about
(Teale Failla is an award winning pipe band drummer. She has studied under the tutelage of Adrian Mordaunt (D/S New York Metro Pipe Band), Andrew McCaig (D/S Stockbridge Pipe Band, Edinburgh), Shane Finnegan (L/D Stockbridge Pipe Band, Edinburgh), and Scott Walsh (House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Drum Corps).
Soon after she began instruction, Teale started performing and traveling to various festivals and competitions around the US and Europe, soaking up whatever bits and pieces she could from other drummers and bands she met along the way. A major highlight was The Festival Interceltique de Lorient, the largest Celtic festival in the world, where she performed with various international pipe bands including Galician and Bagad bands. In 2010, she competed on the RSPBA (Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association) majors circuit and the Lothian and Borders minors circuit with Stockbridge Pipe Band, Edinburgh. The drum corps placed 2nd at the British Championships and 3rd out of 60 bands at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. The culmination to the season was winning first place at the final major, the Cowal Championships. This secured the RSPBA Champion of Champions Drum Corps award, denoting the top drum corps of the year. The corps also went on to win C of C in the Lothian and Borders Branch.
Teale has also played with various pipe bands in the NY Metro area, including the Grade III Saffron United Pipe Band, Monaghan Pipe Band, Gotham Pipes & Drums, and NYU Pipes & Drums. She has competed on all three drums, side, tenor, and bass, and is also the co-founder, drum sergeant and booking agent for Kings County Pipes and Drums, New York's only alternative pipe band which aims to bring the sound of the pipes to new and unusual places. Teale has competed as a soloist in the Metro branch of the EUSPBA as well, and finished the 2013 season as the third highest ranked snare drummer in her grade her first year out. The 2014 season ended with Teale's competition band, Saffron United winning Champions Supreme in Grade IV of the EUSPBA and landing an 8th place out of 60 bands at the World Pipe Band Championship in Scotland. The drum corps also took first place in a whopping 11 out of 12 EUSPBA competitions. The 2015 season saw Teale honored with the band Esprit de Corps Award.
Teale has had the pleasure of playing in some of the most exciting venues around the world including Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Yankee Stadium, The Beacon Theatre, Barclays Center, Madison Square Garden, New York City Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Times Square Marriott, Stade du Moustoir in Lorient, and Edinburgh's Royal Yacht Britannia, Assembly Roxy and Usher Halls. She's marched in too many St. Patricks Day Parades to mention including NYC (one year marching it twice in the snow!) and Savannah, and performed live on television numerous times on Good Day New York, NBC, and Brooklyn Independent Television. More unusual venues include Green-wood Cemetery, New York Hall of Science, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Central Park, New York City Hall, and the Coney Island Boardwalk. Speaking of which...
In 2012, Teale co-formed Kings County Pipes & Drums with fellow Brooklynite John Henderson. John originally brought local pipers and drummers together as a one-off to march the Brooklyn St. Patrick's Parade. Seeing the potential these players had to play interesting and charitable events other pipe bands wouldn't consider, Teale registered the 'band' to play the world famous Coney Island Mermaid Parade the following year. Needless to say, Kings County was the best pipe band on the boardwalk! But seriously, they did win second place as the Best Music Group in the world's largest art parade in both 2015 and 2017 (no bribing necessary). Teale didn't stop there, booking the band in other unlikely events such as Brooklyn LGBT Pride March, Honk NYC!, World Maker Faire, and Into the Veil, a spooky night of art and performance in Green-wood Cemetery. She also books the band for private events including weddings, funerals, corporate events, Burns Nights and educational/cultural sessions.
In addition to pipe bands, Teale has also played percussion with other bands including the all female Brazilian Samba Reggae band Batala New York, Batala Philadelphia, Manhattan Samba and Hungry March Band. This has allowed her to play in exciting events such as the NYC Village Halloween Parade, Carnaval in Salvador, Bahia and San Francisco, the NYC Dyke March, and the Women's National Soccer Team World Cup Championship Celebration at New York City Hall. Playing other styles has greatly improved and added dimension to Teale's pipe band playing.
