About Us – Scottish Arts

Scottish Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional Scottish arts through education, competition, and community events. With a strong team of dedicated volunteers, we help organize more competitions for the Scottish arts than any other organization in the northeastern United States, ensuring that these time-honored traditions continue to thrive. Originally founded in 1984 to provide fundraising opportunities to support local Scottish traditional artists, we have evolved into a thriving community of likeminded volunteers with a collective passion to promote the traditional Scottish arts and support the local Scottish community in New England.

Our organization both hosts and supports a variety of events throughout the year, including Burns Night, piping and dancing competitions, Scottish festivals, whisky tastings, and educational workshops. These events provide opportunities for both seasoned performers and newcomers to engage with Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.

A key part of Scottish Arts is our teaching organization, the New Hampshire School of Scottish Arts (NHSSA), which offers instruction in bagpipes, Highland dance, and Scottish fiddle. Founded in 1998 by professional bagpipers Lezlie and Gordon Webster, NHSSA has been a cornerstone for Scottish arts education in the northeast. Many of our students have gone on to achieve top rankings in competitions and establish themselves as successful performers.

At Scottish Arts, we welcome students, competitors, volunteers, and enthusiasts of all backgrounds. Whether you’re interested in learning a new skill, competing at a high level, or simply enjoying the music and culture of Scotland, our community is here to support and celebrate your journey through both instruction and events.

Join us in keeping Scottish traditions alive!

NHSSA (New Hampshire School of Scottish Arts)

Founded by professional bagpipers Lezlie Webster and her husband, Gordon Webster, the New Hampshire School of Scottish Arts has consistently been one of the leading schools of Scottish arts in the northeast. Originally based in Manchester, New Hampshire, the school has offered a wide variety of classes in just about every art relating to Scotland over the years, from bagpipes, to highland dance, to harp, and even kilt-making!

Lezlie and Gordon formed the school in 1998 after moving to the United States from the United Kingdom, where Gordon was stationed as the personal bagpiper to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He retired to New Hampshire with Lezlie and their two children, Marielle and Campbell. The Webster family became heavily involved in the Scottish arts and culture scene and travel yearly all across the United States and Canada performing and competing at different Highland Games. In 1999, NHSSA represented New Hampshire’s Scottish culture by performing at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.

NHSSA continues today to be the premier school in New Hampshire for bagpiping, highland dance, and Scottish fiddle, led by Lezlie, Marielle, and Campbell. We welcome students of all ages and skill level to pursue the arts of Scotland. You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy everything our rich culture has to offer.