Grade 3 About Us

The Stuart Highlanders Grade 3 band is the original band in the organization, founded in 1965. The band is led by Pipe Major Adam Holdaway and Drum Scott Armit. The recent success of the band began in 2003 when Pipe Major Holdaway took the reigns. The band won its first contest in grade 4 that year. The following season, Ken MacLeod took over the drum corps and the band had an excellent season in Grade 4, winning several contests and nearly every drumming prize. The following year, the band won the Season Championship in Grade 4, clinching the title with a victory at the Southern U.S. Pipe Band Championships at Stone Mt. in Georgia. Following the season the band was upgraded to Grade 3. In its first year in Grade 3, the band enjoyed excellent success culminating with a second place finish at Loon Mt. in New Hampshire. The drum corps also won best in grade that day. The band looks forward to improving upon those results with another strong season this year.