John began piping in 1984 at the age of twelve with the Essex Shillelagh Pipes and Drums of New Jersey. In 1986 he began his first year of what is now fifteen years of private instruction under Pipe Major George M. Bell.P/M George M. Bell, a World Champion Piper, is regarded as one of the fathers of piping in America.

John began teaching the bagpipe while attending college in New Jersey. As the number of his students grew, so did his love for teaching. By 1997, John was teaching full time. In 1998 John helped form the Passaic County Emerald Society Pipe Band as their head instructor. He also founded and instructed the New Jersey Pipe Band Academy, a weekly workshop designed to ease beginner pipers through the sometimes awkward jump to pipe band performing. In the fall of 1998, John moved to New York City and began teaching out of his Manhattan studio.

Today John is a full time member of the New York based Celtic rock band Gael Force. He is the head instructor of what will soon be the Union County Pipe Band, NJ. He also acts as a consultant to the Passaic County Emerald Society Pipe Band, now one of the largest Police and Fire bands in the state of New Jersey, but most importantly, John Bradley is the private instructor to those who enjoy playing the joyful, and yet sometimes hauntingly sad music of one of the oldest musical instruments known to mankind…The Bagpipe

Some of John's early solo piping accomplisments

1986-Ranked 7th in grade IV by the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA)
1987-Winner of the grade II Piobaireachd at the North American Championships in Maxville, Canada
Ranked 1st in Grade III by the EUSPBA
1988-Repeat winner of the Grade II Piobaireachd at the North American Championships in Maxville, Canada
Ranked 1st in Grade II by EUSPBA
Cast for the role of “The Bagpiper” in Touchstone Pictures Academy Award winning film, “Dead Poets Society”.
Upgraded to Grade I (the highest grade obtainable in amateur competition)