J. Reid Maxwell

Lead Drummer

Lead Drummer J. Reid Maxwell is in his 30th year leading the SFU Pipe Band drum corps. He is certainly one of today’s most decorated drummers, having captured nine World Pipe Band Championship titles and ten Drum Corps titles – most recently winning the Drum Corps title in 2022.

Prior to joining the SFU Pipe Band, Reid was Lead Drummer of the 78th Fraser Highlanders and captured his third World Pipe Band title and first Sash in 1987. All this was preceded by two World Pipe Band Championships and four World Drum Corps Championships as a teenaged member of Scotland’s Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band.

Reid’s ability to produce exceptional drum corps and his dedication to the instruction of young drummers is held in high regard worldwide. Reid has many highlights with the band so far, one of the earlier ones includes witnessing Pipe Major Ian McLellan from Strathclyde Police reach out to shake Terry’s hand as the band marched off with its first World Championship title in 1995. Another was when Terry Lee joined the band on stage at the 2015 worlds concert to play Beaches of Harris.