Eighteen-year-old Daniel Parsons was announced the new leading-drummer of the Grade 1 Oran Mor Pipe Band in October, but only two months later has been replaced by Michael Eagle, an established professional drummer previously with the Grade 2 New York Metro Pipe Band.

According to Oran Mor Pipe-Major Andrew Douglas, Parson resigned in November due to school and travel commitments. Sources had said that the band had found itself without a snare section following the resignation of L-D Eric MacNeill in September. MacNeill cited "irreconcilable differences" with Douglas as the reason for his departure, and subsequently joined the Grade 1 Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.

A professional percussionist, Michael Eagle has been an instructor at New York University in New York City, teaching a range of percussion styles from orchestral to Breton to West African to contemporary. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, American Federation of Musicians, and the Beethoven Society and a sponsored educator/artist with Pearl Drums and has his own line of "Eagle Made" accessories for musicians.

Douglas said that Oran Mor Pipe Band will be an official performing artist group for Pearl Corporation USA, Evans Drumheads, and OffWorld Percussion, and that Eagle will bring snare drummers from the United States, Canada and France who have played with him in the past.