Contact:
Jack Lee, in Stirling, 011-44-0798-213-3152 (cell)
Marianne Meadahl, (PAMR) in Stirling, 011-44-0751-246-3673; Marianne_Meadahl@sfu.ca

Photos: http://at.sfu.ca/fRntay (Brian, in centre)
http://at.sfu.ca/kpPrtR (Brian)
http://at.sfu.ca/krZFCE (Brian, right, beside pipe major Rob Menzies)
http://at.sfu.ca/THmwLZ (Graham)

Two Langley brothers have more to look forward to than a chance to be World Champions next weekend with the Simon Fraser University junior Robert Malcolm Memorial Band.

Currently in Scotland and preparing to compete with the Grade 3 band at the international contest on Aug. 11, Brian and Graham Haddon have been called up to the elite Grade 1 band, effective the day after the Worlds.

“It’s pretty exciting,” says Brian Haddon, a 10-year piper with the SFU junior band, who has for the past several years played at various occasions with the elite group. He got the news from Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee following the band’s 30^th anniversary concert at New York City’s Lincoln Center in May.

“Right after we performed he came up to me and said, ‘you’re in’,” recalls Haddon. “It was an incredible feeling.”

Graham is also a long-time Grade 3 band member with the drum corps – which finished first at a pre-Worlds competition at North Berwick on Saturday. The band as a whole placed second.

Both brothers started with RMM back in 2002 with its introduction to music class.

“We’re working hard towards a championship,” says Brian, hoping to complete his time with the junior band with a win. Mom Lori is an active band supporter and is currently in Scotland with them for the Worlds. She couldn’t be happier.

“They’ve both worked long and hard for this, I’m proud of them,” she says.

The band’s drum sergeant, Gavin MacRae, of Anmore, will also be moving up to the Gr. 1 band. MacRae accepted the drum corps’ first prize at the North Berwick contest from the Duke of Hamilton on Saturday.

Saturday marks the RMM Gr.3 band’s first Worlds in three years. They placed fourth in their last appearance in 2009 and have won four championships since the band began competing in 1997.They will compete this year in the higher Gr. 3A category.

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