SFU makes off-season moves, concert confirmed

The 2008 World Pipe Band Champions, Simon Fraser University, have confirmed that the band will take the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall stage for the 2009 “Pre-World’s” show, considered by many as the most prestigious pipe band concert event of the year.

 

According to Pipe-Major Terry Lee, the show, entitled “Affirmation,” will feature “both new and retrospective material.” Lee said that guest musicians are “likely” but as yet unconfirmed. Tickets for the concert go on sale starting in January during the Celtic Connections music festival in Glasgow.

 

Also confirmed was news already familiar to many, that Gold Medallist Stuart Liddell and 2006 World Solo Drumming Champion Steven McWhrter have officially left the band to commit full-time to the Inveraray & District Pipe Band, which was promoted to Grade 2 after the 2008 season, as pipe-major and leading-drummer, respectively.

 

“We’re extremely happy and excited for Stuart and Steven, grateful for their years of loyal membership and hard work in the band,” Lee said. “[We] wish them nothing but the best with Inveraray & District! We would not bet against their appearance in Grade 1 before long.”

Lee also said that Liddell and McWhrter’s spots of the SFU roster have been filled by two top players. Piper Xavier Boderiou of Brittany and drummer Peter Hendrickson of Calgary have joined. Boderiou played with House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead in 2008 and Hendrickson has served as Leading-Drummer of the Grade 1 Alberta Caledonian for several years. “Overall numbers remain very strong,” Lee said.

 

The Pre-World’s Concert has been organized and promoted by the Grade 2 Phoenix Honda-Glasgow Skye Pipe Band since 1990. Tickets to the concert are £17.50.