A Todd, Piper

Welcome to my website. My name is Aaron Todd and I am a piper. 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 24, and Daniel who is 20. I am 16.
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, he is now a flourishing tenor competitor.I have a tuxedo cat named
Kieran (that is Celtic for little dark one) and a red tricolor Border Collie named Ester. This past
year (2006) was a very eventful year. Over the summer I was honored to pipe for the Army
Transportation Corps Ball. I started high school at Hermitage in the fall and I made the drum line
for my freshman year, and the JROTC Marksmanship team. I ended the year as an honor student
and a Cadet Corporal in my MCJROTC Unit. This summer I attended the Marine Corps
JROTC Advanced Leadership School at MCB Hawaii and was designated the Honor Cadet. I
made the drumline with the highest score on tryouts for my sophomore year and now ply quints,
and I am again on the marksmanship team in JROTC as well as the Raider team (PT team).
Stephen has recently been discharged from the Marines, and Daniel is a Marine with the PAO in
Okinawa working as a combat correspondent.

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 placing 1st in the March and Strathspey/Reel Competition 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 our convener, Morris Gordon, have given me incredible support and encouragement
throughout the year. 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 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 so have limited time to put into competitive piping. I
am still actively piping, just for weddings, funerals, community and charity events.