Dougal McConnell was introduced to snare drumming at the age of 11 prior to becoming a member of the City of Newtown Pipe Band in Geelong until, at the age of 13, he transferred to The City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band.

Within that time he held the role of Lead Drummer for the Victorian Pipes and Drums Massed Bands performances.

Keen to advance, he progressed through the levels to achieve solo performance awards in Australia and the United Kingdom. He has held the Open Snare state titles of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

From 1995 Dougal was a member of the England based Clan Sutherland Pipe Band, a highly competitive and successful Band, which in 1997 was awarded the Champion of Champions of Grade 2, and 2nd place at the World Pipe Band Championships (Grade 2).

Dougal was a guest player with the Victoria Police Pipe Band during their victorious trip the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland in 1998.

He has also competed with the City of Blacktown Pipe Band, Bangkok Thistle Pipe Band and with the Western Australia Police Pipe Band as his work as a hotelier has taken him from place to place.

Dougal was with The Pipeband Club in Sydney, where he became Leading Drummer, winning multiple Australian Grade One Championships, and a finals finish at the World Pipe Band Championships the band’s 1st year in Grade One.

A keen supporter of playing music for enjoyment, Dougal tutored the Warrnambool & District Pipes & Drums, Watsonia RSL and City of Melbourne, and has composed a drum fanfare, “The Drag Queen” specifically for players in different bands to get together and enjoy music.

Dougal and his family are now living in Launceston, Tasmania Australia, where he is a Drumming Adjudicator with Pipe Bands Tasmania and Pipe Bands Australia, and has recently been a guest player with the Western Australia Police Pipe Band, winning the Australian Championships again in 2016. He enjoys helping players develop, particularly working on preparation strategies and score selection.