Gail Brown

Gail Brown is a Canadian musician who was the first female bagpipe player to play in the World Pipe Band Championships. She is also the first female bagpiper to win the highest level competition in the World Pipe Band Championships in 1973, with the Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band. Early life Brown grew up in Milton, Ontario, her family having strong Scottish heritage. Her family was connected with the Scottish settlement Scotch Block and attending the Boston Presbyterian Church since its construction. She commented on her mother's influence in starting Brown's interest with piping at 7, where her mother had "always wanted to play as a young teen," but due to transportation constraints at the time, was unable to and encouraged her daughter's playing instead. She received her first solo lessons at this age with piper Don Deming before she took lessons with Bus Featherstone of the Dundas Pipe Band. Brown Joined the Milton Girls Pipe Band at the age of 13. She won first place in the Junior Piobaireachd in the 17 and under category at the Markham Highland Games in 1969, winning Detroit's Bob-Lo Highland Games in the same category prior.