History Series: If you’ve spent any time around the Ontario pipe band circuit over the past fifty years you’ll likely know Ross Brown. Whether through meeting him as a competitor, judge, at his shop, or in the beer tent at the end of a sweltering games day, there’s no doubt that Ross is a fixture in the pipe band community.
In 1976, Ross also began lessons with John MacKenzie and it was during this time that John brought Ross out to his first GM Pipe Band practice. By 1982, the band--now the 78th Fraser Highlanders under the direction pipe major Bill Livingstone--was quickly improving. In 1987, the Frasers
performed their famous Live in Ireland concert in Ballymena, Northern Ireland and, a few days later, made history by becoming the first overseas band to win the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships.
In 1997, Ross joined the Rob Roy Pipe Band, where he has been able to teach numerous students, many of whom have gone on to great competitive success.
Ross continues to judge, teach, and run his shop, Brown Bagpipe Supply. In his fifty years in the pipe band world, he has found sharing his knowledge and expertise, gained from lessons with so many incredible pipers over the years, with the next generation to be the single most gratifying experience.