By Mike Chisholm
The British Columbia Pipers’ Association held their 6th annual Boney Music Memorial Invitational Competition and Recital on May 14. BC piper Zephan Knichel took the top prize.
Jeanette Bonar, wife of the late Andrew Bonar who started the event, and Andrew’s son Cameron, presented the award to Zephan who will have his name engraved on the trophy for his first win at the ‘Boney’. (See picture above.)
‘It was a great evening,’ said BCPA president Graham Davidson. ‘I was thrilled to see so many people out for this first live event in more than two years. It’s clear everyone wants to keep the memory of Andrew alive and to support his legacy.’
The relaxed competition invited the top grand aggregate pipers in the BCPA to play a medley of tunes determined by Andrew before he lost his battle with brain cancer in 2017.
This year an additional Ann Gray tune was required, in memory of Ann Gray’s daughter Robyn, a piper who also lost her battle with brain cancer recently. The BCPA has continued Andrew’s wish to hold the competition annually.
The evening started off with a special treat. Andrew’s 14-year old son Cameron, now a grade one piper, played for the large and appreciative audience of friends and piping aficionados at Vancouver’s Scottish Cultural Centre, the first public gathering of BCPA pipers in more than 800 days.
Along with upcoming solo competitions in North America, Cameron has plans to compete at the MacGregor Memorial Competition at the Argyllshire Gathering this summer.
‘Cameron was fantastic,’ added Graham. ‘We are thrilled that he has progressed in his piping career and that he can perform at the event in his father’s name. It made the evening even more special.’
SFU pipe major Alan Bevan took 2nd, with Gordon Conn, Alastair Lee and Jori Chisholm rounding out the competitors.
While the event has concluded for 2022, the BCPA continues to accept donations online for the BC Cancer Agency. Canadian charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more. Click HERE to donate.
