Windsor Police Pipe Band History
In the fall of 1999, a group of pipers and drummers from the Windsor/Metro Detroit area came together and formed a Grade 3 level band with the goal of going out and competing in the summer of 2000. This new band was named “Ballinedan Pipe Band”. During this time The Windsor Police Pipe Band was a Grade 4 level band but was not competing at any contests again for the second straight year.
Ballinedan Pipe Major Alan Clark was approached by Windsor Police leading drummer George Levack during the summer of 2000. It was suggested that the two bands merge in an effort to pool resources and talent. After a meeting between the two bands in late August of 2000, the merger was complete with the new, larger band retaining the Windsor Police Pipe Band name.
The band then saw another influx of players in the fall and by the end of 2000, there were two bands. A grade 2 level band with Pipe Major Alan Clark and Leading Drummer David Hickling and a grade 4 level band with Pipe Major Angie Kimball and leading drummer Mike Casey. Both bands competed in the summer of 2001 with fantastic results. The grade 2 band won the Canadian Championships that year, beating the reigning champs Niagara Regional Police who had finished 3rd at the World Championships the previous year.
The Windsor Police Grade 2 Pipe Band went on to great success and awarded Grade 2 North American Pipe Band Champions in 2002, 2003 and 2005, four top-five distinctions at the World Pipe Band Championships from 2002-2005, Ontario Champion Supreme for 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005, Canadian Champions in 2002, and U.S. Open Champions in 2002, 2004 and 2005. Lastly, the band was undefeated in all North American competitions during the 2002 and 2005 contest seasons.
Because of the great success that it saw over the years, the Grade 2 band was promoted to Grade 1 for the 2006 season. Even though it was a fantastic entry into the top grade, the Grade 1 band eventually ‘folded’ after the 2008 season due to the geographical complications of many of its players. The 2009 season came with the emergence of a new Grade 3 band comprised of members from the highly successful Grade 4 band and a few remaining higher grade players.
A Tradition of Excellence
The Windsor Police Pipe Band has always maintained a high standard of professionalism and musical quality.
The band can be seen performing at numerous parades, concerts, ceilidhs and contests throughout the year in Canada, the US, and abroad. The Band has also hosted concerts like, “Piping Under the Stars” and “Celtic Generations” from time to time.
In order to develop and maintain a prominent level of piping and drumming in the region, our experienced players are dedicated to coaching our younger players and, when multiple bands exist, our lower grade bands. In addition, our organization provides lessons in bagpiping and drumming, free of charge, at our piping and drumming school. It is this dedication to the Scottish arts, commitment to each other, and development in the local community that has been the secret to the WPPB’s success over the decades.
A Brief History of The Windsor Police Pipe Band
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