Northwest Junior Pipe Band returned to the British Columbia Highland Games Saturday June 27th  with two bands competing for the second time in the band’s history.  The weather was near-perfect for piping and drumming, not too hot, sunny in the morning and overcast during the band competitions.  The BC Games was almost completely re-arranged, and they tried something new for massed bands, including a singing group, “The Shees” singing

The band returned the Grade 4 Pipe Band perpetual ”Robert Malcolm Memorial Trophy” from the 2008 event in the morning.  Soloists took the competition field in some of the largest numbers in NWJPB’s history.   23 top 6 placings for solo competitors made for an exciting morning on the solo field.  Congratulations to the three soloists who won Aggregate Tropies (most overall points over two or more events): 

• Grade 5 piping, winning the Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band Aggregate Trophy:  Marcus D. 
• Grade 4 Drumming, winning the BC Highland Games Grade 4 Drumming Trophy:  Bryce K. 
• Grade 2 piping, winning the Robert Duncan Wood Memorial Trophy:  Pipe Major Alexander S.

In the Grade  5 Pipe Band competition, NWJPB finished third in a field of very strong performances from White Spot Pipe Band Grade 5 (1st) and Frasier Valley Youth Pipe Band (2nd). 

Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4 brought home the Robert Malcolm Memorial Trophy in Grade 4 for the second year in a row, also winning best drum corps.  Full solo results:

• Grade 5 piping 2/4 March:  4th Marcus D, 6th Megan M
• Grade 5 piping Slow Aire:  1st Marcus D, 2nd Megan M
• Grade 4 piping Strathspey & Reel:  2nd Saul G, 3rd Devon M, 6th Paul V
• Grade 4 piping 2/4 March:  3rd Saul G, 4th Devon M, 5th Matt A
• Grade 3 piping Strathspey & Reel: Aaron S 1st
• Grade 3 piping Piobaireachd:  Aaron S 4th
• Grade 2 piping March, Strathspey & Reel:  Alexander S 1st 
• Grade 2 piping Jig:  Alexander S 1st
• Grade 2 piping Piobaireachd:  Alexander S 3rd
• Grade 4 snare 2/4 march:  1st Morgan M, 2nd Steven Wheeler, 5th Bryce K
• Grade 4 snare 6/8 march:  1st Bryce K, 3rd Steven W, 4th Robbie G.
• Grade 3 drumming 2/4 march:  Amber S 5th place
• Grade 3 drumming 6/8 march:  Amber S 4th place

Thanks to Mid Section Director Marcie MacRae’s fiance Curtis for volunteering to keep track of the results “on the day” for us this year!

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Northwest Junior Pipe Band’s Grade 4 team attended the Sons of Scotland Highland Games in Delta, BC for the first time in the band’s history on Saturday, June 13th. The band was missing several pipers due to Graduation ceremonies and other important conflicting events, but the band fielded 9 pipers, 3 tenor drummers, 3 side drummers and a bass drummer in the competition. The heat of the beautiful day was a challenge for the band to overcome, and stamina seemed to suffer a bit, but the band managed its third 1st place of the season, and the second at an outdoor Highland games event.

With Steven filling in for the second time this season as lead stroke because of Joseph’s shoulder injury, the band won best drum corps and very helpful comments from the judges. The midsection with instructor Marcie MacRae filling in because 2 of our 4 tenor drummers were unavailable also received excellent comments. Both the ensemble judge and the drumming judge put NWJPB in 1st place. In piping, NWJPB received a 1st and a 2nd. Band Director Kevin Auld asked the band what they thought about the performance and there was a lot of feedback about things that could be done to improve in the future.  Each time the band competes, they get constructive feedback about how to improve from judges with a wide variety of competition experiences, as well as learning to be more aware of their own performance and the band’s overall performance, and many band members are getting pretty good at predicting some of the judges’ feedback. 

