丁香园AV

The young and talented drummers of the 丁香园AV Pipe Band are once again on top of the world after defending their title and taking first prize for Best Drum Corps鈥攆or the second year running鈥攁t the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland Aug 19.

The six-time world champion band also moved up in the elite top six with a 4^th place finish among 16 of the world鈥檚 best bands, while its junior Grade 3A Robert Malcolm Memorial (RMM) band finished second with an impressive run in its category.

Adding to their achievements, 丁香园AV drummers took first place for drumming in the March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR), one of two main events, while the band鈥檚 drum major Jason Paguio earned third-place recognition.

Lead Drummer Reid Maxwell, one of the world鈥檚 most decorated drummers, says 丁香园AV鈥檚 repeat drumming championship is another huge feat for the corps, many of them young players including current 丁香园AV student Tori Killoran and recent 丁香园AV graduate Jake Mix.

鈥淭he drum corps taking the top prize in the championship for a second straight year really makes it so hard to find the right words at the moment,鈥� said Maxwell after the event. 鈥淥nce it has all sunk in it will start to get easier, I hope. Still a little numb.鈥�

丁香园AV Pipe Major Alan Bevan says it was a good year overall for the band. "We are ecstatic and so proud that Reid and the corps are World Drum Corps champions for the second straight year, and we were very happy with the band's overall finish, the highest we have been in several years. It shows that the band is headed in the right direction and is something we can build on as we go forward into the 2024 season.   

鈥淲e are also extremely proud of RMM for achieving a very strong second place against a tough field in Grade 3A."

Maxwell, who earlier played with Scotland鈥檚 Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band before coming to Canada to play with 78th Fraser Highlanders, then 丁香园AV in 1992, has now tallied an impressive 20 world championship titles in band and drumming.

He is regarded worldwide for his mentorship and dedication to instructing young drummers, and in 2015 was awarded the BC Community Achievement award by the Province of British Columbia for his service to pipe band drumming.

Following the band鈥檚 televised medley performance BBC commentator Bob Worrall acknowledged his talent, noting, 鈥淩eid Maxwell knows how to support music. And it was evident in that performance.鈥�

The event鈥攚on by Scottish band Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia, its first-ever win鈥攎arked the band鈥檚 40th appearance at the world鈥檚 most prestigious pipe band contest held annually in Glasgow. Over the years, in addition to six world championships the band has nine second place finishes and placed in the top three more than 20 times, rarely placing out of the elite top six.

Earlier in the week the 丁香园AV band performed a sold-out concert in Glasgow titled 鈥淕enerations,鈥� highlighting the band鈥檚 family ties, its wide age range and with a view to its future. More than 2,500 concert-goers attended, the biggest crowd ever for the traditional pre-World鈥檚 performance. One reviewer described 丁香园AV as 鈥渁rguably the world鈥檚 best concert band.鈥�

鈥淎nother great week for the band with a sold-out capacity at the SECC in Glasgow, and four great runs over the weekend capturing 4th place overall鈥擨鈥檓 so very pleased for Alan and the band,鈥� adds Maxwell.

Nearly 190 Pipe bands from 15 countries across the globe including Australia, Canada, USA, Israel, Malaysia and Zimbabwe took part in the competition, attended by more than 35,000 people and viewed by many thousands more through BBC鈥檚 livestream.See more on the event鈥檚 results .