Relief, exhaustion, excitement and pride are just some of the words that define the last competition of the season for the dedicated and talented youth of Northwest Junior Pipe Band. Besides placing first in band and 1st in drumming against 6 bands in a unanimous ranking by four judges, NWJPB volunteers ran a fundraising food booth selling Bangers, Hot Dogs, Burgers (Beef, Garden, and Turkey), and Root Beer Floats really chipped in and made it a successful fundraising event to support the band’s planned trip to Scotland in 2008. Band members gathered around to watch competitors, cheering them on and high 5’s were widely exchanged as many competitors ended up placing in their events. Enthusiasm and support ran very high as young pipers and drummers displayed their skill for the last competition of the season. There were several first time high placings for band members who have worked hard all summer to improve their art.
NWJPB wishes to congratulate the Washington Scottish Pipe Band Quartet for placing 1st in the Quartet competition, featuring a former NWJPB member who just this year was promoted to Grade 3 piping, and this year finished in 8th place overall in the BC Pipers Association, likely securing a promotion to Grade 2 due to such a successful competition season in a challenging new grade. The NWJPB Quartet finished the season with two first place finishes and one second place.
Young musicians in the NWJPB competition bands from age 8 to 18, averaging 13 have a lot to be proud of this year. The Grade 4 competition band is ranked 4th of 18 bands in the BC Pipers’ Association, 2nd place in the Washington State Championships, 2nd at the Portland Highland Games and 1st at Tacoma and Whidbey Island. NWJPB Grade 5 finished the season undefeated in BC Pipers-sanctioned competitions. A solid volunteer, recruiting, and teaching program supports the young members of the band to attain goals that surprise many. Next year, NWJPB travels to Scotland to compete in the World Championships; the first youth band from Washington State to travel to Scotland for band competitions since 1969.
Finally, NWJPB were cheered by seeing the cover of the Shoreline Journal Newspaper mailed to tens of thousands of homes in the city of Shoreline and nearby communities featuring a nearly full page photo of the band from 2006, titled “Everyone loves a parade” where pipe band and parade fans are reminded of NWJPB’s upcoming participation in the “Celebrate Shoreline” parade.
More photos from the Whidbey Island Highland Games and more detailed results will be posted soon, both on the NWJPBlog and www.nwjpb.org.
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