pictured: Alastair Lee, Zephan Knichel, Cameron Bonar, Seumas Coyne, Alan Bevan, Jeanette & Kate Bonar.
The 2024 Boney Music Memorial Invitational Piping Competition and Recital was held Saturday, March 9, 2024 in the impressive Anderson Room at the Seaforth Armoury, located at 1650 Burrard Street in Vancouver, B.C. The B.C. Pipers’ Association organizes the event annually as requested by Andrew Bonar to continue the legacy of Boney Music; giving professional pipers a platform to share their talents, while raising awareness and funds for Brain Cancer Research through the B.C. Cancer Foundation. The crowd of well over one hundred in attendance and those joining through the high quality Facebook livestream were treated to outstanding performances and camaraderie.
The evening was once again, handily emceed by David Hilder. Andrew’s children Kate and Cameron Bonar started the evening sharing their accomplished talents. Cameron, at only 16 has just finished a very successful amateur career, in 2023 capturing these titles: George Sherriff Memorial Amateur Invitational Overall Champion, Piping Live! Pipe Idol Champion, Argyllshire Gathering Intermediate Champion, Northern Meeting Under 18 Piobaireachd Champion. In January he started his Open Piping debut, in Kansas City winning the North American Ceol Beag Champion title. Kate, a 5 time Canadian Highland Dance Champion and most recently a member of the Royal Edinburgh Military dance team performed this past August at the world renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, as well as the Simon Fraser University Generations Concert at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow. She danced a beautiful Blue Bonnets, accompanied by her brother on pipes. Kate spoke to the audience, thanking them for their support and honouring Andrew’s legacy through this important event.
The performances of each competitor, was dynamic with their own unique sound, musical selections and spectacular skill. Seumas Coyne, Claremon,t CA, Alastair Lee, Port Coquitlam, BC, P/M Alan Bevan, Abbostsford, BC, and Zephan Knichel, Lynwood, WA. The tune requirements were taken from the original competition from 2016. Each contestant played a ground of a Piobaireachd, at least one tune composed by Andrew Bonar, at least two-two parted strathspeys, one tune written by a Canadian composer not from B.C., at least one four part 6/8 March, all of each piper’s choosing. Alan Bevan was declared the winner after careful deliberations from the secret panel in the audience. Alan has claimed the title three of the last four years.
On behalf of the British Columbia Pipers’ Association, thank you to all who supported and took part in this year’s 2024 Boney Music Memorial Invitational Competition & Recital, in the quest to fundraise for Brain Cancer Research in memory, of Andrew Bonar. Special thank you to all the contestants, the audience, the Bonar & Jamieson families, Sam Bourne from the B.C. Cancer Foundation, the Seaforth Armoury, emcee David Hilder, and the Livestream team of Garth Newlands and Rob MacNeil.
We have currently raised $6,575 for the B.C. Cancer Foundation! There is still time to donate, using this link: BC Cancer Donation Page
If you would like to (re)watch the event, please visit the BCPA Facebook for the recording.
Again, THANK YOU!