When the best pipe bands in the world gather in Scotland next weekend, representatives of the Royal City will be in their tartan-clad ranks.
The Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band, based in New Westminster, is a Grade 1 concert and competition band drawing award-winning pipers and drummers from Canada, the U.S., Australia and Denmark.
It's based right here in the Royal City - practising at Douglas College, the Masonic Hall and Hume Park - and brings together 45 top players.
Among them are four from New Westminster: Craig Matthews, Fiona Senyk, Hal Senyk and Terrance Cadiente.
The Triumph Street Pipe Band, sponsored by the Dowco Group of Companies, was established in 1971 and holds the honour of being the first band outside of Scotland to win a major world championship title. That was in 1979, when it placed fifth overall in the world and took 'The Sash' for top drum corps in the world.
The band brings some impressive history to its quest for the world title.
It's currently led by Pipe Major David Hilder, Drum Sergeant Andre Tessier and Pipe Sergeant Shaunna Hilder - all three formerly of the six-time world champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.
In 2010, the Triumph Street Pipe Band performed on 57 separate occasions as the official pipe band of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
In June 2012, the band released its debut CD, With Purpose, in celebration of its 40th anniversary.
In August the same year, the band won the Grade 1 qualifier at the world pipe band championships for the second year in a row, sweeping both piping and drumming with first-place finishes. In the final, the band finished eighth overall.
In May of this year, one of the band's drum majors, Kevin Conquest, won the 2013 Canadian drum major championships in Victoria.
"The band is proud to be one of the top two bands in North America for the second year in a row and looks forward to a fun and exciting 2013 world pipe band championships," the release says.
The world pipe band championships are on in Glasgow Aug. 17 and 18.
For more on the Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band, see www.triumphstreetpipeband.com.
For more on the world pipe band championships, see www.theworlds.co.uk.
