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Brian Niven - Music Director
Born in Taynuilt, Argyllshire Scotland, Brian was taught the pipes from 8 years of age by P/M Finlay Nicholson Ex- Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
Brian immigrated with his family in 1970 to Melbourne, Australia & within two days of arriving was playing with The City of Melbourne Pipe Band at Grade One level. He remained with this Band eventually being its Pipe Sergeant for 10 years. Brian joined the Victoria Police Pipe Band in January 1988 and took over the position of Pipe Sergeant in 1991. He played in every competition that the Victoria Police entered, culminating in winning the Grade One World Championships at Glasgow Green in August 1998. Over that time Brian was one of the driving forces in getting the Victoria Police to the top of Grade One helping to construct Medleys and Concert pieces for the Victoria Police.
In 1995 Brian attained his Advanced Certificate in Piping and shortly afterwards became a Qualified Piping Judge with the “Australian Pipe Band Association”. In 1998 Brian completed a BA (Mus. Ed) and in 2005 was accepted on to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Adjudication Panel as a RSPBA Qualified International Piping Adjudicator. In 2007 Brian completed his Ensemble Qualification and is now a Qualified Ensemble Judge in the Australian Pipe Band Association. Brian has judged in Scotland, New Zealand and Australia on various occasions.
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Simon Considine – Bass Drummer
Simon started playing at the age of 8 with Golden City Pipe Band Bendigo. He was Leading Drummer with Golden City Pipe Band Bendigo in grade 3 at the age of 14 and won many State and National Drum Corps trophies. He has played under Paul Turner with Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band, in Scotland as well as Western Australia Police, the former Nunawading Pipe Band (Australia Highlanders) and the Band Club. Simon started with Victoria Police in Oct 2005.
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Albert Copeland - Tenor Drummer
Alby was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and immigrated to Australia in 1968. He learned to play with City of Melbourne Pipe Band in 1982, later joining the Victoria Police Pipe Band as an honorary member in 1987. In 1989 he became a full time member playing tenor and bass drums. Alby has tutored Bands from New Zealand West Australia New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. He won the Best Bass Drummer at the 1998 World Pipe Band Championships and has played under Lead Drummers Andrew Scullion, Paul Turner, Harold Gillespie and Brett Staley.
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Robert Crozier – Piper
Robert Crozier was born in Melbourne Australia in 1966 and at the age of 13 had his first piping lesson with the Footscray Pipe Band in Melbourne. In 1991 Robert decided to take a different direction, he joined the Victoria Police Pipe Band as a full time Police Bandsman. Robert took over the job of tuning and helping out with the piping in band and soon became well known all over the world for his tuning abilities and great ear for sound. Robert and his wife Estella have two sons Bobby and James and Robert’s hobbies include, watching movies, collecting movie replicas, astronomy and creating his “twisted photography”.
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David Gilfillan – Side Drummer
David has been employed within the Victoria Police Pipe Band as a snare drummer since August 1992. Prior to 1992 he had a Military background spanning 25 years with the British Army. In particular that of serving with the 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. His roll within the military has allowed him the privilege of taking the bands under his direction to such places as The White House for President Ronald Reagan, The Vatican for Pope John Paul, and numerous presentations to Her Majesty the Queen. He has served in a military capacity with active service tours of duty in Northern Ireland, and Desert Storm. As a musician he has performed at the highest level for many years, culminating in winning the highly coveted World Pipe Band Championships on two occasions.
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Steve Harris – Piper
Steve joined the Police Pipe Band in 1986 as a piper. In his time with Victoria Police he has been awarded the Victoria Police Diligent and Ethical Service Medal as well as the National Service Medal. He started learning pipe at the age of 9 years old. He has also been awarded his Intermediate and Advanced Piping Certificate.
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Alan Leggett – Piper
Allan started learning the bagpipes in 1960 with the Swan Hill & District Highland Pipe Band. Upon moving to Melbourne he joined the highly successful Hawthorn City Pipe Band and remained with them until 1987. During the seventies he won various solo awards in Australia and New Zealand and holds the intermediate piping certificate. In 1988 he joined the band as an honorary member and in March 1989 he became a fully sworn member. His next favourite instrument is the golf club.
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Ian Lyons – Piper
Ian was taught to play the bagpipes in 1977 by his father, Pipe Major W. Lyons B.E.M. of the Irish Guards. He played with his local Pipe Band from the age of 7 in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. In 1987 he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary Pipe Band before immigration to Australia in 1989 to take up a sponsored full time position with the Victoria Police Pipe Band. He has travelled the world extensively teaching, playing in solo competitions, Band competitions and doing Recitals.
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David Macdonald – Piper
David was taught to play bagpipes at Haileybury College by Pipe Major David Bail. He went on to play with the Clayton RSL Pipe Band. In 2001 David joined the Western Australia Police Band. He has been fortunate enough to travel to many places around the world performing his music. These include New Zealand, the USA, Scotland and more recently Russia. David joined the Victoria Police Pipe Band in 2005. He is a keen solo player and competitor and has an interest in restoration of antique bagpipes.
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David McNamara – Piper
David joined the Victoria Police Force in 1970 and started learning the pipes with the Band at that time. He was an operational police member stationed at various stations including Oakleigh, Breath Analysis Section and St. Kilda Traffic Operations Group. He was Pipe Major of the band from 1980 to 1987 and is also the current Pipe Major of the Rats of Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums. David also served with the 5th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment Pipes and Drums and the City of Casey Pipe Band.
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Kelvin Mounsey – Piper
Kelvin started playing the pipes when he was ten years old and since then has been involved in pipe bands all over Australia. As a new member of the Police Pipe Band he is very happy to be pursuing a career in a field that he thoroughly enjoys.
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Chris Poulter – Piper
Chris began playing bagpipes at the age of 9 with her local band. Since then she has been playing socially and competitively interstate and internationally, including playing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2005. Chris commenced her career with the Victoria Police Pipe Band in April 2007 and is the newest member of the Pipe Band.
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Brett Staley – Leading Side Drummer
I'm writing mine right now...
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Daniel Staley – Side Drummer
Daniel started playing at the age of 15 with the Frankston RSL Pipe Band. He has competed with the Australia Highlanders Pipe Band at the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 1 and is currently the leading drummer of the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band. He joined the Police Pipe Band in February 2004.
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Lynnette Staley – Side Drummer
Lynette started learning snare drumming when she was 11 years old, and went on to become the Drum Sergeant with Geelong Ladies Pipe Band. Although she spent many years with her local band, she did play for a short time with a few Melbourne bands, which ultimately led to the opportunity for her to play at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 1994. Lynette joined Victoria Police in 2002.
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Mac Titcher - Piper
Mac began playing bagpipes in 1984 at the age of 15. He has competed as a solo piper within Victoria and interstate and played in several bands competing in Australia, New Zealand and at the World Championships in Glasgow. Mac began his career in the Victoria Police Pipe Band in October, 2005.
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