Simon Fraser University Pipe Band


*When and who formed the SFUPB?

On April 1, 1981 the City of Port Moody Legion Branch 119 Pipe Band under PM Terry Lee, PS Jack Lee, and LD Davie Bruce became the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.

At the time, SFU President George Pedersen wanted a more stable performing unit for the Convocation ceremony and asked Ian MacGregor of the Athletics department and John Buchanan, coach of the SFU soccer team to approach the band about becoming the SFU Pipe Band.

Prior to 1981, the SFU Pipe Band was a collection of SFU undergraduate students, who moved on after graduation, augmented with some local pipers and drummers who got together to perform for SFU events.

Memorable events from that period are two SFU pipers leading the procession for the first SFU Convocation 1967 (and still done to this day) and in 1975 the SFU Pipe Band played in the Grey Cup parade in Calgary.


* How many members do you currently have and where are most from?

42 members, primarily from the Metro  Vancouver area, with some players from Washington state, Vancouver Island, Alberta, Minnesota, Scotland, and New Zealand.


* Where and how often does the Band practise?

The band practices at the SFU Theatre (Diamond Family Auditorium) and various lecture halls around the University, depending on the semester's room bookings for university courses.

During the late spring and summer, the band practices outside in the Inner Courtyard of the Academic Quadrangle (one of the original buildings of the University).

Regular practices are Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings, with additional practices beginning in the mid-spring until the World Pipe Band Championships. 


* Current P/M and L/D?

Pipe Major Alan Bevan, Lead Drummer Reid Maxwell


* Any important achievements or milestones?

- 6 time World Pipe Band Champions
- 6 time World Drum Corps Champions
- Australian and North American Champions
- Created the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band youth development program in 1994, which was won 6 World Championships in Juvenile, and Grades 3A and 2
13 albums and 3 documentary videos
- Performed full length concerts and live albums at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Lincoln Center NYC including other concerts in Glasgow, Belfast, Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Worcester, Orlando, Christchurch NZ, Melbourne Australia, and other cities, and charity fundraising concerts for cancer societies at home and in Scotland.
- Conducted 15 Highland Arts Festival instructional weekends at SFU and venues across Canada and the US
- Performed in the Mormon Tabernacle in 2000 in a live US broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word"
- Performed for the 256-some Reel at SFU in 1988 which was acknowledged in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest Scottish Country Dancing Reel performance at the time 


* A little bit about your World's trip

Except for the pandemic years, the band has attended the World Pipe Band Championships every year since 1985 and this trip is similar to recent trips.


* Any other fun facts

For many years, the band has had the largest number of female players and family members of any Grade 1 band.
submitted by Rob MacNeil

“The BC Pipers’ Association wishes the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band every success on your musical journey- may your music speak the universal language that knows no borders, as you compete at the World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green this August 2025! Good Luck!”