Several of today’s hottest solo piping competitors had their start with the Northwest Junior Pipe Band. Most local pipers know who Micah Babinski is; whether for his skill as a composer (at age 14 he wrote “Afternoon at the Green Monster”, which has become one of the most popular hornpipes of the past year and popularized by the playing of Jack Lee of SFU), or as a solo competitor and adjudicator at WPA. Micah began his piping career with instruction from the Prince Charles Pipe Band of San Fransisco, then continued with Northwest Junior Pipe Band and private lessons with Kevin Auld. This year, Micah has become a rising star on the national solo scene, winning the George Sherriff Memorial Amateur Invitational Solo Piping Competition in Hamilton, Ontario last November. See the article on pipes|drums>>>
Blake Parkinson and Jonathan Farrell are two more NWJPB alumni seeing great success in Grade 1 currently. Blake (who also took lessons for a time from Band Director Kevin Auld) swept the Queen Mary Scottish Festival February 17th and 18th 2007 in Long Beach, CA placing first in Piobairechd, Jig/Hornpipe, and March, Strathspey and Reel. Jonathan Farrell has been placing well at competitions up and down the West coast, most recently following Blake Parkinson in 2nd both in Jig/Hornpipe and MSR, and 3rd in Piobairechd. Jonathan tied for Aggregate at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games 2006 with Micah and Colin Lee (Jack Lee’s son).
Looking back through the Highland Games results from 2006, Blake, Micah, and Jonathan placed consistently in the top 6 at nearly every highland games Grade 1 solo competition.
Micah, Blake and Jonathan were also part of a group referred to as the “I-5 gang” last year – where another band mate started in Vancouver WA, picking them all up on their way to RMM Grade 2 band practice in Vancouver BC every weekend. Micah has recently moved on to Simon Frasier University Pipe Band>>, while Blake and Jonathan have joined many of last year’s RMM Grade 2 performers in the ”updated” Triumph Street Pipe Band>>.
NWJPB wishes these talented alumni all the best during the upcoming competition season.
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