Soon after she began instruction, Teale started performing and traveling to various festivals and competitions around the US and Europe, soaking up whatever bits and pieces she could from other drummers and bands she met along the way. A major highlight was The Festival Interceltique de Lorient, the largest Celtic festival in the world, where she performed with various international pipe bands including Galician and Bagad bands. In 2010, she competed on the RSPBA (Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association) majors circuit and the Lothian and Borders minors circuit with Stockbridge Pipe Band, Edinburgh. The drum corps placed 2nd at the British Championships and 3rd out of 60 bands at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. The culmination to the season was winning first place at the final major, the Cowal Championships. This secured the RSPBA Champion of Champions Drum Corps award, denoting the top drum corps of the year. The corps also went on to win C of C in the Lothian and Borders Branch.
Teale has also played with various pipe bands in the NY Metro area, including the Grade III Saffron United Pipe Band, Monaghan Pipe Band, Gotham Pipes & Drums, and NYU Pipes & Drums. She has competed on all three drums, side, tenor, and bass, and is also the co-founder, drum sergeant and booking agent for Kings County Pipes and Drums, New York's only alternative pipe band which aims to bring the sound of the pipes to new and unusual places. Teale has competed as a soloist in the Metro branch of the EUSPBA as well, and finished the 2013 season as the third highest ranked snare drummer in her grade her first year out. The 2014 season ended with Teale's competition band, Saffron United winning Champions Supreme in Grade IV of the EUSPBA and landing an 8th place out of 60 bands at the World Pipe Band Championship in Scotland. The drum corps also took first place in a whopping 11 out of 12 EUSPBA competitions. The 2015 season saw Teale honored with the band Esprit de Corps Award.
Teale has had the pleasure of playing in some of the most exciting venues around the world including Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Yankee Stadium, The Beacon Theatre, Barclays Center, Madison Square Garden, New York City Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Times Square Marriott, Stade du Moustoir in Lorient, and Edinburgh's Royal Yacht Britannia, Assembly Roxy and Usher Halls. She's marched in too many St. Patricks Day Parades to mention including NYC (one year marching it twice in the snow!) and Savannah, and performed live on television numerous times on Good Day New York, NBC, and Brooklyn Independent Television. More unusual venues include Green-wood Cemetery, New York Hall of Science, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Central Park, New York City Hall, and the Coney Island Boardwalk. Speaking of which...
In 2012, Teale co-formed Kings County Pipes & Drums with fellow Brooklynite John Henderson. John originally brought local pipers and drummers together as a one-off to march the Brooklyn St. Patrick's Parade. Seeing the potential these players had to play interesting and charitable events other pipe bands wouldn't consider, Teale registered the 'band' to play the world famous Coney Island Mermaid Parade the following year. Needless to say, Kings County was the best pipe band on the boardwalk! But seriously, they did win second place as the Best Music Group in the world's largest art parade in both 2015 and 2017 (no bribing necessary). Teale didn't stop there, booking the band in other unlikely events such as Brooklyn LGBT Pride March, Honk NYC!, World Maker Faire, and Into the Veil, a spooky night of art and performance in Green-wood Cemetery. She also books the band for private events including weddings, funerals, corporate events, Burns Nights and educational/cultural sessions.
In addition to pipe bands, Teale has also played percussion with other bands including the all female Brazilian Samba Reggae band Batala New York, Batala Philadelphia, Manhattan Samba and Hungry March Band. This has allowed her to play in exciting events such as the NYC Village Halloween Parade, Carnaval in Salvador, Bahia and San Francisco, the NYC Dyke March, and the Women's National Soccer Team World Cup Championship Celebration at New York City Hall. Playing other styles has greatly improved and added dimension to Teale's pipe band playing.
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The challenge of finding suitable pipe bands and instruction is what led Teale to start teaching. Breaking into the pipe band world can often be challenging and even frustrating. But it is also incredibly rewarding. Finding the right pipe band and the right instruction is essential to one's success. Teale's aim is to not only teach music, but to expose the fun and culture of the pipe band scene to those who might not otherwise know where to start. And it is quite a scene!
