We are delighted to welcome Mr Graham Brown (Class of ‘74) back to the College, this time as a member of our Pipe Band Tuition Team. A former pupil and world-renowned piping tutor, Mr Brown brings decades of experience and expertise to our advanced piping programme.

He joins his son, Mr Calum Brown, already a valued member of the team at Robert Gordon’s College. Calum, a former Grade One World Champion and accomplished solo piper, continues the family tradition of excellence in traditional and Celtic music.

Graham’s passion for piping began at the age of five when he crawled under a neighbour’s fence to listen to John Stewart practising piobaireachd. Inspired, he received his first chanter in 1965, and soon began lessons with Stewart, learning the fundamentals of technique and scales that would shape his career.

He joined The Aberdeen Battalion Boys Brigade Pipe Band and, later, the Robert Gordon’s College Pipe Band, performing at local parades and cadet events. By age fifteen, Graham had joined the Grade 1 Bucksburn and District Pipe Band, performing and competing internationally, including two tours to Toronto, Canada.

Balancing a career in medical science with his musical pursuits, Graham continued to compete in solo piping and began teaching, sharing his knowledge with local pupils, Boys Brigade members, and international students in Denmark. His talent took him to the Middle East, where he performed for HRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Saudi Arabia and engaged with expatriate piping communities in Muscat.

Upon returning to Scotland, Graham dedicated himself fully to teaching, mentoring his son Calum, who became the last pupil of John Stewart before his passing, and establishing a small piping business to nurture the next generation of pipers.

Mr Brown (Snr)’s return to the College ensures that his extraordinary experience and passion for piping will continue to inspire students for years to come.