Grey new Toronto Police Pipe-Sergeant

The Grade 1 Toronto Police Pipe Band has appointed the well known composer Michael Grey (pictured right) as its Pipe-Sergeant, as it continues to expand its ranks with addition of several new pipers.

Grey played with the Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) Pipe Band during the 2007 season and has also played with the 78th Fraser Highlanders, Lothian & Borders Police and Peel Regional Police, which he led from 1995 to 1999.

In a statement to pipes|drums, the Toronto Police said that Grey’s talents as a composer and arranger will help the band move in “a new and exciting musical direction for its medleys and concert repertoire.”

“I had huge fun with [78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel)] this year,” Grey commented. “They’re a great group, but they’re almost 2000 kilometres away from where I live. If the band was closer I’d still be there. So, I thought I’d carry on with the band thing and take up Ian’s offer and try to contribute
there. Ian and Leading-Drummer Doug Stronach’s enthusiasm to go ‘out there’ with their music was also . . . a fantastically huge incentive.”

The band also said that it has added, in addition to “several other new pipers and drummers,” Jody Perry, who played with the Scottish Lion-78th Fraser Highlanders, and Ian Moir, a piper who has competed with several Grade 1 bands, including, most recently, the Windsor Police.

“On behalf of the band, we are thrilled about our newest members who will add a tremendous amount of talent, experience and enthusiasm to our band,” Toronto Police Pipe-Major Ian K. MacDonald said. “After playing a season where you looked hard at trying to find piper number-nine (and sometimes number-eight), the addition of these experienced players has already got me thinking about a band capable of playing a performance full of excitement, poise and enjoyable ensemble which can only be achieved with talented Grade 1 players.”

In another development, the 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) confirmed that piper Derick Wilson has joined, leaving the Grade 1 Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band, of which he was pipe-major for more than 10 years.

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