As a youth he studied classical violin technique, Scottish fiddle music and Scottish country dance.

Calum was awarded a full scholarship to study violin with Eliot Chapo, former concert master of the New York Philharmonic, at Florida State University School of Music. Calum also performed on the highland bagpipe as a teenager spending summers with his family in St. Andrews, Scotland.

In 2007, Calum was the very first American to be invited to participate in the Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Competition at Blair Castle—where he earned first place prize.

In 2008 he was declared Fiddler to the Marquis of Huntly, a competition that was resurrected from 150 years ago. Calum released the album In Conversation with Susie Petrov in 2009 and won the U.S. National Scottish Fiddle competition in 2011. He is in demand as a fiddler for dances and concerts and as a teacher at various fiddle camps. Calum currently resides on Long Island where he is Director of Strings at Hewlett High School, a Grammy Top 100 school for music programs.