Brian Coutts
Drum Major (2015-19)
Brian resides in Dunedin NZ, and has been a member of the band since 2015 as Drum Major for the 2015 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2015, held in the city of his birth. He toured with the band to the Virginia International Tattoo in 2017 where he joined Drum Majors of the Pipes and Drums, 1st Battalion Scots Guards and the Canadian Forces Base Trenton 8 Wing Pipes and Drums at the head of the Massed Pipe and Drums.
Brian continued with the band group that carried on from Virginia to participate in the March of the Immortal Regiment in Moscow, appearing at many public venues around Moscow during that visit. In 2018 he participated with the band as it toured the Black Sea southern coast of Crimea, performing from Sevastopol to Kerch and many places in-between.
Brian came to this band after a successful pipe band career exceeding 50 years as a side, bass and tenor drummer in a number of bands, culminating in the role of Drum Major of the Green Island Pipe Band. During his term his band twice won the Grade 2 Championship, with Brian taking 2nd place in the New Zealand Open Drum Majors’ Championship 4 times.
Brian is currently a member of the RNZ Pipe Bands Association national judging panels for Drill, Mace Flourishing, Dress and Drum Majors, and member of the Non Music Judges Selection Panel.
Tours with the band: 2019 Sydney, 2019 Edinburgh, 2018 Crimea, 2017 Moscow, 2017 Norfolk Virginia, 2015 Edinburgh.