Harry Meade was born in 1974 on the weekend of the North American Pipe Band Championships, while his father
competed with the Denny and Dunipace Pipe Band. Four weeks later, he attended his first Highland Games in Ligonier,
PA, as the smallest member of the band's entourage. It was almost six years later when he took his first snare lessons
from Walt Birtles and Jon Quigg.
By age 11, he was ready to play with a competitive band, so he joined the Clan Campbell
Pipe Band under his former teacher, Walt Birtles. During this time, he tore a swath through
the EUSPBA solo drumming circuit, rapidly moving up to Grade I in solo drumming. At age
15, he was named Drum Sergeant of the grade III band, a post he held through its various
name changes.
In high school, Harry expanded his drumming horizons by drumming in a competitive high
school marching band, learning many new rudimental skills and DCI-style performance
drumming. He combined these skills with his pipe band background, bringing a cutting-edge
fusion sound to the Dunloggin corps. In early 1999, Harry finally left Dunloggin, the Pipes and
Drums of Tir na Mhairi, as the band was then known. Then aged 25, he joined the City of Washington Pipe Band under
Drum Sergeant Jon Quigg. Finally free of his Drum Sergeant responsibilities, Harry returned to the solo drumming
circuit where he finally advanced from Grade I Snare to Professional Snare. He also competed in Bass Drumming as
an Amateur Bass.
Harry's first season competing with COW was an exciting one, travelling with the band to Scotland and competing in the
1999 World Championships. He was part of the corps that won the 1999 Grade II World Championship and the 1999
Grade II World Champion Drum Corps. Today, he is still a member of COW, competing internationally in this Grade I
band. He recently finished serving a year as the EUSPBA Mid-Atlantic Branch Chairman, and he was recently
upgraded to Professional Bass in solo competition.
Since joining COW, Harry has become a sought-after clinician and music writer. He is the registered Instructor for the
MacMillan Pipe Band, grade III. He has taught workshops and individual students representing many of the bands in the
Mid-Atlantic region, including: Dunloggin, Mary Washington College Eagle Pipe Band, Rockville High School Pipe
Band, the US Naval Academy Pipe Band, Chesapeake Caledonian Pipe Band, Calvert and Crossland Pipe Band
(formerly the Baltimore Police Emerald Society Pipe Band), Prince George's County Police Pipe Band, Irish Pipe
Brigade of Cape May [NJ], Ceol Neomh [PA], Ulster Scottish, Guilford and Glencoe Juvenile Pipe Band, Laurel
Highlanders Pipe Band and many more.
Harry has provided testing and R&D feedback for Pearl Drums, USA, and is featured on the Pearl Drums web site with
tuning tutorials, as well as appearing in some of their overseas advertising. Harry sells Pearl Drums as well as providing
tuning and set-up for new drums. His life-long knowledge of pipe band drumming is invaluable to his work with Pearl
Drums and with Meade Custom Drumming Supplies. With MCDS, he has been a driving force behind the expansion
into snare sticks and drum carriers. Harry is a musician whose number-one goal is the improvement and growth of pipe
band drumming. He brings this passion into all of his work with Meade Custom Drumming and Pearl Drums. He hopes
you enjoy your Meade Custom Drumming Supplies.
competed with the Denny and Dunipace Pipe Band. Four weeks later, he attended his first Highland Games in Ligonier,
PA, as the smallest member of the band's entourage. It was almost six years later when he took his first snare lessons
from Walt Birtles and Jon Quigg.
By age 11, he was ready to play with a competitive band, so he joined the Clan Campbell
Pipe Band under his former teacher, Walt Birtles. During this time, he tore a swath through
the EUSPBA solo drumming circuit, rapidly moving up to Grade I in solo drumming. At age
15, he was named Drum Sergeant of the grade III band, a post he held through its various
name changes.
In high school, Harry expanded his drumming horizons by drumming in a competitive high
school marching band, learning many new rudimental skills and DCI-style performance
drumming. He combined these skills with his pipe band background, bringing a cutting-edge
fusion sound to the Dunloggin corps. In early 1999, Harry finally left Dunloggin, the Pipes and
Drums of Tir na Mhairi, as the band was then known. Then aged 25, he joined the City of Washington Pipe Band under
Drum Sergeant Jon Quigg. Finally free of his Drum Sergeant responsibilities, Harry returned to the solo drumming
circuit where he finally advanced from Grade I Snare to Professional Snare. He also competed in Bass Drumming as
an Amateur Bass.
Harry's first season competing with COW was an exciting one, travelling with the band to Scotland and competing in the
1999 World Championships. He was part of the corps that won the 1999 Grade II World Championship and the 1999
Grade II World Champion Drum Corps. Today, he is still a member of COW, competing internationally in this Grade I
band. He recently finished serving a year as the EUSPBA Mid-Atlantic Branch Chairman, and he was recently
upgraded to Professional Bass in solo competition.
Since joining COW, Harry has become a sought-after clinician and music writer. He is the registered Instructor for the
MacMillan Pipe Band, grade III. He has taught workshops and individual students representing many of the bands in the
Mid-Atlantic region, including: Dunloggin, Mary Washington College Eagle Pipe Band, Rockville High School Pipe
Band, the US Naval Academy Pipe Band, Chesapeake Caledonian Pipe Band, Calvert and Crossland Pipe Band
(formerly the Baltimore Police Emerald Society Pipe Band), Prince George's County Police Pipe Band, Irish Pipe
Brigade of Cape May [NJ], Ceol Neomh [PA], Ulster Scottish, Guilford and Glencoe Juvenile Pipe Band, Laurel
Highlanders Pipe Band and many more.
Harry has provided testing and R&D feedback for Pearl Drums, USA, and is featured on the Pearl Drums web site with
tuning tutorials, as well as appearing in some of their overseas advertising. Harry sells Pearl Drums as well as providing
tuning and set-up for new drums. His life-long knowledge of pipe band drumming is invaluable to his work with Pearl
Drums and with Meade Custom Drumming Supplies. With MCDS, he has been a driving force behind the expansion
into snare sticks and drum carriers. Harry is a musician whose number-one goal is the improvement and growth of pipe
band drumming. He brings this passion into all of his work with Meade Custom Drumming and Pearl Drums. He hopes
you enjoy your Meade Custom Drumming Supplies.
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