NWJPBÂ Grade 4 took first place of seven pipe bands at the Tacoma Highland Games on Saturday June 23rd. NWJPB Grade 5 played for comments and were well received by the crowd and the judges. Video has been uploaded to the NWJPB Myspace page.
The hard work of all the youth musicians in the band is paying off, the level of musicianship is growing, the band roster is growing to nearly 40, and the band looks forward to the World Pipe Band Championships in 2008 more and more with each passing competition.
The NWJPB Quartet also took first place. Led by Band Director Kevin Auld, with Matt M, PM - age 17, Aaron S, age 12, and Alexander S, age 11. Solo results will be posted soon on the NWJPB results page. TWO solo competitors won “most promising piper” and a $100.00 scholarship from the Charles McNeil Memorial Piping Scholarship Fund; Matt A. in Grade 5 and Aaron S. in Grade 4. This fund is maintained by Margaret Nelson, the daughter of our founder Charlie McNeil. To support the scholarship program, contact The Charles McNeill Memorial Piping Scholarship Fund, 720 S Proctor St Tacoma, WA 98405
Thanks to all of the volunteers and the judges who travelled some distance to participate, NWJPB members had a great day at the games, the first time we’ve been able to attend since 2004 due to timing conflicts with the BC Highland Games (Tacoma is the 4th weekend in June, BC is the last weekend in June). Jeff Brewer was there judging; along with his wife Robbie and other important instructors & volunteers they lead the Sir James McDonald Pipe Band based in Portland, OR and stage a yearly “Highland Muscal Arts” camp for pipers and drummers which many NWJPB members attend in July. This talented juvenile pipe band was promoted from Grade 4 to Grade 3 last year, and regularly travels to Glasgow for the World Pipe Band Championships.
“Blood on the Flat Track; The Rise of the Rat City Roller Girls” premiered Thursday night to a near-capacity crowd in the Neptune Theatre. We only saw about 20 open seats. What an exciting organization the Rat City Roller Girls are, completely volunteer run, all “business” positions taken on by women, incredible characters, from the “star” of the Blue Moon Tavern sign (and still their bartender) to scientists and mathematicians and women from all walks of life, one thing was certain–they’re passionate about their sport, working 20 to 40 hours a week on their organization and training.
Northwest Junior Pipe Band did make an appearance in the film, appearing on screen for around 5 seconds, but the tune that was played leading the team onto the flat track played through the next 30 seconds or so. What an entertaining show! There is a bit of language and some “adult themes” that may be objectionable to parents, but it was a great grass-roots movie about a fun grass-roots organization!
See reviews in the Stranger and the Seattle Weekly.
The Tartan Thistle has been a long time supporter (and supplier) of Northwest Junior Pipe Band, and recently experienced a signficant loss of property and inventory due to a “suspected” arsonist who has been attacking residents of Whidbey Island.
Angus MacDonald and Maureen Lee had been renovating the home on the same property as their business, and were literally days away from insuring it when the arsonist struck. The news story from King 5 television indicates they had invested $100,000 in the home. They “trooped on” and attended the Bellingham Highland Games, where their familiar yellow banner was flying above their tent offering all of the supplies you could possibly imagine. There’s very little that can be done to repair the loss they’ve experienced, but we encourage you to support their business.
View the story here:
Three unique, entertaining, and successful and Seattle area non-profit organizations
Shoreline, WA
What do Roller Derby, Film Festivals and Pipe Bands have in common? A history of growth, success and entertainment! Although the scale of influence of each of these organizations varies significantly, each contributes an important and incredibly unique value to the Pacific Northwest. Northwest Junior Pipe Band lead “The Socket Wenches” onto the track in their winning championship bout at the Rat City Roller Girls in 2006, and there is brief footage of Northwest Junior Pipe Band in the new film “Blood on the Flat Track: The Rise of the Rat City Roller Girls” premiering at the Seattle International Film Festival on Thursday, June 14th, 9:30 PM at the Neptune Theatre.
Tickets to the show are available online through www.seattlefilm.org. An encore screening will also play on Saturday June 16th at 1:30 PM. Seattle’s Rat City Roller Girls have grown rapidly since 2004, building on their incredibly popular entertainment and savvy volunteer marketing during the same time that Northwest Junior Pipe Band has also grown from around 10 to more than 35 members learning and playing the pipes and drums, fielding two competition bands for the first time in 2007 and announcing plans to travel to the World Championships in 2008.
Seattle International Film Festival has grown to become the largest festival of its kind in the United States with an attendance last year of over 150,000! Rat City Roller Girls is the biggest and most successful Roller Derby organization in Washington, and Northwest Junior Pipe Band is the biggest and most successful youth pipe band in Washington.
Northwest Junior Pipe Band fielded two competition pipe bands for the first time in our 12 year history at the Bellingham Highland Games Saturday, June 2nd, 2007. Grade 4 took 4th of 5 bands, with two judges ranking us 3rd. Grade 5 (beginner level youth bands) took first place, with unanimous ranking by the judges!
In addition, NWJPB held a “feeding frenzy” providing lunch for Sir James McDonald Pipe Band, White Spot Pipe Band, and Fraser Valley Youth Pipe Bands. We had a volunteer (thanks to Karen Gayle, our new Instrument Quartermaster!!) offering massages in our information tent, and we were offering “Future Piper” and “Future Drummer” temporary tattoos. It’s going to be a great competition season for NWJPB, stay tuned! Continue Reading »
