87th Cleveland Pipe Band

Mark Donnelly has been a key part of this band since it's inception. In 1987, his wife Kathleen (already a piper and Highland Dancing Instructor) encouraged him to accept the challenge of his father-in-law John Crawley, Sr. to learn to play the bagpipes. With no prior musical experience, Mark began to take lessons from John and soon joined the ranks of the then brand-new pipe band.

After 15 years, Mark continues to support the band with his passionate leadership style. Currently, he is the Pipe Major for the Grade 4 band, a role he has held with much pride and determination for almost 5 years. With his caring and patient approach, he continues to push the band to new heights in competition.

But Mark's commitment to the band does not end there. An astute businessman himself, he also holds the chair as Band Manager (responsible for so much of the "business" end of things). He continues to show his dedication for this band in his passion for the instrument, patient leadership, team-oriented motivation, and constant encouragement to achieve.

According to Mark, "The 87th is a unique pipe band. While we take the quality of our musical performance seriously, we still have a lot of fun. The band is a big family. I have never been involved in any organization that is more passionate, dedicated, and team-oriented than the 87th. I believe this is the reason for our long-term success."