Eleven-year-old Andrew, who is in P7 and lives at Gallery Lodge, Logie Pert, began chanter lessons with Brechin Pipe Band in February 2005. He was fifth in his first chanter competition at Edzell in the November, then won his next at Pitlochry two months later.

Andrew got his bappipes in March 2006 and played for the first time with the band at the Fettercairn Show, a day after his tenth birthday, making him one of the youngest pipers they have ever had. Andrew started playing in local competitions by the end of the season.

In January 2007 he came second in U13 novice piping and sixth in U15 march, then in the April at the Strathmore Open, at Kirriemuir, he won the U13 novice piping and was the best novice piper, confined to Angus.

Andrew was part of a superb season for the Brechin band last summer. They were 5th at the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton; 4th at the British Championships at Ballymena; 4th in the European Championships at Inverness and 4th at the Cowal Championships.

In the World Championships in Glasgow the band was 7th and the pipers came first.

The band were fourth equal in the Champion of Champions table and were promoted from Grade 3B to 3A after only one season.

During the summer, Andrew also played in solo competitions on the Highland Games circuit. He was placed most times, which was no mean feat considering he was an 11-year-old in U18 classes.

Andrew's winning streak has continued in solo competitions. He was 3rd in the Scottish U13 solo piping at Carnoustie; 1st in the S1 and under at the Lathallan Games and 2nd in the 11 and under and 3rd in the 12 and under at the Festival of Juvenile Solo Piping at Saltcoats.

At the RSPBA solo competition at Edzell he was 3rd in 14 and under march and 1st in 16 and under jig.

At the Vale of Atholl junior solo competition at Pitlochry he was first in the U15 piobaireachd, march and jig and overall U15 winner. That was only the fifth time in 29 years that one piper won all the classes.
Andrew has a nine-year-old sister Jenni who is a tenor drummer with the Brechin band.