Surrey Pipe Band celebrates 25 years with a 2027 Australia tour. Join Cedar Hills Caledonian as they share Scottish music and culture abroad.
A milestone celebration
Surrey’s acclaimed Cedar Hills Caledonian Pipe Band (CHCPB) is gearing up to mark 25 years of sharing Scottish culture, with a headline-making tour to Australia scheduled for March 2027. Founded in 2003 and granted society status in 2006, the non-profit band based in North Surrey has grown from humble beginnings at the Whalley Legion into a multi-program organisation offering piping, drumming and highland dance.
Preparing for the journey
Taking place in late March during the Easter window, the tour will see CHCPB travelling to Brisbane, Australia and neighbouring regions of Queensland, and possibly featuring at the renowned Maclean Highland Games. Band Secretary Alison Young says the planning horizon is long but the preparation has already begun. “We’re starting the fundraising now,” she states, noting the cost of air travel, instruments and logistics for an international contingent. Pipe Major Garth Newlands leads weekly rehearsals at The Neighbourhood Church (12642 100 Ave) on Tuesday evenings.
Building the ensemble
Currently numbering approximately 16 active members, the band is recruiting new adult pipers and drummers ahead of the anniversary tour. Young emphasises that CHCPB welcomes participants of all backgrounds and abilities, especially adult learners who might find most pipe bands geared toward youth. Several newer members—including Cameron Einarson (started 2022), Murray Muir and Roy Campbell (chanter since spring 2024)—joined after exposure to pipe bands via family, community events or online research. They describe the commitment: mastering chanter technique, bag pressure, drones and sustaining lung stamina for piping performance.
Local rehearsals and personal stories
Rehearsals on 21 October found Young, Einarson, Muir and Campbell gathered around a table practicing pipe chanters. Einarson explained how his background—having played trombone in school—required a steep learning curve when switching to pipes: “You have to learn to read music, understand embellishments… then on the pipes you must squeeze the bag, keep drone pressure, your lungs aren’t used to that.” Muir and Campbell, practising respectively in Aldergrove (in the park) and near Vancouver’s Stanley Park, adapt their schedules to fit adult life and work commitments, underlining how the band accommodates adult learners and change-of-career enthusiasts.
Cultural mission and community role
Beyond the milestone tour, CHCPB continues to serve its mission: “sharing and celebrating Scottish culture with the broader public through performances,” as noted by Young. The band performs at parades, highland games, festivals, public services and private functions throughout the year in the region. Their non-profit status enables community outreach, adult education in piping and drumming, and a bridge between Scottish heritage and the broader Canadian cultural mosaic.
How to get involved and travel details
Interested adult pipers or drummers can contact the band during their Tuesday-night rehearsals in North Surrey. The tour page (chcpb.ca/brisbane-2027) provides details about the Australia trip. “We’ll be joining a local host pipe band in Brisbane and exploring the vibrant east coast of Queensland around Easter 2027,” the website notes, with an invitation to community supporters and performers: “Plans may even include a featured appearance at the legendary Maclean Highland Games — you won’t want to miss out on this opportunity.”
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