This was a unique Highland Games, apparently attended by Scottish Dancers, their families, solo piping & drumming competitors and Pipe Bands. There seemed to be a lack of general public at the event for entertainment. When the time came for massed bands after watching the final pipe band events with Simon Fraser University, Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band (Grade 1) and the New Westminster Police Pipe Band (Grade 2), we looked around the field to see the crowd we would perform for in massed bands and noticed that there wasn’t one. The BC Pipers’ Association announced there would be no massed bands, and the band results were brought to the beer tent, and our band members were joined by other juvenile band members around the outside of the tent to hear the results.

Solo competitions also went very well for NWJPB members:

Piping:

• Beginner (Chanter):  Morgan S. 1st place
• Grade 4 2/4 March:  Saul 2nd, Matt A 3rd
• Grade 4 Strathspey & Reel:  Saul 2nd, Devon 5th
• Grade 3 2/4 March:  Aaron 4th
• Grade 3 Strathspey & Reel:  Aaron 1st
• Grade 3 Jig  Aaron 3rd
• Grade 2 2/4 March:  Alexander 4th
• Grade 2 Jig:  Alexander 6th

Drumming:

• Grade 4 2/4 March:  Bryce 2nd, Steven 3rd
• Grade 4 6/8 March:  Bryce 1st, Steven 3rd
• Aggregate:  Bryce (tie)
• Grade 3 2/4 March : Amber 5th
• Grade 3 6/8 March:  Amber 1st
• Grade 2 Tenor Drumming 2/4 March:  Ali 2nd, Alexander 3rd

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The Bellingham Highland Games on Saturday June 6th set several new milestones for the Northwest Junior Pipe Band.  The weather was almost perfect, overcast in the morning, clearing in the afternoon.  After setting so many new milestones in 2008, the band wasn’t sure what to expect from this year, but back to back wins at our first two competitions of the season is giving the band a very positive outlook. 

• Grade 5:  Best Drum Corps, Best band on ensemble preference.
• Grade 4:  Best Drum Corps, Best band.
• A sweep of all the top prizes in two band grade levels. 
• First time in the band’s history winning 1st place at the Bellingham Highland Games in Grade 4.
• FOUR aggregate winners (best combined score across 2 or more solo events):  Grade 4 Side Drumming, Grade 3 side drumming (tie), 2 aggregate wins in Grade 4 Piping (tie).
• NWJPB fielded solo competitors in every grade (G1 bass, G2 tenor and piping, G3 side and piping, G4 side and piping, G5 piping) with top 6 finishes in every grade.
• First Juvenile Pipe Major leading the band during a regular season competition, at least in the past 6 years.  Last year at the Crieff Highland Games in Scotland, Pipe Major Matt Maier led the band to a 1st place win and celebrated his last competition with the band.

Thanks to our amazing community of supporters and volunteers who helped us raise nearly $10,000.00 at our Ceilidh fundraser on Mothers’ Day “Eve” last month.  Without you, this kind of positive experience for youth would not be possible.  NWJPB had several pipers and drummers out due to injuries, school events, and family illnesses, but still managed to pull through with amazing success.

Solo results are available on the BC Pipers’ Association website.

Congratulations to all band members for a solid showing! 

• 5th in Grade 5 piping 2/4 March, 4th in Grade 5 Slow Air
• 1st, 2nd and 6th in Grade 4 piping 6/8 March, 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th in Grade 4 piping 2/4 March, tie for “aggregate” win, best overall score in their grade for two NWJPB pipers.
• 6th in Grade 3 piping Strathspey & Reel (1st place for NWJPB Alumni PM Matt Maier)
• 3rd in Grade 2 piping Hornpipe and Jig and 5th in the March, Strathspey and Reel for our Juvenile Pipe Major
• 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th in Grade 4 Side Drumming 2/4 March, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the 4/4 March.  Lead Drummer Steven won the Aggregate award for the day.
• 1st in Grade 3 Side Drumming 6/8 March, 3rd in the 2/4 March and a tie for the aggregate award for the day.
• 3rd and 4th in Grade 2 Tenor Drumming 2/4 March, 4th in the 6/8 March.
• A sweep of Grade 1 Bass drumming.  NWJPB entered 3 competitors and took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (although we were the only three competitors)

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