Not a cop-out: Constable resigns as Toronto Police L-D

After three competition seasons, Ken Constable has resigned as Leading-Drummer of the Grade 1 Toronto Police Pipe Band. The move comes less than two weeks after the band competed at the World Championships in Glasgow.

“Kenny stepped into the role of leading-drummer following the departure of Doug Stronach,” Pipe-Major Ian K. MacDonald said. “I am not certain that this was something Kenny really wanted to do at the start, but it was very enjoyable to work with such a classy and musical guy who seemed to really grow into the role effortlessly, with a high degree of professionalism.”

With Constable the band remained competitive on the Ontario circuit, and occasionally placed first in drumming in Grade 1. At the 2013 World Championships, the band failed to qualify for the Final.

“This was not an easy decision but a necessary one,” Constable said.  “While I have enjoyed playing in the band in this role over the last three years it has forced me to put my career on hold while I focused on the band. Over the last year I have started a software development company which has demanded an increasing amount of time from me to the point where I needed to prioritize or suffer the fate of being mediocre across all my interests. I will be taking a year off from bands and will reassess my situation at that time. A special thanks to Ian K, Mike and Sean for taking a chance on a new leading-drummer and the continued support and loyalty of the band members. I wish the band well and am confident they will continue be successful.”

Constable joined Toronto Police in January 2011, and has a lengthy resume of experience in top-tier pipe bands, including the 78th Fraser Highlanders and Peel Regional Police.

“On behalf of the entire band we would like to thank Kenny for his outstanding years of service to the Toronto Police Pipe Band and we wish him well in his future endeavours,” MacDonald added, and said that the band is now actively searching for a successor to Constable.