Toronto Police Wow Packed House at First Major Concert

Toronto, Ontario, Canada – March 31, 2001 – The Toronto Police Pipe Band staged its first major concert in its long history at the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Performing Arts here today to a packed house of nearly 500.

Entitled “One Fine Day,” the two-hour concert showcased one of the world’s top bands – comprising 18 pipers, 11 side drummers, and mid-section of three – and did not hesitate to add a strong element of comic relief to the mix.

The concert began with the theme of a rubbie (played by non-member Robert Crabtree) who wakes up on a park bench and discovers that a pipe band concert is to be held. The band used many inventive props throughout the show, including “Stomp”-like garbage cans in a drum fanfare and police crowd control shields as percussion instruments.

At one point, both the organization’s Grade 1 and Grade 3 were on stage for a set of 6/8 marches that demonstrated the strength and breadth of the Toronto Police Pipe Band’s establishment.

In further comic relief, Pipe Major Ian K. MacDonald and his brother Craig staged an “old and new” duel, pitting #1dress against civilian wear, and even parodied two prominent Ontario pipe majors.

“This concert made other ones I’ve seen look like very staid, traditional affairs,” said one attendee. “It would be interesting to see how a Scottish crowd would react.”

Solo piping from players in the Grade 1 band at times dazzled the audience, and the band played its fair share of pure pipe band selections.

The concert finished with a long standing ovation from the crowd and an after-event ceilidh at The Black Sheep pub next door.

The Toronto Police Grade 1 band has gained several prominent pipers over the winter, including James MacHattie and James Troy Jr.

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