RDMA Officers

Co-Founder and President Drum Major Paul E. Olson began learning the drum-major arts in 1974 by using a broomstick to practice military baton flourishing. Later that year, he entered a local drum major program to learn the other facets of the activity. In the following years, Paul completed the advanced program and was an invited to return as an instructor in 1976. He was selected as Assistant Drum Major for the Leigh High School Marching Band in Fall 1975 and as Drum Major in Fall of 1976. Paul first picked up a mace for use in the band’s Fall 1976 field show

In 1981, Paul was selected as Drum Major of the all brass and percussion San Jose State University Marching Band. During this period, Paul also wrote drill and taught marching for high school band as well as instructing drum majors.

In 1990, Paul realized a life long dream of learning to play the bagpipes. He joined the Stewart Tartan Pipes & Drums of San Francisco as a piper. Concurrently, he was competing in the drum major caption of the local Scottish games including the Santa Rosa, Costa Mesa, and Pleasanton games. In 1992, he began instructing the band in marching

[Photo courtesy of Karen Hanner] technique and street drill. Subsequently, the band has won every adjudicated parade they have entered including several San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parades. In 1994, Paul assumed the role of Drum Major for the band, a title he currently holds.

He studied under Perry Rogers, Rick Wilson, and Ian Purvis. Depending on the performance, Paul’s style ranges from a strictly regimental to a flourishing drum major and follows the RSPBA and Scottish competition guidelines. He still plays the pipes and, occasionally, the bass drum. In addition, Paul played French Horn bugle for the San Francisco Renegades Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps from 2000 to 2004.

He continues to teach local drum majors and pipe band marching at any level. Paul lives in Fairfield, California, and can be contacted via email here President.