Richard Empson

Began playing the Scottish bagpipes in the late 1980s.

Founding member of the Southern Cross Pipe Band (Montevideo, Uruguay) in 1991, where he played the pipes until 1994.

Guest piper with the Military Band of the Royal Guard of Oman (Muscat, Oman) between 1995 and 1997.

Founding member of Riverside Pipe Band (Montevideo, Uruguay) in 1998, where he played the pipes and bass drum until 1999.

Founding member of the City of Rome Pipe Band (Rome, Italy) in 2001, where he played the pipes until 2002.

Rejoined Riverside Pipe Band in 2002 as a percussionist, primarily playing the bass drum and occasionally the tenor drum. 

Organizer of the 1st Uruguayan Celtic Music Festival in 2003 and co-organizer of all subsequent editions of that festival.

Drum Major of Riverside Pipe Band from 2004 to 2012.

Founding member of the Scottish Pipe Band Association of South America (SPBASA) in 2004.

Organizer of the 1st South American Pipe Band Gathering in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 2004.

Lead Drum Major of the 1st, 7th, 8th, and 9th editions of the South American Pipe Band Gathering, and official Lead Drum Major of SPBASA since 2016.

Master of Ceremonies for The Shamrock Cup (South America's first solo Scottish pipe band competition, held annually in Montevideo, Uruguay) since its first edition in 2011.

Vice President of SPBASA for four consecutive periods 2016-2023.

Awarded Membership of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 for services in the interests of the United Kingdom and the promotion of British culture in Uruguay.

March & Deportment adjudicator at the 7th and 8th editions of the South American Pipe Band Gathering.

Piping adjudicator at the 10th edition of The Shamrock Cup in 2022.

Drum Major of Latitude 33 Pipe Band (Montevideo, Uruguay) from 2022 to 2025.

President of SPBASA since 2024.