Let the pipes play!

Our ceremony will have a twist on traditional music - we are going to have bagpiper! We need to choose the songs we want played - but just hearing da pipes gives me chills and teary eyed!

Here is a bio on our piper, I do like that he is a Wolverine!

Peter Deneen began playing the bagpipes at the age of fourteen. It was at this time that he joined the Grand Traverse Highlanders Pipe Band, now the Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums. After spending several summers performing with the band, and studying at the Ohio Scottish Arts School in Oberlin, Ohio, he was awarded the “Junior Grade” certificate by the College of Piping in Glasgow, Scotland. Since 1993, Mr. Deneen has served as Pipe Major of the Grade IV Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums, and is responsible for rehearsing, teaching, and leading the pipe section. Beyond the pipe corps, he is involved in the personnel management and formation of the artistic direction of the band and is responsible for coordinating efforts with the drum section and maintaining a high level of personal and group performance standard for the entire organization. Under his direction, the Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums have competed successfully at highland festivals in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Ontario. As a Grade III solo competitor, Peter Deneen has taken medals in light music and piobaireachd at the Alma Highland Festival and at the Sarnia Supreme Highland Games.

In addition to his responsibilities with Grand Traverse, Peter Deneen has been Director of Bands at Traverse City East Junior High School since 1992, and served as Director of Music at Central United Methodist Church, where he also conducted the English Handbell Choirs. He received the Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in 1992 and the Master of Music Education Degree from VanderCook College (Chicago) in 1997.