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It was a huge double-winner of a weekend for Piper Alan Bevan of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.

First, he played with the SFU band as it won its sixth world title—and second straight—at the world Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on Saturday.

Then Bevan himself went on to win the Master’s Invitational solo crown. Only eight pipers from around the world are invited to compete.

And he was one of two pipers from the SFU Pipe Band who were so honoured this year. The other was Jori Chisholm of Seattle.

Bevan, an Abbotsford resident and a 14-year member of the SFU Pipe Band, and Chisholm, an 11-year veteran of the band, had to face two arduous challenges, playing a set of Piobaireachd music and then a set of March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR).

All this against six other invited pipers who were billed by event organizers as “the crème de la crème of piping talent “ from around the world.

Piobaireachd is the classical solo Highland pipe music. (Think of a lone piper moving majestically across a Scottish skyline or on a castle tower.) It's pronounced pea'-broch, with the final 'ch' being that distinctive soft Scottish sound, not as in 'church', and not as a hard 'k'.  It usually involves a core theme with variations. It has a flow and pacing, but does not have to follow a precise beat.

An MSR set encompasses a march, and then two pieces of Highland dance music. The Strathspey often involves much melody, and (for a dance) some irregular timing. The reel is also dance music, but may be played somewhat slower than you'd expect. MSR can be played by a band or by a solo piper.

PHOTOS and VIDEOS

A still photo of Alan Bevan is downloadable at:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah18a00/n/alan_bevan_jpg
Please credit: Photo: BBC.co.uk

YouTube videos of Alan Bevan are at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVB884xF9k
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FcvWv9AbKI

A still photo of Jori Chisholm is downloadable at:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah18bf3/n/Jori_Chisholm_jpg
Please credit: BagpipeLessons.com

YouTube videos of Jori Chisholm are at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IizfLWoz30s
and
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R7qnELmw-0

Other still photos from the world championships are available for download:

Pipe Major Terry Lee with banner:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah18a13/n/TerryLee_jpg

SFU President Michael Stevenson with trophy:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah18a2a/n/Prez_trophy_jpg

Band marching on Glasgow Green:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah18a3g/n/marching_JPG

Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah18a34/n/JackLee_jpg

Band celebrates win:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah18a61/n/Excited_jpg

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