Stuart was presented the coveted Donald MacDonald Cuach by Alex Stoddard, CEO of the Clan Donald Centre, assisted by Dr Angus MacDonald, Convenor for the Cuach.
This is Stuart’s 10th appearance in the Donald MacDonald Cuach, and his second win. Originally taught from the age of 9 by his grandfather, Pipe Major Ronald McCallum MBE, Stuart has gone on in his early teens to receive tuition from Arthur Gillies and, as a young adult, received the finer points in light music from Jim Henderson, Dunoon and piobaireachd from Hugh MacCallum, who was a cousin of his grandfather – with many other major influential musicians along the way!
One of the most gifted pipers in the world today, Stuart has won three Clasps and four Silver Stars at the Northern Meeting in Inverness, Senior Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban five times, both Gold Medals and is a three-time Glenfiddich Champion. Previously a member of Scottish Power Pipe Band and The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, he is founder and Pipe Major of the Inveraray &
District Pipe Band, Grade 1 winners of the World Pipe Band Championship in 2017, 2019 & 2024.
Stuart has achieved the distinction of being the only Pipe Major and soloist in history, to date, to hold the Glenfiddich Championship and the World Pipe Band Championship simultaneously. He is honorary piper to the Royal Celtic Society and was awarded the MBE in King Charles III first New Year’s Honours List.
The Robert Burns Society of Charleston Inc., a non-profit organization as 501(c)(3), supports and promotes Scottish-American history, Scottish heritage, culture and military tradition in the South Carolina Lowcountry through events and the development of excellence in Highland Bagpiping, Highland Dance, Scottish Fiddle, Scottish Harp (Clàrsach), the Scots Gaelic language, to include support of academic achievement of the Scottish-American diaspora through Grants/Scholarships.
