SFU Pipe Band

The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band is a Grade One pipe band affiliated with Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. The band has consistently placed in the top three in world competition since the early ‘90s and has won the Grade One World Pipe Band Championships six times: 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2008, and 2009. SFUPB is one of only three bands located outside of the United Kingdom that have won a World Pipe Band Championship. In addition, the band has placed second eight times, finishing in the top two in the world in 14 of its 25 years. SFUPB regularly competes in Highland Games competitions sanctioned by the British Columbia Pipers Association in the Pacific Northwest before traveling to Scotland in August for the World Pipe Band Championships. The band wears our own new and custom tartan - the Simon Fraser University tartan. The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band was formed in 1966 during the university’s inaugural year. Over the years it has become a respected institution in the community and has brought fame to BC with its capture of national and international prizes. Led by Pipe Major Terry Lee and Lead Drummer J. Reid Maxwell and wearing the Ancient Clan Fraser tartan, the band consists of a talented core of over forty players. In 1982, the band won the Grade 1 North American Championship, the top prize on the continent. In August 1995 at Glasgow, Scotland, the band captured the ultimate prize on the globe, the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship. A year later, the band returned to Scotland and captured the title again, becoming the first pipe band from outside the United Kingdom to win the World Championship more than once. In 1999, the band regained the World Championship title, winning the World Drum Corps Championship in the process, and followed that up with another Worlds win 2 years later in 2001. In 2001, SFU also won the Australian Pipe Band Championship during a tour to New Zealand and Australia. In both 2008 and 2009 the band won not only the World Pipe Band Championships but also the World Drum Corps Championship - an outstanding accomplishment for a band outside of the UK. It was during the band's trip to Scotland in August, 2009 that the band recorded its eleventh album titled “Affirmation” at a sold-out, standing room only, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. This trip is documented on our latest DVD titled "Battle of the Bagpipes" which is available from our online store at http://www.sfupb.com/store/music In all, the band has produced twelve recordings and three concert/documentary videos. In June 1996, the band released its first live album, “Alive in America”. On February 20, 1998, the band performed in concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City. This concert marked the first time a pipe band has performed a concert at this prestigious venue. This debut performance was recorded and released in June 1998 as “Simon Fraser University Pipe Band – Live at Carnegie Hall”. Both these concerts are captured in the band’s videos “The Legacy: The Road to Carnegie Hall and Beyond” and “Alive in America – The Concert”. In April 2001 the SFU Pipe Band recorded a CD live at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, “Down Under”. After this string of 3 live recordings in different parts of the world, the band decided to do things closer to home and produced two recordings both in studio and in front of a live audience at SFU in 2005. These were released as “On Home Ground, Volumes I and II” in 2005 and 2006. In 2012 the band returned to New York and recorded its eleventh cd titled "Live from New York City". This album features top class piping mixed with unique and contemporary musical twists. Check out our online store to get your copy of each of our CDs including our latest release! Throughout its history, the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band has done its best to bring to the University, British Columbia and Canada a pipe band that has broken through barriers and reached new heights. The university motto truly indicates this determination: Nous Sommes Prêts (We are Ready). Official Facebook Page of the six-time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.