The passion with making music started for Darrell at age nine when he first learned violin at elementary school. During middle school and high school he performed with the Citrus College Summer Youth Orchestra and Claremont Youth Orchestra. Inspired by Riverdance and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Darrell became interested in Celtic music. Darrell began to learn how to play the pipes with the Glendora High School Pipe Band, receiving formal instruction from Jeffrey Henderson and Colin Armstrong. During his high school years with the Glendora High School Pipe Band, Darrell began to compete in solo competitions, ascending to the Grade 1 level.
After high school, Darrell attended Citrus College to study music theory and performance. At Citrus College he began to learn baritone saxophone and performed in various school groups, including the Sierra Wind Symphony, big band, and Latin (salsa and cumbia) ensemble. Darrell transferred to the University of La Verne and earned his Bachelors Degree in Music. These musical foundations in combination with tutelage of pipers Murray Henderson, Ian Whitelaw, Seumas Coyne, and Scott Ruscoe have gifted Darrell with extensive experience in western classical music with specialization in the Celtic genre.
For over two decades, Darrell has been a professional music educator, instructing and mentoring individual students, competition and performance bands. He performs as a guest artist with various bands and ensembles such as Celtic/World band Silent Planet, The Chieftains, Breabach, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the Blue Man Group.
In the entertainment industry, Darrell has recently has been featured in recordings and filmings for Amazon, Budweiser, California Sound, Capitol Records, Comedy Central, Guinness, CBS, E!, Paramount, and TLC.
In the realm of competition piping, Darrell has competed with competition pipe bands in every grade, including the Glendora High School Pipe Band, James J Coyne Memorial Pipe Band, Los Angeles Police Emerald Society, Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums, Kevin R Blandford Memorial Pipe Band, Prince Charles Pipe Band, and Pasadena Scottish Pipes & Drums. Darrell is currently Pipe Major and Musical Director of the Nicholson Pipes & Drums based in Westminster, California. As a soloist, Darrell is an active competor in the professional/open grade and is a competition adjudicator for the Western United Pipe Band Association.
After high school, Darrell attended Citrus College to study music theory and performance. At Citrus College he began to learn baritone saxophone and performed in various school groups, including the Sierra Wind Symphony, big band, and Latin (salsa and cumbia) ensemble. Darrell transferred to the University of La Verne and earned his Bachelors Degree in Music. These musical foundations in combination with tutelage of pipers Murray Henderson, Ian Whitelaw, Seumas Coyne, and Scott Ruscoe have gifted Darrell with extensive experience in western classical music with specialization in the Celtic genre.
For over two decades, Darrell has been a professional music educator, instructing and mentoring individual students, competition and performance bands. He performs as a guest artist with various bands and ensembles such as Celtic/World band Silent Planet, The Chieftains, Breabach, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the Blue Man Group.
In the entertainment industry, Darrell has recently has been featured in recordings and filmings for Amazon, Budweiser, California Sound, Capitol Records, Comedy Central, Guinness, CBS, E!, Paramount, and TLC.
In the realm of competition piping, Darrell has competed with competition pipe bands in every grade, including the Glendora High School Pipe Band, James J Coyne Memorial Pipe Band, Los Angeles Police Emerald Society, Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums, Kevin R Blandford Memorial Pipe Band, Prince Charles Pipe Band, and Pasadena Scottish Pipes & Drums. Darrell is currently Pipe Major and Musical Director of the Nicholson Pipes & Drums based in Westminster, California. As a soloist, Darrell is an active competor in the professional/open grade and is a competition adjudicator for the Western United Pipe Band Association.