Grant Cassidy new L-D for Grade 2 Uddingston Strathclyde

Fresh from his fifth place overall at the 2018 World Solo Drumming Championship, Grant Cassidy has been appointed the new lead-drummer for Grade 2 Uddingston Strathclyde of Scotland.

Cassidy is recognized as one of the world’s top pipe band snare drummers, and has committed the last four years to being a member of Grade 1 St. Laurence O’Toole of Dublin. He is the son of Uddingston Strathclyde’s Lead-Drummer John Cassidy, who took his corps to a 2018 Champion of Champion aggregate title in Grade 3A, before the band was promoted to Grade 2 by the RSPBA. The elder Cassidy will remain with the band.

+ Steven McWhirter: 2018 World Solo Drumming Champion

Before his time with St. Laurence O’Toole, Grant Cassidy was a member of Grade 1 Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia for five years under Lead-Drummer Jim Kilpatrick.

“The Grade 3A band was only formed a year ago and had a great first season winning two Championships, finishing runner-up to the Champion of Champions and being promoted to Grade 2,” said Uddingston Strathclyde Pipe-Major John Bowes. “Grant’s appointment will strengthen an already excellent back end, and place us in a great position to meet the challenge of stepping up to Grade 2.”

The band also said that its pipe section had added several “experienced players,” and that there are still a few spaces left for interested prospective members.

In 2018, Uddingston Strathclyde won Grade 3A at both the European and Scottish Championships, and placed fifth in the Grade 3A Final at the World’s. The organization also has a band that competed in Grade 4.