About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Shaw started snare drumming in 2001 when she joined the Ogden Legion Pipe Band, a local youth band in Calgary. Since then, she has gained experience from numerous World class instructors through solo lessons and workshops across the continent.
She is a Professional Snare Drummer helping to promote Pipe Band Snare drumming to all ages through group and private instruction. Her primary focus is on instructing beginner and intermediate players as they begin to explore the culture of the pipe band community, and assisting in refining the musicianship of well-established snare drummers.
Some of her solo awards include:
2011 Grade One North American Champion at Winter Storm
2010 Grade One Champion at the Agnew-Harrison Invitational in Hamilton, Ontario
2nd Place in Professional at the 2011 Agnew-Harrison Invitational in Hamilton, Ontario
2014 Professional Side Drummer of the Day, Cambridge Highland Games
She also places consistently in the Professional Solo Grade across several provinces and has been the Alberta Provincial Champion on twelve occasions.
Elizabeth has been instructing Solo students of all ages and grades since 2006. Several of her students have had multiple successes at local competitions over the years. Her additional instruction experience includes:
Drumming Instructor for the 78th Fraser Highlanders Youth Squad of Calgary 2007 - 2019
Drumming Coordinator and Instructor for Beginner and Adult players at the Alberta Firefighters Pipe Band from 2010 to 2015
Mentoring several new drummers of the Rocky Mountain Pipe Band while she was a member.
Elizabeth has played in several different bands throughout her career, including:
Grade Two Royal Burgh of Annan, 2024 British Drumming Champions and 2025 Scottish Drumming Champions.
Grade One 78th Fraser Highlanders of Ontario for the 2014 season.
Rocky Mountain Pipe Band when they successfully took home the 2017 North American Pipe Band Championship title and won Best Drum Corps in Grade Two
Alberta Caledonia Pipe Band from 2012-2013
Elizabeth has an array of music experience. She took piano lessons from the age of 6 and completed the Royal Conservatory Grade Four Examinations. She played both percussion and French Horn in the Lord Beaverbrook Concert Band and studied music theory through conducting the band during several of the classes in her senior year. Elizabeth was previously a competitive Highland Dancer from 2002 to 2009 and she is an Associate Member of the SDTA and long time member of the Judy Schey School of Highland Dance.