Local Pipe Band Goes for Triple at 2005 World Championships
VANCOUVER - One of the most difficult hits to get in baseball is the triple. This summer the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band organization is going to attempt just such a “hit.” For the first time in its long and distinguished history it is sending three of its bands to the “World Series” of highland bagpipe competition, the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland. Going to Glasgow are the renowned SFU Grade One adult band, the RMM Grade Two adult band and the RMM Grade Three juvenile band.
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| THE ROBERT MALCOLM MEMORIAL PIPE BAND is sending three of its bands to the 2005 World Pipe Band Championships. |
The Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band was named after Robert Barbulak and Malcolm Bokenfohr, two dedicated members of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band who were tragically killed in an automobile accident in November 1993. The RMM band was formed in January 1994 to continue the development of talented and dedicated players such as Rob and Malcolm. As part of its formation the RMM organization assimilated the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band whose origins date back to 1966.
Throughout its history the pipe band has been working hard to meet and beat the current world standard for pipe bands at both the adult and juvenile competition level. The SFU Grade One adult band has won most major titles: the World Pipe Band Championship (1995, 1996, 1999, 2001), the World Drum Corps Championship (1999, 2004), the North American Championship, the 2001 Australian Pipe Band Championship, and many more.
It played twice for Queen Elizabeth during her 1983 Vancouver visit and opened for rock star Rod Stewart at his 1989 and 1991 Vancouver concerts. In addition, the Grade One band has been profiled internationally on CNN and BBC, nationally on CBC Newsworld, CBC Radio and CTV, and has been featured several times on Vancouver television and radio stations.
The RMM band has developed a significant youth development program through its junior band system. SFU Pipe Band adult pipers and drummers contribute to the teaching of over 110 children and teens in a four band graduated system.
In 1999, 2001 and 2003, the Grade Three Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band won the World Juvenile Pipe Band championship at the Glasgow competition. The band regularly participates in University convocation ceremonies, corporate events, Remembrance Day ceremonies and other civic events in the greater Vancouver area.
The bands are about to go into their “regular season” – a series of highland games held across the Pacific Northwest in locations ranging from southern Washington state, Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland to the Okanagan Valley – before going to “playoffs” in Scotland. There is a unique opportunity to see all of these world-class bands play in one evening.
On May 14, the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Bands will perform a concert at Massey Hall in New Westminster. The concert will be followed with a ceilidh (KAY-lee), which is Gaelic for a party consisting of music, dancing, song and story.
Tickets prices for these events are: concert $20/ceilidh $25 ($40 for both) and are available from www.sfupipeband.com or by calling Dorothy at (604) 463-3421. The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band’s live recording of its ninth CD will take place on June 30, July 1 and 2 at the SFU Performing Arts Theatre on Burnaby Mountain. Tickets are available from www.sfupipeband.com.
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