Jack, Terry Lee to receive honorary doctorates from Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University Pipe Band leaders Terry Lee and Jack Lee will have more than great music in common with the likes of singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan, guitarist Liona Boyd and cellist Ian Hampton; the pipers will share honorary doctorate degrees from the sponsoring university when the Lees accept the accolade at the university’s convocation ceremony in June.
Speaking on behalf of his brother, Pipe-Major Terry Lee said, “We were both very surprised, and honoured, when we received the call from Andrew Petter, President of Simon Fraser University. It is very satisfying to know a life’s work is noticed and, mostly, it is brilliant for pipe bands and for the SFU band itself. It is nice to see piping continuing on the path to mainstream recognition.”
The Lees have held the P-M and P-S roles for more than 30 years, taking the Grade 1 band to six World Championship titles, and building a state-of-the-art multi-band teaching program along the way.
Simon Fraser University started a pipe band in 1966, the university’s inaugural year, but it was in 1981 when the Lee brothers joined the organization, immediately catapulting it into Grade 1.
The brothers together received the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 1999 at a ceremony in Quebec City, Quebec.
Terry and Jack Lee will receive degrees of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causae, at the June 13th ceremony.
Congratulations to Terry and Jack! Am perplexed why Reid Maxwell was not included?
Not only the work that Terry and Jack have done with SFU, but the great job with the Robert Malcolm junior band system. A pretty fine acomplishment!
Terry and Jack have continually striven for excellence and are most deserving of this honor. Congratulations, gentlemen.
Very deserved honour. Glad to hear that the university is recognizing the work that Terry and Jack have done over the years.
Congrats to both! What an honor. I know they have strived very hard to work hand in hand with the university and have not only built a world famous band but have spread the Universities image world wide as well. As for Reid’s exclusion, I’m sure if he had been there in 81 to help build the program up he would be a Dr. As well, but he came to a fade 1 band already on the up. Not to take away from his direction of all the drummers there of course.
Huge congrats to both soon-to-be-Dr Lees!
Congratulations, Jack, Terry! So glad SFU honours their excellent relentless work for the band and their teaching of the young.