Northwest Junior Pipe Band struggled through a grueling but fun weekend at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games Friday July 25th, through Sunday July 27th for the close to our North American season. NWJPB Grade IV had it’s most successful season ever at this level, with 4 first place, two second place, and 1 third place finishes. Grade V placed 1st in 4 events and 3rd at one. The growth in talent and success in competitions with the best bands in the Northwest has been exciting to watch.
First up was the Friday evening performance where NWJPB almost filled the enormous “stage” on the grass in front of the grandstands, the largest pipe band to perform Friday night. The picture below is them preparing to march in.
Immediately after the performance two pub piping competitors ran over to play a jig and hornpipe in front of the Pub at the amateur Jig and Hornpipe competition for pipers up to Grade 3. They ended up in 1st and 2nd place.
Saturday morning at 8:00 am the solo competitions started. Grade 4 side drumming: Morgan won 1st place, Amber 3rd place, Steven 5th place. Grade 3 piping, 2/4 March; Alexander 6th place. In Grade 4 piping, Matt A placed 2nd in group “B” and Sam placed 6th in group “A”. Congratulations to our Grade 5 drummers Josie, Robbie, Thomas and DJ for competing in a tough class of Grade 4 drummers. It takes a lot of courage to compete every time, but even more so when you’re competing at a higher grade level.
Alexander also placed 3rd in Grade 2 tenor drumming. NWJPB entered two Grade 4 Quartets, Matt A, Matt M, Alexander and Aaron’s quartet won first place, and Kevin Auld’s quartet with Katie, Devon and Elliot took 4th out of 10 quartets who signed up, and 7 who actually competed. NWJPB has won 1st place in Grade IV quartets for the past three years at these games. Grade V performed well on Saturday, winning 1st place and getting good comments. Grade 5 is preparing to compete in the below picture:
Grade 4 competed against 9 bands in Quick March Medley (similar to what we will play in Scotland). We ended up in third place against two other bands who are going to the World Championships this year. Keith Highlander pipers were also very strong in the Quick March Medley at the Skagit Valley Games, when we won on ensemble preference. They were just as strong if not stronger Saturday. White Spot Pipe Band has been pushing us while we pushed them all season and took second.
The youngest 5 band members of 22 bands at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games are pictured below:
At Massed Bands for closing ceremonies, former Secretary of State Ralph Munro asked if there were any kids 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 and younger. When he got to “9 or 10″ FIVE northwest Junior Pipe Band members came forward. “I’m Robbie, I’m 9, and I play with Northwest Junior Pipe Band.” “I’m Lochlynn, I’m 9 and I play with Northwest Junior Pipe Band.” “I’m Amber, I’m 9 and I play with Northwest Junior Pipe Band.” “I’m Josie, I’m 10, and I play with Northwest Junior Pipe Band” “I’m Evelyn, I’m 9, and I play with Northwest Junior Pipe Band”. These 5 were the youngest performers out of the 22 bands signed up for the games Saturday. It was a very proud moment for us at NWJPB, and the crowd seemed to really enjoy it. Each child received 5.00 and were told not to share it with their parents.
After the evening massed bands (including the release of white “doves of peace” during amazing grace to highlight support for the troops…YouTube video), the Bucketmen changed clothes and blew the crowd away at the main stage outside the pub at the South entrance. The bleachers were filled and the path behind the bleachers was almost blocked with people watching and cheering them on. It was a very energetic performance, and the Bucketmen were immediately invited back to perform again next year.
Sunday morning brought more solo competitions beginning at 8:00 am. Congratulations to Brendan, new to NWJPB just last May, for his 6th place finish in the Grade 5 2/4 March. Aaron won 4th in Grade 4 Strathspey & Reel. Amber won 1st in Grade 4 side drumming, winning the games aggregate trophy for grade 4 drumming. Morgan placed 6th in Grade 4 drumming, and Alexander won 1st in Grade 3 Strathespey and Reel, and 2nd in the Jig competition, gaining the games aggregate trophy for Grade 3 piping. He also won 5th place in Grade 2 tenor drumming. Alumni Grade 1 piper Jonathan Farrell placed 5th in the Hornpipe and Jig. Alumni Stephen Farrell won the Grade 1 Hornpipe & Jig in side drumming, and gained the games aggregate for Grade 1 side drumming.
The weather threatened and clouds looked menacing, but the rain held off for the most part, maybe due to the positive attitudes that flowed freely at the event.
The Grade 5 drum corps followed the White Spot Grade 4 drum corps in the drum fanfare. It was a good competition, and Grade 5 played well in the entertaining salute, but placed 2nd.
Grade 5 competed with the required minimum pipers, and played the best we’ve heard them all season long. Ben said “I don’t have anything negative to say about your performance today, great job.” It’s been so great to watch the progress of the Grade 5 band this year, both with new members joining and rapidly learning the music, and overall as the team learned to play together and got better at each practice, finally culminating in the best performance of the season at the biggest games in the region. NWJPB Grade 4 took the field with professionalism and intensity for the Selection Medley and played very well, placing 2nd of 9 pipe bands and winning best drum corps.
The top three bands both days are all going to the World Pipe Band Championships this year, so the intensity and talent of the competition was very high. Keith Highlanders Grade 4 will compete in 4B in Scotland, White Spot will compete Juvenile, and NWJPB is competing Novice Juvenile. NWJPB meets at SeaTac airport at 4:30 AM Tuesday morning, arrives Wednesday morning and competes at North Berwick Highland Games at 10:00 in the morning on Saturday August 9th.
After the games, as our family was preparing to go home, we had someone come over to tell two stories about the community’s response to our band. First, they have a friend that was planning a trip to watch the World Championships, but when we posted our competition plans in Scotland, they changed their itinerary so they could come and watch us perform at most of the competitions. Next, he was working out at a fitness club before the highland games, just chatting with a person he met there about plans for the day. When he told him he was going to the Highland Games, the person asked “Have you heard about Northwest Junior Pipe Band, the only youth band from America going to the World Championships?” “Yes, that band is bringing a lot of pride to our community” was his reply.
NWJPB can’t wait to hop on the plane Tuesday. We’re off to the final 4 competitions of our season. The band will perform at George Square as well as participate in the international parade of bands on Friday before the World Championships.
