Aaron's page

Aaron Todd is a multi-talented member of the House of Gordon USA. An award winning piper, he is the former Pipe Sergeant of the Greater Richmond Pipes & Drums in Henrico County, Virginia, having led them as pipe major on the field at 4 of their 7 competitions in 2005, with 1 second placing and 3 first placings with 3 AGLs to his credit. The GRPD earned their upgrade to Grade 4 Pipe band Competition in 2005. He has also piped with the Grade 3 MacMillan Band in Frederick, MD and been instructor for the GRPD beginning and Grade 5 pipers. In individual competition Aaron was the 2004 Grade 4 Junior EUSPBA Piobaireachd Gold Medalist and Overall Champion. He won numerous competitions in 2005 as a Grade 3 Competitor, and in 2006 culminated his competitive career in Grade 2 with 1st place wins in the March and Strathspey/Reel Competitions in the North American Championships held in Maxville, Canada. With the beginning of high school in the 2006-2007 school year, Aaron earned a rare freshman place on the Hermitage High Marching Panther Drum Line. With the increasing demands on his time with marching band, JROTC and a job, Aaron decided to quit piping competition, but continued to perform as a public service.

Aaron proudly served as the Official Piper to the House of Gordon Virginia Division, and proudly piped for the National Gathering of Gordons until his induction into the USMC in 2010.

Aaron has piped with and enjoyed the tutelage of such notable pipers as Roddy MacLeod, Major Gavin Stoddart, Chris Armstrong, Finlay MacDonald, Bruce Gandy and Chris Hamilton. Aaron has also enjoyed piping as part of the opening act for Seven Nations, and piping with Pindy Diaz of Brenga Astur. Aaron met Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia while piping at the Virginia State Police Memorial., and later was honored to pipe for the Governor's Conference on Mental Health. He was honored to pipe for the Army Transportation Corps Ball in 2006, and also CW5 Glenn's retirement.

Aaron achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant in his Marine Corps JROTC Unit at Hermitage High in Henrico, Virginia, and was the OIC for the Raiders PT Competition Team. He was awarded several leadership awards & ribbons including the Honored Cadet Award in 2007 at the Marine Corps JROTC Advanced Leadership School at MCB Hawaii, the American Legion Outstanding Cadet Award in 2008 and the Sons of the American Revolution ROTC Bronze Medal in 2009, the Outstanding LE IV Cadet and the Marine Corps League Chesty Puller Award in 2010 as well as Hermitage High JROTC Honor Grad. He was a notable marksman on his JROTC rifle team having won several marksmanship ribbons and trophies, and as a Raider helped his unit win the 2007 Superintendant's Cup as best JROTC Unit, and he was the USMC Region One PFT Individual Champion in 2010. Aaron is also a talented percussionist and was named Drum Captain of the Hermitage Marching Panthers for his Junior and Senior years leading the drumline to Best Percussion at the Gator Bowl in 2010!