A Todd, Piper

Welcome to my website. My name is Aaron Todd I am a piper, percussionist and Marine Corp
poolee. My family belongs to the House of Gordon (our Scottish Clan). My mother's family is
Clan Donnachaidh, which is the Robertson family. I have two brothers, Stephen who is 26,
and Daniel who is 22. I am 18. Everyone in our family plays an instrument. My dad used to
play piano; my mom plays flute and piccolo; Stephen plays violin, viola, and bass guitar; and
Daniel plays Melophone and French Horn. My dad decided to learn to play the tenor drum
and joined the pipe band so he could spend more time with me, and used to compete as a
flourishing tenor drummer. I have a red tricolor Border Collie named Ester, and a
tortoiseshell cat named Fia Cat. In July 2007 I attended the Marine Corps JROTC Advanced
Leadership School at MCB Hawaii and was designated the Honor Cadet. I made the drum
line my freshman year (a rare event) and in my junior year I was made Drum Captain. I am
on the marksmanship team in JROTC as well as the OIC for the Raider team (PT team), and
helped my unit to win the Superintendent's Cup in 2007. I am now a 1st Lieutenant in my
JROTC unit. I was named as the American Legion Cadet of the Year in 2008, and was
awarded the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze ROTC Medal for outstanding
leadership qualities, military bearing and excellence. Stephen is home from the Corps, as is
Daniel. I will be shipping out to Parris Island for basic training in June 2010 just after my high
school graduation.

I began lessons on the practice chanter in October 2002 while I had my right arm in a cast
above the elbow. I had broken both bones just above the wrist. So for the first several weeks
I was in a cast, and then a splint. I started on the bagpipes in April and had my first public
performances with the Greater Richmond Pipes and Drums on June 8th 2003. That day we
played first for the University of Virginia Alumni Gathering, and later in the day we played a
memorial for the Firefighters at the State Capitol in Richmond. At the end of the month my
mom took me to the first ever off campus summer school of The Piping Centre of Glasgow,
Scotland. It was held in Winchester, Virginia. I have since attended the Piping Centre's USA
Summer School twice more. It was really thrilling to be taught by Roddy MacLeod, Gavin
Stoddart, Chris Armstrong, and Chris Hamilton, and Bruce Gandy. I earned a Certificate of
Distinction each year for my participation, and have sat for and earned my Level 1 & 2
Certificates. I did not sit the exam the following year since there was a mix up and my name
was left off the exam schedule. In 2005 , I was made Pipe Sergeant of the Greater Richmond
Pipes & Drums and as Acting Pipe Major, led the band at four of the seven competitions we
attended this year. I led the band to one 2nd place, and three 1st place wins with 3 AGLs.
The GRPD have been upgraded to Grade 4 band competition, and I began instructing the
grade 5 pipers. I feel that my experiences leading the GRPD in four competitions I have
become a more well rounded piper and leader.

In 2006 I piped with the Grade 3 MacMillan Pipe Band. I had a successful year in Grade 2
Amateur Solo competition highlighted by placing 1st in the March and Strathspey/Reel
Competitions at the North American Championships in Maxville, Canada.

In October 2003 I was named as the Official Piper to the House of Gordon, Virginia Division.
As the piper for the House I have performed at many of the events the Gordons have
attended and also performed for the National Gathering at Grandfather Mountain. The
support of my clan and also of my mother's clan, Clan Donnachaidh, has been very
important to me. The Gordons, especially Morris Gordon, have given me incredible support
and encouragement . I feel blessed to have been able to honor my Clan and my teachers,
and my band so well with my piping. I had the pleasure of meeting the Gordon Clan
Chieftain, Granville Charles Gordon, 13th Marquis of Huntly at the Williamsburg games in
September 2002. He was very kind and told my dad to make sure that I got lessons. One day
I hope to be able to repay his kindness by piping him in to Cock o' the North next time he
comes to the US. The Gordon Chief has been known by the nickname Cock of the North
since the 16th Century. I was hoping to do so this October, but he has had to cancel his trip
to Virginia due to family reasons.

I have had many opportunities to gain performance experience with the Greater Richmond
Pipes and Drums, MacMillan Pipes & Drums, my two clans and many personal performances.
I have been part of the opening act for Seven Nations twice in 2004, and had the opportunity
to also meet Pindy Diaz of Brenga Astur and informally pipe with him. With the added
responsibilities and activities in high school I have decided to not compete at this time. Most
of the competitions are in conflict with marching band competitions and that is part of my
grade and must come first. The drum line practices twice weekly throughout the summer and
every morning during the school year. The cadet unit also has PT twice weekly throughout
the summer. During the school year I am on the marksmanship and raider teams for the
cadet unit. I also have a job at Kings Dominion from March through October, and at special
events at the Richmond Coliseum throughout the year, so have limited time to put into
competitive piping. I am still piping for charity events.