Meet our Judge and Piper

Originally from British Columbia, Canada, Kiki began dancing at age 7 and had a very successful dancing career competing at the Regional, National and World Championship levels. Kiki naturally progressed into teaching where she passes on her passion for the art of Highland dance to her many students. Currently in her 29^th year of teaching and a member of the RSOBHD Judges panel, Kiki’s enthusiasm for Highland dance hasn’t diminished.She runs a successful dance school with her twin sister Inge Merry in the Seattle area producing many champions over the years.

Kiki takes great pride in the promotion of the Scottish arts and their students actively participate in local shows, parades, exhibitions, and theatre productions. She also prepares students for SDTA examinations and mentors them thru level-tests, student-teaching and fully accredited teaching certifications. Their students participate regularly in high-level competitions and championships throughout Canada, USA, and Scotland, in addition to being nominated regularly for the North American Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA) scholarship invitational held each year.Several of their students have also had the opportunity to participate in the Basel, Edinburgh, and Sydney Tattoos.

In her free time Kiki likes to spend time with her family traveling, camping, boating and sailing.She is a side drummer in the Keith Highlanders Grade 3 Pipe Band competing throughout North America and Scotland, and this summer they plan to travel to Scotland to compete at the 2020 World Pipe Band Championships.

Doug Frobese began playing bagpipes at age 9 at St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston, Texas. In 1991, Doug joined the Hamilton (now St. Thomas Alumni) Pipe Band and served as pipe major from 1997 to 2000. During this time, the band won the World Championships in Grade 3A, and were 3rd the following year when they moved up to Grade 2. This past August, St. Thomas Alumni became Grade 2 World Champions at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.

In addition to playing with St. Thomas Alumni, Doug also plays for Scottish highland dancing competitions throughout the US and with Celtic folk bands “The Rogues” and “Scotland Rising”. Doug has also been selected to be one of the dance pipers for the United States National Championships in 2020. When not piping, Doug is a lawyer in Dallas.