our band by way of our parent organization, the Gloucester City Irish Society. Jen played in the marching band in high school, but had never played in a pipe band before joining the GCISP&D. Since picking up her snare drum for the first time, Jen has progressed tremendously, quickly climbing the ranks of the drum corps.
Mike "Sluggo" Schneider
Bagpiper
After spending some time out of state, Mike returned to the tri-state area and needed a band to join. Many of us played with Mike previously in another band. He brings notable talent on the bagpipes, a good sense of humor, and a military background that helps us all when marching down the street.
Sean Henry
Bagpiper
We call him "fingers" for a reason--this guy is supremely talented. In between his daily practice sessions on the Highland Pipes and Uilleann Pipes, Sean runs a lobster roll food truck called "Pipin' Lobsta" and has begun turning his own bagpipes in his home workshop. This guy lives and breathes highland music, and we love every second of it. We couldn't be happier to have Sean, and his wife Candace, in our band family.