The BC Pipers’ Association in partnership with The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada is proud to announce the RSPBA Pacific Rim Adult Solo Snare Drumming Championship will take place Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Seaforth Armoury Vancouver, BC.
As part of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s eight-contest Champion of Champions League, the British Columbia Pipers Association is pleased to release some initial details of the RSPBA Pacific Rim Drumming Championship.
The competition, presented by the British Columbia Pipers’ Association and hosted by The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026. This prestigious event will take place in the Anderson Room at the Seaforth Armoury, 1650 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B.C.
This event offers North American drummers an opportunity to qualify for the World Solo Drumming Championships taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, October, 2026. The winner of the event will win the J.Reid Maxwell Medal, styled with an orange ribbon as a tip of the hat to Maxwell’s signature orange ball cap.
RSPBA Adjudicators: Ian Lawson, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, N. Ireland and Duncan Millar, Vancouver, B.C.
RSPBA Pacific Rim Adult Solo Snare Drumming Competition Admission
RSPBA Pacific Rim Adult Solo Snare Drumming Qualifier Cash Prize Awards, First – Fourth: TOTAL $1100
- 1st place $500 J. Reid Medal sponsored by J. Reid Maxwell
- 2nd place $300 sponsored by Taking No Shortcuts
- 3rd place $200 sponsored by Taking No Shortcuts
- 4th place $100 sponsored by Hall
The BCPA Open Drumming Competitions are:
Open Hornpipe and Jig sponsored by Winifred Hall
- 1st place $500
- 2nd place $300
- 3rd place $200
Open Compound March drumming set – Eight parts to included two compound time signatures – 6/8, 9/8 or 12/8 sponsored by Gwendolen Hall
- 1st place $500
- 2nd place $300
- 3rd place $200
Prize money for Open events will be awarded to the first three places.
Overall Prize Awards for all three combined events:
- 1st place $1000
- 2nd place $500
- 3rd place $250
RSPBA Adjudicators
Ian Lawson
I am from Lurgan, Co. Armagh in Northern Ireland. I started playing drums at the age of 9 with my family band ‘Waringsford Pipe Band’ under initial instruction from Sandy Steele. I then progressed under the tutelage of the Rev. Frank Gibson who developed all aspects of my playing within the band and solo’s, both musicality and technique wise and I had quite a return on this by winning numerous titles at various band and solo levels.
Due to work commitments I had to take a 5-year sabbatical before returning to playing drums with the Pipes and Drums of the RUC, before moving to take over L/D position with ‘Bleary and District’ which was my home town band. In that period that band was very successful and went from G4 to G1 in 8 years winning various Major championships along the way.
In January 2007 I was very fortunate and honoured to be invited to play with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, where I spent 7 very successful years under Terry Lee and Reid Maxwell, culminating in winning the World championship and Drum corps prize in 2008 and 2009.
My next move was to play with Inveraray and District, under Stuart Liddell and Steven McWhirter which was a natural progression on the style of music I had been accustomed to over my stint within SFU, and again I was very fortunate to win the Grade 1 World Championship ‘The Spike’ on four occasions, 2017, 2019, 2024, and 2025 and the Drumming ‘Sash’ in 2017, and 2025.
I actively teach and advise bands, solo students on a regular basis, at home and across the world, conducting workshops, and now recently full time RSPBA Adjudicator Panel.
Duncan Millar
Duncan began Scottish drumming in 1983 at the House of Scotland Pipe Band in San Diego and joined the Los Angeles Scottish Pipe Band in 1990. In 1996, Duncan became Drum Sergeant and the band won the grade two world pipe band championships and best drum corps in 1997.
Duncan attended law school in Seattle, joined the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and won the World Pipe Band Championships and World Drum Corps Champions four times each. He played snare and percussion in concerts at Carnegie Hall, Sidney Opera House, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Massey Hall, Rebecca Cohn theatre, John Batman theatre, and other great venues.
In the off-seasons, Duncan traveled to drum in South America and New Zealand, and won national pipe band championships as a guest player in the Canterbury Caledonia, New Zealand Police, and South American Pipers Association pipe bands.
Duncan retired from pipe band competition after the 2017 season, becoming a drumming and ensemble adjudicator with the British Columbia Pipers’ Association and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
Duncan is a U.S. business immigration lawyer in Seattle and Vancouver.
BCPA Adjudicators:
Cameron Reid, Vancouver, B.C.
Cam started snare drumming at the age of 10 with the Comox Valley Pipe Band in Courtenay, BC, taking lessons from Robbie Collins in Nanaimo. In 2001, he began taking lessons with Reid Maxwell and joined the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band, winning the World Championships twice (in the Juvenile and Grade 2 categories). He also placed 3rd in 18 and under category at the World Solo Drumming Championships.
Cam spent several years with the Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band, including a short tenure as lead drummer. He subsequently returned to the SFU organization, joining SFUPB in the fall of 2016 along with his wife, Jessica, with whom he now shares 2 wonderful children (George and Gwen). Since joining SFUPB, the band has featured in the prize list at the Worlds each year, including back-to-back titles as the World’s best drum corps in 2022 and 2023.
Cam works as a Tax Director at a CPA firm in Vancouver, BC. He is also a qualified BCPA adjudicator and snare drumming instructor.
Doors open at 10 AM. Competition begins at 11:00 AM. Admission is $10 for spectators. Competitors and accompanying pipers are free.
If you are interested in making a donation to support this event, please use the link below. The BC Pipers’ Association is a registered charity #889778197RR0001, all donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt.
Donate to Pacific Rim Drumming Competition
