James Laughlin, a World Champion Scottish snare drummer and highly sought-after instructor, has been drumming since the age of ten. He started at his  local primary school in Northern Ireland and joined the Monkstown-Mossley Pipe Band. Within four years of starting his pipe band drumming career he won the World Solo Juvenile drumming championships on two occasions, 2000 and 2001.

He moved to Canada in 2004 to play with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and played there for six years. He has enjoyed many successes with the band, including three World Drum Corps titles and two World Pipe Band Championships.

His teaching resume is very diverse, international and of a very high standard. James' students range from ages 7 to 70 and from beginner to professional. He is chief drumming instructor at the prestigious St Andrews College in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

He has been teaching individual students since his mid-teens, and has enjoyed the experience of teaching at the famous Piping Hot Summer Drummer School, 2009 being his sixth year on the teaching faculty. James has been fortunate to have taught at some of the most distinguished piping and drumming schools in the world. These include PHSD, the New Zealand National Summer School, the Summer Thunder Down Under Tour, the South West Coast Piper Drummer, the Canberra Workshop and the SFU summer school.

James’ recent solo successes include winning the British Columbia Pro Drumming Aggregate, and making the semi-finals at the Adult World Solo Drumming Championships.  James now resides in Christchurch, New Zealand and is the Leading Drummer with the Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band.