The SFU Pipe Band
- A Truly International Act
VANCOUVER - When the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band takes the stage at the Red Robinson Show Theatre on June 23, those who travel furthest to take in the show will be some of the band members themselves.
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FOUR TIME World Champions - The SFU Pipe Band in concert. |
Although the band is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, members of the band live as far afield as New Zealand, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It brings new meaning to the term "out-of-towners."
One of those "out-of-towners" is current Solo World Champion drummer Steven McWhirter, who hails from Ahoghill, County Antrim in Northern Ireland. When Steven joined the band five years ago, it was as a youngster looking to play with his favourite band and to learn from one of his mentors, lead drummer Reid Maxwell.
Today, Steven is only one of seven band members who make the rather long trek from the U.K. to Burnaby for band practice.
According to Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee, a pipe band can't rely solely on local talent anymore to compete and perform at the highest level. "In the competition arena the challenge has never been greater. Fortunately, we have been able to attract some of the world's great musicians to the band.
"On the concert stage, our performances have grown to encompass some terrific Celtic musicians. Our performances are much, much more than a pipe band concert - they are an amazing Celtic experience that appeals to a huge audience."
The newest Celtic musician to join up with the SFU pipe band is local fiddler Shona Le Mottée. If you're a fan of Celtic music, you'll likely have seen Shona perform with such Celtic music acts as The Paperboys and Mad Pudding. She has also toured with Michael Flatley's Lord of The Dance, and currently fronts her own group, The Shona Le Mottée Band.
In August, the band will be making their annual trip to Glasgow to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships, an event they have won four times. For seven members of the band, that trip will be a trip home.
The SFU Pipe Band performs at the Red Robinson Show Theatre at the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam on June 23. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at (604) 280-4444 and ticketmaster.ca, and the Red Robinson Theatre Box Office.
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