Piping Influences

Beginning in November, 1962 at age six, I took instruction from Walter S. Rose in the Detroit/Windsor area. Mr. Rose and one other gentleman, George Duncan, along with John Wilson in Toronto and some other Canadian pipers raised the standards of piping in North America to the same level as those in Scotland. Walter Rose also created the St. Andrews Pipe Band of Detroit, which rose through the ranks to Grade 1 with an almost entirely under-21 roster.

In 1966, Walter Rose passed away, and I became the first pupil of a new instructor-Lars Sloan. During his tutelage, I began competing, and rose to Grade 1 by 1973. I attended piping school taught by John MacFadyen from 1968 through 1973. Starting in 1969, Pipe Major John Goodenow instructed me on piobaireachd and St. Andrew's Band's tunes while Lars continued to mentor my solo career.

The piping school was attended by many of the Southwestern Ontario area's (including S.E. Michigan) best pipers and future world champions during the time I was there. The Americans included Lars Sloan, John Goodenow, Dave Martin, and many others who I don't mean to forget. The Canadian roster included: Jim McGillivray, Ed and Geoff Neigh, Bill Livingstone, Syd Girling, Frank Edgley.

I continued to play with St. Andrew's until about 1978, when getting married and then raising a family left little time for piping.

In about 1996, I began to update my pipes, my repertoire and my uniform and I slowly returned to regular piping. By 1999, I was playing regular engagements all over Michigan, and I have continued to do so. During this time I re-established some of the connections I had made years previously, including Jim McGillivray, Dave Martin, Bruce Burt, the Neigh brothers and others.

In 2005, I joined with highland dancer and Northern Michigan University dance instructor Deborah Choszczyk and opened the 'MacGregor School of Scottish Piping and Dancing' at 340 Iron St. in Negaunee. We now have about 30 pupils.

Northern Michigan, Mackinac Island, Wisconsin

(906) 475-6015 or (800) 529-8805

GregorMacGregor@Bagpiper.Com or gmacg@chartermi.net