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WILLIAMSTOWN R.S.L. PIPE BAND
HOME PRACTICE TUITION BOOKINGS NEWS HISTORY REPERTOIRE MEMBERS GALLERY FOR SALE LINKS MEMBERS PIPE MAJOR PROFILE The band's Pipe Major, Ross Bates, began learning the bagpipes in 1980 and joined the Footscray City Highland Pipe Band (now Williamstown R.S.L.) in 1981. Under the tutelage of John McIver and Ross Campbell, Ross enjoyed success both as a band piper and as a solo competitor, eventually being promoted to Open in 1986. As a Pipe Corporal in the 1980s, Ross assisted the other piping officers with the tuning and setting up of the band. In 1990, with the Victoria Police Pipe Band seeking pipers, Ross left the Footscray band as a playing member, however remained as a tutor from 1990 until 1999.  Pipe Major Ross Bates.
From 1990 until 2005, under the direction of Pipe Major Nat Russell, Ross was a professional piper with the Victoria Police Pipe Band. In competition, the band was undefeated in Australia from 1988 to 1998. At the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, the band was placed in the top six in Grade 1 every year from 1992 to 1997. In 1998, the band achieved its goal and become the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Champions. This is the ultimate achievement in the world of pipe bands and to this date, the Victoria Police Pipe Band is the only band from the Southern Hemisphere to achieve this feat at a Grade 1 level. In addition to playing with the band, Ross was also a member of the team responsible for the tuning and setting up of the band.  The Victoria Police Pipe Band, winning the Grade One World Pipe Band Championships, Glasgow Green, Scotland, 1998. In 1995, Ross became an accredited Piping
Judge, earning both the
Advanced Piping
Certificate (A.P.B.A.) and Adjudicators Certificate (A.P.B.A.).
As a soloist, Ross has performed with the Melbourne Symphony and Victorian State Orchestras. The performances included popular Scottish music as well as the composition "Orkney Wedding With Sunrise". He has also played as a soloist with artists such as Eric Burden, Marion Martin and on the mini-series "My Brother Tom". During his time with the Victoria Police Pipe Band, Ross performed on internationally acclaimed pipe band recordings, such as "Uphold The Right", "Live In Ireland", "Live In The Rockies" and "The Masterblaster Concert", in Motherwell, Scotland.       As a tutor, Ross has assisted a number of pipe bands to a high degree of competitive success, incuding:
 The Victoria Police Pipe Band, Police Academy, early 2000s.
The Victoria Police Pipe Band, Perth, 1996.
 WILLIAMSTOWN R.S.L. PIPE BAND INC., 27 HARCOMBE DRIVE, SUNBURY, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, 3429. SECRETARY PHONE: 03 9744 4098 SECRETARY MOBILE: 0427 181 164 SECRETARY - EMAIL PIPE MAJOR PHONE: 03 9744 4098 PIPE MAJOR MOBILE: 0427 181 164 PIPE MAJOR - EMAIL ABN - 63 578 773 610 INC. NO. - A0021634H WEBMASTER PAGE LAST UPDATED: 07/03/2010 Best viewed at 1280 x 800 resolution. |