Four-Time World Champions
SFU Pipe Band Heading Back to Compete in Glasgow
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - On June 23, Canada's four-time world champion pipe band - the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Pipe Band - performed at the beautiful Red Robinson Show Theatre situated in the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam. This concert was their only Vancouver-area concert performance of the year.
The most outstanding characteristic of this award-winning pipe band is their professionalism. There is perfect timing and polish right down to their new blue socks matching the blue in their kilts.
This excellence is due to the guidance of Pipe Major Terry Lee. Interestingly, it is with the various tempos of his feet which he directs the band when he is engaged in piping. Brother Jack Lee is the Pipe Sergeant for the band.
The SFU Pipe Band was initially formed in 1966 and then reformed under the leadership of the Lee brothers in 1981. After much hard work and dedicated leadership and talent, the SFU Pipe Band is one of the most outstanding pipe bands in the world and one of the most accomplished pipe bands ever outside the British Isles.
From marches, jigs, reels, strathspeys and pop music to the more reflective pipe pieces, it is amazing the different sounds that the bagpipe can produce...especially in the hands of professionals.
Drummer Stephen McWhirter is awesome, and can only be described as the Michael Flatley of drummers. His speed and dexterity are amazing. Born in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, he joined the band five years ago.
At 23 years old, McWhirter has been successful in both solo and band circles. He won the Under 15 World Solo in 1997 and 1998, the All-Ireland and Ulster Junior Solos in 2002, and the All-Ireland and Intermediate Solos in 2004.
He was sixth in the 2005 World Solos and in 2006, Stephen won the North American Gold Medal Drumming, the All-Ireland Senior title, and capped that with the World Solo Drumming Championship! Stephen was also part of the winning Grade One drum corps in 2004 with the SFU Pipe Band...pretty impressive!
Also, many of the SFU band members are outstanding individual competitors, winning gold and silver medals at the world's top solo piping and drumming competitions in Scotland.
The concert also featured many talented locals Celtic musicians, including David MacVittie; fiddler, Shona Le Mottee; Robert Menzies; and Boris Favre.
In August, the SFU Pipe Band is off to Scotland once again to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. We send our very best wishes for success and hopefully they will return as five-time world champions! Watch The Celtic Connection for updates.
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