Meet the Perth Metro Pipe Band Leadership Team
LEADERSHIP
PIPE MAJOR
James Cowie
DRUM SERGEANT
Mel Carrell
PRESIDENT
Ian Cooper
SECRETARY
Emma Buchanan
TREASURER
Tracey Forsyth
This experienced team of pipers and drummers, many of whom are former professional musicians, provide expert tuition and coaching. Their consistent guidance helps players achieve their individual goals.
READ THEIR PROFILES BELOW
Musical Leadership
Pipe Major James Cowie
James began piping at an early age, starting his journey with Melbourne's William Bruce. He has since become one of Australia’s most successful pipe majors.
James joined the Moorabbin City Pipe Band, where he became pipe major at 14. He later moved to grade one bands Nunawading and Victoria Police, where he honed his bagpipe setup and tuning skills under Robert Crozier and Ross Bates.
In 1996, James moved to Perth to join the Western Australia Police Pipe Band (WAPOL) as a full-time piper. Promoted to pipe major in 1997, he led the band for 11 years, achieving a Grade 2 World Championship and a Grade 1 North American Championship. WAPOL also qualified for the World Championships in 2004 and recorded several popular albums under James’ leadership.
James was the founding pipe major of Perth Metro and has been instrumental in mentoring players over the last 19 years, culminating in the 2016 Grade 3B World Championship win.
He has competed with several grade one pipe bands, including Nunawading, Australia Highlanders, Victoria Police, Western Australia Police, Peel Regional Police, and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia.
Currently, James is competing internationally with the LA Scots Pipe Band from California.
James holds a Bagpipe Teaching Diploma and an Advanced Certificate in Piping from Pipe Bands Australia. He is also a qualified piping judge.
Drum Sergeant Mel Carrell
Mel began drumming at the age of 16 with the Collie PCYC Pipe Band. Within six months, Mel became the lead drummer of their Grade 4 band.
After leaving school, Mel moved to Perth and played with several bands, including the WA Irish Pipe Band, City of Cockburn Pipe Band, Coastal Scottish Pipe Band, and the WA Police Pipe Band (WAPOL), while also competing in and winning numerous solo drumming titles. A significant band achievement included winning Grade 4 at the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in 2007.
While with the Coastal Scottish Pipe Band, Mel was promoted to Drum Sergeant in 2009, becoming the first female lead drummer since the band's inception in 1898. Mel has also had some great mentors over the years, including Alan Wallace (WA Irish Pipe Band), Sandy Bayne (WAPOL), and David Johnson (WAPOL and Perth Metro Pipe Band).
With over 30 years of drumming experience, Mel has competed in five World Pipe Band Championships. After joining Perth Metro Pipe Band in 2013, Mel led the drum corps to victory in the Grade 3B World Championships in 2016. Mel has also performed on stage with André Rieu and Sir Paul McCartney and played in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City.
Lead Tenor Julia Christensen
Julia is a Perth local who started learning the tenor drum at age 11 with the Coastal Scottish Pipe Band. Julia gained experience competing internationally, winning Grade 4 at the 2007 New Zealand Championships and competing at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2009.
In 2009, Julia joined the Western Australia Police Pipe Band (WAPOL) as a guest tenor drummer, using the opportunity to develop her skills through tuition from both Perth-based and visiting UK tenor drummers. Under the direction of several accomplished leading drummers, Julia competed locally and nationally with WAPOL, achieving consecutive Grade 1 Australian Championship titles in 2012, 2014, and 2016. She also performed at numerous WAPOL concerts and community events, including a memorable performance for Sir Paul McCartney.
Julia has been a member of Perth Metro Pipe Band since 2015, under the tuition of Samantha Cowie. Notable achievements during this time include the 2016 Grade 3B World Championship win and the band's third place in Grade 3A in 2018.
Julia has assisted Sam Cowie with leading the Grade 3 and Grade 4 mid-sections. Since 2019, with Sam’s support, Julia has led the mid-section, taking responsibility for music composition, pitching, orchestration, and flourish development.
Julia regularly competes in local solo competitions in A Grade Tenor and is a reserve adjudicator for Tenor and Bass solos.
Julia holds an Elementary Certificate in Tenor Drumming from Pipe Bands Australia and is currently working towards her Intermediate and Advanced Certificates.
Life Members
The members of Perth Metro Pipe Band have conferred the following Life Memberships:
James Cowie, Lachlan Boath and Matt Walker