About Wayne

Wayne is a third generation piper. Both his father, Harold J. Coleman (photo at left, circa 1939), and his grandfather, James A. Coleman, played in the Springfield (MA) Kilty Band, which was established in 1917 and is still active.

Prior to his induction for World War II, Harold also played in the Canadian Legion Band (1939-1942) and was the New England Junior Piping Champion in 1940.

Today, Wayne plays his father’s pipes, a set of Lawries with traditional army turnings, and he has the original receipt from Glasgow in 1937.

Wayne began music lessons at the age of five and studied classical, popular, and jazz piano through high school. At the age of sixteen he performed Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto Number 1 in G minor. He received the only A+ grade ever given by one music teacher for his term paper on the history of the bagpipes.

As an adult, he continues to take bi-weekly pipe lessons. He attended two summers at the Balmoral School of Piping and Drumming where he studied with such international piping notables as PM Jimmy McIntosh, the late PM Jimmy MacGregor, and international award winner Mike Cusack of Houston.

Wayne has an uncanny ability to play by ear which allows him to play many non-traditional and popular tunes on the pipes as well as customize performances on the spot.

He has been performing professionally in Atlanta since 1983 and is a member of the pipers’ version of the Mile-High Club having played the pipes on many commercial airline flights. He is frequently heard on local Atlanta radio and television stations.

Wayne, at left with his late father, has piped with the Atholl Highlanders Pipes and Drums (USA), Stone Mountain, Georgia, since 1982. His band was selected to perform the National Anthem with Faith Hill at Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta and was seen by 72,000 in person and over 100 million viewers on live television around the world!

Wayne was honored to be selected to pipe a concert with a 225 voice chorus under the direction of world renowned conductor Mack Wilberg of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The Atholl Highlanders perform at many annual events including The Hibernian Society’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, The Georgia Steeplechase, Dunwoody July 4 Parade, numerous southeast Highland Games, the Stone Mountain Highland Games, Atlanta Veterans Day Parade, many Veterans ceremonies, the Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens, the Stone Mountain Christmas Parade and many other events. In 2013 he received the (Georgia) Governor’s Commendation Medal for civilian service to the military.

Wayne has been the official piper of the annual Stone Mountain Highland Games Whisky Seminar for 35+ years! He was the official St. Patty's Week piper for Houlihan's at Park Place in Atlanta for 16 consecutive years and has been the official piper for Fado’s Buckhead and Midtown for over 12 years.

What does this summary of qualifications and countless professional performances mean to you?

Quite simply, your piper will contribute to the success of your event! Wayne is very comfortable performing in front of crowds, suffers no stage fright, and he can go with the flow and spontaneously adjust his performance for you. Whether your goal is to add pomp and ceremony and/or excitement and/or fun, Wayne can help.