Drum Sergeant Ken MacLeod

Ken began drumming at age 16, studying drum kit under renowned teacher and former Boston Pop timpanist Walter Tokacyk. Having loved bagpipe music from an early age, he came to the Stuart Highlanders in 1996 at 17 years old. After a year learning under then drum sergeant John Whitaker, he left the band and joined the Tulach Ard Pipe Band of Lexington, MA. Under the instruction of Drum Sergeant Colum Lundt, his playing improved greatly. The band was moved up to Grade 2 after one year, the highest level of competition in the Northeast. The drum corps was renowned for playing progressive and extremely challenging music, while maintaining a strong record in competition. The corps beat two world champion drum corps and finished first in drumming in Montreal, Canada.

At the end of 2000, Ken left Tulach Ard to join the City of Washington Pipe Band, based in Washington D.C. The band is the only grade 1 band in the eastern U.S. In two years with the band, he travelled around the country and the world performing and competing at the highest level. The highlight was at the 2001 World Pipe Band Championships. The band took 12th place overall, the highest fisish ever for an American band in modern pipe band competition. The performances were recorded on Glasgow Green and Scotland and are part of the official 2001 World's CD.

After some time off, Ken followed Adam Holdaway, another original Stuart Highlander, back to the band in 2003. Since taking over the drum section, the corps has consistently been a top prize winner. In 2006, the drum corps finished second in its first ever grade 3 competition. The corps went on to place in the top 3 of every contest in its first year, culminating with winning the drumming at Loon Mountain in NH.