Meet Melissa
Meet Melissa
A Lifetime of Piping Excellence
Melissa Bautz has been playing the Great Highland Bagpipe since 1986, building a lifelong career as both a performer and educator over 40 years.
A prize-winning soloist ranked at the Grade 1 level (the highest competitive tier) by the Western United States Pipe Band Association (WUSPBA), Melissa has competed across the United States, Canada, and Scotland as both a soloist and pipe band member. Her specialties include light music and piobaireachd.
Today, she brings that experience to every performance and lesson, whether playing for an event, teaching new students, or leading the Lander Pipe Band in Wyoming.
Melissa’s Tartan
Career Achievements
Major Competition Wins
1991 British Columbia Pipers Association (BCPA) Annual Gathering
- MacIvor Memorial Trophy (Overall Aggregate Winner)
- William Lamont Memorial Trophy (MSR)
- Gordon Sinclair Memorial Trophy (Piobaireachd)
- Rod Macrae Trophy (Aggregate)
1991 Caledonian Society Grade II Aggregate Trophy (Grade 2 Piping)
Competitive Experience
- 1987 WUSPBA Grade 4 Aggregate Winner (promoted to Grade 3)
- Advanced to Grade 2 solo piping by 1990
Multiple aggregate wins (1989–1990) across:
- Southern California
- Central California
- Arizona
Pipe Band Experience
- Anderson Royal Canadian Highlanders American Legion Pipe Band (Grade 4)
- 53rd Street Pipe Band (Grade 3)
- Cabar Feidh Pipe Band (Grade 2)
53rd Street Pipe Band
- Competed in major California competitions (1988–1991)
- Competed at the World Pipe Band Championships (Glasgow, Scotland, 1989)
Cabar Feidh Pipe Band
- Competed at Grade 2 level
Founded Award Winning Lander Pipe Band in 2001
The Lander Pipe Band
Melissa founded the Lander Pipe Band in 2001 in Lander, Wyoming, following a community effort to honor those lost in the September 11 attacks. What started as a small group of dedicated players grew into a formalized band rooted in service and remembrance.
Since then, the band has performed at more than 500 community, veteran, and memorial events throughout Central Wyoming and now averages over 40 performances each year.
Alongside these performances, the band continues to compete and participate in workshops to strengthen its musical quality, including a recent appearance at the 2025 World Youth Pipe Band Championships.
This ongoing commitment to growth reflects the same standard Melissa brings to her teaching and performances.
Work With Melissa
Individual Instruction
Personalized bagpipe lessons for youth and adults at all levels, with a focus on building confidence and playing real music early in the process.
Bagpipe Performance
Professional performances for ceremonies, memorials, and special events, delivered with a high level of musicality and respect for the occasion.
Pipe Band Startup Guidance
Guidance for groups looking to start or grow a pipe band, including musical direction, structure, and strategies to build a strong and sustainable program.
Beyond the Bagpipes
Alongside her work in music, Melissa has built a career as a geologist while raising four children with her husband in Lander, Wyoming. Piping has remained a constant throughout her life, evolving from a personal passion into something shared with her family and community. Today, that connection continues as her sons are also members of the Lander Pipe Band.
Let's Connect!
Get in touch to check availability, discuss your event, or learn more about lessons and instruction.