Where the Pipers Pipe & the Drummers Drum “New” home for School’s oldest musical tradition
(l-r) Jamie Inglis ‘91, Jim McGillivray, and Brian McCue wear the Pipes & Drums official Gordon Highlanders ties.
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his summer, the West Annex underwent a huge renovation to its indoor and outdoor space. Originally built in the 1960s as a staff residence, the facility has been the centre for piping and drumming instruction for just over a dozen years. It was sadly outdated. All that changed when the family of former Pipe Major, Zachary Petrachek ’14, stepped up and generously offered to help give the facility a facelift. The 4,000 sq. ft. newly-named Petrachek McGillivray Pipes & Drums Centre* has been dramatically modernized. In addition to its attractively-cladded exterior, there are now 10 soundproofed studios, secured instrument and equipment storage, and a large central assembly hall dividing the piping and drumming sections. This is music to the ears of Pipes & Drums Director Jim McGillivray, who has taught bagpipes at SAC for the past 17 years, and who recognizes that his program supports one of the School’s proudest and longest-held traditions. As the School marks the 100th anniversary of the Pipes & Drums this year, it is fitting that these renovations bring the
home base of this unique program up to the exemplary standards of the rest of the School. “I never fail to be moved on Prize Day as my grade 12 pipers and drummers go on to new stages in their lives,” says Jim. “Boys begin to study piping as early as grade 5 or 6, and perhaps no other program at the School requires such a long-term commitment as that of earning a place in the senior Pipes & Drums. “I get to know only a small number of boys here, but I'd argue that many other teachers don't get to know any boys as well as I know my pipers. By graduation, they seem like my family, and it’s tough to say goodbye to them. I love it when they come back in later years to say hello.” *New or upgraded facilities are usually named after the donors. In the case of the Petrachek McGillivray Pipes & Drums Centre, the Petrachek family insisted that the McGillivray name be added to recognize Mr. McGillivray’s notable revamping of the program since his arrival at the School in 1998. WWW.SAC.ON.CA 13