Michael Grey

Michael Grey EventsWebsite: www.dunaber.com

With many major solo titles to his credit, successful books of music on the shelves, compositions in the repertoires of bands the world over, and music director of one of the world’s most talked about bands, Michael Grey is undoubtedly one of the world’s foremost pipers.

Michael Grey, He received his first lessons at twelve from George Walker of the 48th Highlanders of Canada and was a member of this illustrious band for three years. He studied under John Wilson, one of the twentieth century’s greatest players, and received extensive tuition from Bill Livingstone and John Walsh, as well as some significant time learning from Captain John A MacLellan.

He has four times won the North American Championship, the overall title at the Vancouver Indoor Meet twice, the Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal and that venue’s March, Strathspey & Reel and Former Winners’ MSR on the same day. In 1989 he won the aggregate championship at the Cowal Highland Gathering. He has seventeen times won the professional Ontario Championship Supreme awards for both pibroch and light music. In 1995 he won the Toronto Piper’s Society Knock-Out final; in 2003 he again won this testing event – for the fourth time and third year in succession.

Since his early piping years Michael has been a prolific and innovative composer.  With five published books of music (and a contributor to many other collections) his music his widely available and played.

A founding member of the 1987 World Pipe Band Champion 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, he left that organization in 1995 and became Pipe Major of Peel Regional Police Pipe Band. In 1999 Michael left the Peel band to focus on solo piping; this same year he won the Scottish Piping Society of London’s (UK) Strachan Cup and again was the aggregate winner of the Vancouver Indoor Meet.

In October of 2007 he joined the premier grade Toronto Police Pipe Band in the capacity of Pipe Sergeant.  Since that time in his role as musical director the band has worked diligently to explore the endless musical possibilities offered by the pipe band idiom.

He has released seven solo recordings including 2002’s seminal Shambolica!  and 2009’s compilation project, “Unqualified Favourites”.