Tom Hall, 1934-2005

Tom Hall, a stalwart member of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA) and a prolific teacher of Highland piping in the Philadelphia area, died of heart disease on October 12, aged 71.

In addition to teaching hundreds of pipers, Tom Hall from 1960 until 2002 served as Pipe-Major of the Ulster Scottish Pipe Band, one of the most established bands in the United States.

He suffered a heart attack in mid-September, days before the Celtic Classic competition in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He was released from hospital on the Saturday morning, and attended the event nonetheless.

Tom Hall leaves his son, Dave (current Ulster Scottish pipe-major); two daughters, Traci and Midge, also pipers in the organization; a grandson, Derek Cooper, a drummer with the Oran Mor Pipe Band; and countless friends and pipers and drummers who were touched by him over the years.

On behalf of the world piping and drumming, we extend sympathies to Tom Hall’s family and friends.