Polish and Discipline: Trademarks of World Champions
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - The world-celebrated Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band and Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, along with the Heather Jolley Highland Dancers, presented their second annual “Spirit of Scotland” concert and ceilidh at the Seaquam Secondary School in Delta on April 29.
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HEATHER JOLLEY DANCERS at the Spirit of Scotland fundraiser concert and ceilidh are (L-R) Andrena Hilder, Breanna Watt and Madison MacLeod.
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This event was a travel fundraiser for the band members, many of whom will be traveling to California and Scotland for competitions this year.
The concert was held in the afternoon and in the evening there was a ceilidh, with the well-known local Celtic band Blackthorn entertaining. There was also a Taste of Burns Supper, a Scotch tasting, and a silent auction.
Leslie Techy was one of the event organizers, and I met up with her, along with Terry and Jack Lee, who started the world famous SFU pipe band 25 years ago. It takes a lot of dedicated volunteers to make such a large event a success, and there were many there to help.
They fed the young pipers and Highland dancers, who had a long day and night ahead of them before the evening concert. Other volunteers were in charge of ticket sales and the silent auction. These people are the backbone of any event and deserve a big round of applause for their efforts.
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JACK LEE, Pipe Sergeant of the SFU Pipe Band with his sons at the Spirit of Scotland fundraiser concert and ceilidh. (L-R) Andrew, John, Jack and Colin.
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ORGANIZERS of the Spirit of Scotland fundraiser concert and ceilidh (L-R) Andrea McLatchy, Leslie Techy and Cheryl Archibald.
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I was impressed with how well behaved the boys and girls were in the auditorium as they waited to perform. Most of the pipers and dancers were busy concentrating on practice beforehand. So well trained, the polish and discipline is evident, no wonder they win so many competitions!
This is a very busy year for the SFU Pipe Band. Jack Lee, who is the band’s Pipe Sergeant, said they will be travel to Scotland twice this year. In June they will attend the British Championships in Pitlochy, Scotland, and in August the World’s Piping Championships in Glasgow.
Jack Lee teaches piping to the juvenile band – the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band – which won its fourth World’s Juvenile championship in Glasgow, last year. His three sons are all pipers with the band and his wife Christine is kept busy making sure they have everything ready for their competitions and travel.
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For more information about the SFU Pipe Band’s world-famous teaching program for children, call (604) 942-5118. For the Heather Jolley Highland Dance School, call Tartantown at (604) 936-8548.
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