Jill has been involved in music since she was a wee lass of 6, learning first accordion and then piano, and eventually organ. During high school, as she was willing to try playing about anything in the school band, the teacher put her first on French horn, then percussion, then guitar for the dance band. All those instruments (none of which she became an expert) plus a fair singing voice gave her lots of background in reading music and playing for others. Musical ability plus a lot of experience being a ‘ham’ on stage sets a person up for ... being in a pipe band!
In 1976 a trip to Scotland was all that was needed to catalyze an interest in piping, and in the fall of that year, she and two other current members of the Montana Highlanders began taking lessons under the tutelage of Rob Laing, then PM of the Celtic Dragons Pipe Band in nearby Missoula. Thanks to the Celtic Dragons’ annual band camp, the three were able to improve their skills by studying under Ann Gray, Rob Berrick, and Ed Nye. For several years, the three were members of a band called Northern Lights, but eventually all three joined the Montana Highlanders. After two years in the Highlanders, Jill was elected PM.
When asked what she does in ‘real life’ she replies “What? This IS the real life! The rest is just business!” Joking aside, she is a biofeedback trainer with a master’s degree in nursing. Her career has involved Emergency and prehospital helicopter and ground nursing, intensive care, and management. She lives on a small farm with her husband Bill and their beautiful Scottish Terrier, “Bree” (Brianna Clare MacKenzie Fraser).
