Eli started drumming at the age of 5 with the House of Scotland Pipe Band in San Diego receiving instruction from Hamish Yuile. After learning the fundamentals for what he would do later, he went on to learn the mechanics of rudimental drumming with Tim Gladden in the Alameda County Sheriffs Pipe Band. The Alameda band went to the World Pipe Band Championships in 1999 for the first time and took 2nd overall. The next year, he went onto play with Carl Lenny in the LA Scots where he stayed until 2003. In 2002, the Scots placed 11th in the final at the Worlds. After that, Eli had the opportunity to travel across the world and play with the House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band and learn from Jim Kilpatrick. With Shotts the drum corp won many titles including the British and Cowal Championships. After spending 2 years doing this and wanting to come home, Eli was asked to run the drum corp for the Kevin R. Blandford Memorial Pipe Band. The Blandford band traveled to the Worlds in 2007 to compete in grade 3A and their trip resulted with a 5th place. Eli is now excited to be a part of the North American Pipe Band.

 

As a soloist, Eli has been very successful in WUSPBA winning the Champion of Champions from 1999 to 2007. Eli competed in the Kirkwood Solo contest in 2000 and placed 4th overall and also that year 2nd overall at the Vancouver Indoor. In 2002 and 2003, Eli traveled to Scotland and won the Worlds Solo Drumming Championship in the top juvenile class. Then in 2004, Eli won the Winter Storm Gold Medal Drumming Contest. Eli also plays drum kit with a handful of groups in the San Diego area.