'Dream come true'

'Dream come true' – SFU Pipe Band crowned world champions

The SFU Pipe Band has been crowned World Champions for the first time in 17 years after a sensational performance at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.

The two-day competition saw the SFU Pipe Band compete against more than 200 other bands from across the world.

It is the first time since 2010 that a band from outside the United Kingdom has won the World Championship, with the SFU band last claiming the title in 2009.

Pipe major Alan Bevan says: “It has been a long time coming. We certainly knew we played really well and we were hoping to get a strong finish. To actually win is stunning and a pretty huge achievement.

“The standard of competition has been climbing every year, it was a really strong field, super competitive.

“It was really exciting to be playing in front of so many people in a park in the middle of Glasgow. When you go out to perform it’s quite the rush.”

The ‘Worlds’ – renowned as the pinnacle of the global piping calendar – brought together the best pipers and drummers on the planet to compete in one of the world’s most prestigious music competitions.

Thousands of performers, representing 14 countries, entertained 35,000 spectators and supporters across two days of music, tradition and spectacle.

“It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s something that you dream about when you start playing for pipe bands,” says Craig Sutherland, pipe sergeant, who has been in the role for one year and met his wife in the SFU band.

“We were really happy with the performances. We wanted to have four great runs and we felt like we delivered.”

It is the seventh time the SFU band has won the competition; they are just one of just four bands outside the UK to ever take top spot and their victory even drew praise from Prime Minister Mark Carney.

211 bands from 14 countries — and Canadians are taking home the trophy 🇨🇦 Congratulations to the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. The first champions from outside the UK in 16 years. https://t.co/2jDf4sMuSG

While many members of the SFU community know the band from its appearances at convocation and other university ceremonies, the championships have brought the band into the global limelight.

Audiences all over the world were able to watch live coverage from the championships on Friday and Saturday via online streaming.

The band’s former pipe sergeant, Jack Lee, tuned in to watch the competition with his family in Surrey.

“We could not possibly be prouder, they played superbly in all four events,” says Lee, who retired last year after five decades with the SFU Pipe Band.

“When the results came out, we were keeping our fingers crossed. The world championships are very difficult to win, this is the very top level. To win it is a huge historic accomplishment.”

The SFU band consists of people coming from all walks of life – teachers, engineers, lawyers, tradespeople, SFU students – with some players travelling from overseas to be a part of the band.

“It is all volunteer-led. People commit a tremendous amount of time to practising and rehearsing,” adds Sutherland.

“It’s thanks to this commitment that we are able to make this incredible achievement.”

Scottish bands led the way in terms of numbers at the championships, with 125 bands. Northern Ireland had the second-largest contingent, with 26 bands, followed by the US with 19.

The event is delivered by Glasgow Life, on behalf of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.

Colin Mulhern, chief executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, says: “This year’s World Championships provided a truly thrilling and fiercely contested competition. Huge congratulations go to the 2026 World Pipe Band Champions, Simon Fraser University, on securing the Grade 1 global title.

“Every band that took part can be immensely proud of their performances. They delivered a fantastic competition and demonstrated the dedication, commitment, skill and talent that continue to make the world of pipe band competition so special.”

The SFU Pipe Band Society is the musical ambassador for SFU. The organization includes the SFU Pipe Band and the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band, a youth development program that helps aspiring pipers and drummers advance their skills.

For more than four decades, the SFU Pipe Band has represented the university around the world. The band has performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Last year, it led a collection of pipers and drummers across Canada performing at the opening ceremonies of the Invictus Games in Vancouver.