Our Judges

Ross has spent much of his career traveling for both solo and band competitions throughout the USA, Canada, Scotland, and New Zealand.  He spent 10 years playing with Grade 1 Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band and spent 2 years playing with the Grade 1 Dowco Triumph St. Pipe Band.  He has played in multiple Major Championships around the world, including the World Pipe Band Championships several times.  Ross has won solo competitions and awards for both Light Music and Piobaireachd throughout the USA, Canada, and Scotland.  International highlights include winning 1st prize at the 2009 Invercharron Highland Games in Scotland.  Local highlights include winning two 1st prizes in the Professional Grade at the 2012 Costa Mesa Highland Games.  In 2015 Ross won the James Naismith Memorial Targe Professional MSR competition at the San Diego Highland Games, of personal note to Ross as this event is named after his Grandfather.  He joined the WUSPBA Adjudication Panel in 2016.  Ross works as a Banker by day and enjoys traveling and spending time with his family and friends on weekends and holidays.  He is excited to take part on the RBC Judging Panel this year.

Liz (Payne) Tubbs learned to play the Great Highland Bagpipe as a youngster in Dunedin, a long-time Scottish community on Florida's West Coast. Thereafter, Liz played with the Prince Charles Pipe Band from 1984-1989. With fellow bandsman Clutch Sutton, Liz formed the City of Sacramento Pipe Band in 1989 and served as its Pipe Major and musical director from 1989-2023. She is a highly recognized teacher and judge in the Pipe Band Community. Liz recently retired from her 20-year career as an instrumental music teacher in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Sheldon High School in Elk Grove California. We are grateful to Liz for her judging and her never-ending support of the Redding Bagpipe Competition.