Marsha Bell is an award-winning piper, an internationally recognized composer of bagpipe music, and a dedicated teacher. She is known for her attention to detail, hard work, creativity, and drive for excellence.

Marsha first came to piping in January 1999, when she started lessons with Janice Varner of Alexandria, VA. Jan encouraged Marsha to work hard, and guided her through her first competitions.
She was influential in Marsha's catching the 'competition bug'.

Previously, Marsha had an extensive background in flute performance. Marsha studied flute with Alice Chase of the Tri-Cities Opera (Binghamton, NY), Samuel Barron, of the New York Woodwind Quintet,  and Georgetta Gatto  Maiolo, child prodigy of the legendary Marcel Moyse.  She  played Second Flute with the Binghamton Symphony, and taught a number of flute students while living in Upstate New York. 

In 2000, Marsha was the Grade 4 Senior Piper of the Year with the Eastern States Pipe Band Association.  She won the Grade 4 EUSPBA Championship that year at the Ligonier Highland Games. She has multiple Piper of the Day awards in both Grade 4 and Grade 3.   Marsha currently competes in Grade 3.

Always eager to learn more, Marsha has attended schools and workshops in the United States and Canada, and spent a week in 2001 taking lessons at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. She has taken classes or workshop sessions with many of the top pipers in the world, including winners of both Gold Medals, The Glenfiddich, The Bratach Gorm, and The Clasp.

Currently, Marsha studies with Paula Glendinning of Ashton, MD.  Paula is a member of the
Grade 1 City of Washington Pipe Band, and competes in the United States, Canada and Scotland. She is a member of the EUSPBA Judges Panel.   Marsha is mentored by Winter Taylor of Atlanta, GA.   'Winkie' is a much sought after professional piper in Georgia and the Southeast, and is a major influence on piping in the Atlanta area through her teaching.

Composing pipe music is second nature to Marsha.  A framed copy of her tune, "The National Piping Centre at Shenandoah University" hangs at the National Piping  Centre in Glasgow, Scotland.   Five of her tunes are published in the Tone Czar  Collection, compiled by Chris Hamilton.   Two of her tunes received favorable reviews in New Zealand Pipe Band Magazine.  The Scots Guards have asked permission to include one of her tunes, "Lament for HMS ARDENT" in Volume III of Standard Settings for Pipe Music, which is currently being compiled.  

Marsha holds a Level Four Certificate and a Tutor Certificate with the Scottish Institute of Piping, now the Piping and Drumming Qualification Board. She was the Pipe Sergeant when the MacMillan-Birtles Memorial Pipe Band won the 2007 Grade 5 North American Pipe Band Championship at Maxville, Ontario, Canada, and was a playing member when the band became the 2008 EUSPBA top placing Grade 5 band. She is currently on leave from from the band to pursue her solo competition career.

Married to David Bell, a bassoonist and contrabassoonist, Marsha lives in Alexandria, VA. They have two grown sons, Robin and Justin. David and Marsha live with a dog named Macy, a cat named Hudson, and four birds: Vanessa, Libbie, Gavin, and Hobart.   In her spare time, Marsha keeps a garden and makes Prayer Shawls.

Photo above - Marsha at the Woodberry Forest Indoor Piping and Drumming Competition, March 21, 2009, with 2nd in Piobaireachd, 2nd in Strathspey/Reel, and 4th in the 2/4 March.   A very good day piping, and an even better day seeing dear friends again.    Photo by Dan Lyden.