Bruce Cotter has been a piper since 1983. He began playing with the Prince Charles Junior Pipe Band of San Francisco before joining the Los Angeles Police Pipe Band and is currently a member of the Alameda County Sheriff's Pipe Band. Through the Barmoral School of Piping and Drumming Programs, Bruce has studied with world-renowned piper James McIntosh of Carnegie Mellon University and Pipe Major Ian McLellan of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, Glasgow.

He is a professional piper who has competed in numerous Highland Games on the west coast: Pleasanton, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Reno. He has also competed in Utah and Colorado. In 1991 he traveled to Canada and Scotland with the Prince Charles Pipe Band, winning international awards. He then competed in 1999 with the Alameda County Sheriff's Pipe Band in Ireland and Scotland.

Bruce formed his own band, MANTIS, releasing EMERGENCE, his first CD in 1998, and followed up with MYSTIC in 2004. MANTIS creates the Celtic spirit with its beautiful and joyful original arrangements of traditional tunes using a wide variety of stringed and wind instruments to accompany the pipes. MANTIS entertains in many restaurants and pubs in the southern San Francisco Bay Area, and is available anywhere a piper is needed.

Bruce has performed for many special occasions in the San Francisco Bay Area. These events include weddings, Scottish and holiday celebrations of every kind, birthday and retirement parties, country club golf tournaments, fundraisers, memorial services, corporation functions, store openings, parades, Rotary and school presentations, and church services. His musical selections range from Scotland the Brave and Amazing Grace to traditional lively jigs, reels, marches and strathspeys as well as to contemporary Scottish arrangements.

Bruce also teaches piping to children and adults and was a director and teacher of the Alameda County Sheriff's Youth Band. He is guest performer for several San Francisco Bay Area bands such as the Chieftains and records for other artists...as well a performing in an attraction for a 16 day tour in Legoland.

He performs in full uniform wearing the MacKenzie or Royal Stewart tartan