Brian, from Cardenden in Fife, was taught to play the pipes by his father, Pipe Major Andrew Donaldson, himself a renowned piper and teacher. After leaving school, Brian served his apprenticeship as a bagpipe maker at Inveran House under the guidance of Jimmy Tweedie.
At a young age, Brian played with the world-famous Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band, winning all the major championships in Grade 1. In 1978, Brian enlisted in the Scots Guards and served with the regiment all over the world. He passed the Pipe Majors’ course at the Army School of Piping, Edinburgh Castle, in 1982. After serving in the Falklands War, he was posted to the Army School of Piping as an instructor for three years.
On his return to the 2nd Battalion, he was promoted to Pipe Sergeant and, shortly after the amalgamation of both battalions, Brian was promoted to the rank of Pipe Major in 1995. In 1998, he became Pipe Major of the Army Training Regiment. Eventually, the Military centralized all army piping and drumming, and Brian served out his 22 years at the Army School of Bagpipe & Highland Drumming in Edinburgh.
Brian has achieved an amazing list of prizes, including but not limited to:
- Gold Medal – Oban
- Gold Medal and two Clasps – Skye
- Bratach Gorm – London
- 2nd Gold Medal – Northern Meeting (twice)
- MSR – Argyllshire Gathering (twice)
- MSR – Northern Meeting (three times)
- MSR – Oban and Inverness (double win in the same year)
- MSR – London
- MSR – Grant’s
- Numerous invitations to The Glenfiddich
In 2012, Brian was appointed as Piping Instructor at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin. In 2020, he joined the staff at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, to establish the Academy’s first-class Pipes and Drums program. He is a founding member of the Davidson Scottish Arts Academy and serves as its director of piping.