Northwest Junior Pipe Band – Two Time Washington Champions, Great Grade 3 challenge results!

July 13, 2009

Saturday, July 11th. In 80 degree heat, the young members of Northwest Junior Pipe Band consumed over 10 gallons of water and nearly 4 gallons of Gatorade, just based on our coolers at the band tent. The morning started with solo competitions, with band members reaching another new milestone at a highland games competition. Soloists from NWJPB won aggregate awards (highest overall results across 2 or more events) in every piping event entered. Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3, and Grade 2 piping soloists brought home plaques commemorating their successes, and there was another in Grade 4 side drumming, for a grand total of five NWJPB members earning best overall in their grade level. Full results listed at the end of this post. In all events, there were 24 top 6 placings for band members, and nearly 90% of those were top 3 placings.

In band competition, the Grade 5 (beginning) band played one of their best performances of the season, winning best drum corps and 2nd place to the very talented White Spot Pipe Band Grade 5. The band felt proud of their performance and have worked very hard to improve each week, and it’s really showing.

The Grade 4 competition band competed using the Medley Selection seen in this video from the BC Highland Games.

The band’s music selected, arranged, and taught by Kevin Auld, Band Director, Snare scores and instruction by Steve Roy, Snare Drumming Director, and Tenor and Bass scores and instruction by Marcie MacRae, Mid-section Director. In a field of four bands including White Spot, the Keith Highlanders, and the new talented youth piping organization, Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band, NWJPB placed first and won best drum corps.

Sunday, July 12th: a later start in the morning, and those of us who weren’t awoken by the lightning and thunder overnight were surprised to wake to cool grey skies reminiscent of Scotland. Anticipation was in the air, as the Grade 5 drum corps, who won 1st place at Skagit both of the last two years, would be competing again, with a Grade 4 drum corps feeling a little more confident. In the end, both drum corps performed incredibly well, wowing the crowds who braved the early afternoon rain. Smiles and fist-bumps all around after the competition completed as both groups felt pretty good about their progress and their performances. The band then got to watch the Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band drum corps perform in the Grade 1 fanfare.

Shortly afterward came the Quick March Medley competition, and the weekend aggregate “Washington State Grade 3 and 4 Pipe Band Championships”. NWJPB performed a Quick March Medley that they will only compete with at the SkagitValley Highland Games, and the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw the weekend of July 25th and 26th. Moisture and cool air can play havoc with the wood and reeds of bagpipes, so it takes extra care and caution to prepare the pipers during rainy weather. Luckily, the rain eased up shortly before the competition, and the band performed very well.

Finally, the highlight of the day; Northwest Junior Pipe Band instructors decided the time was right to offer NWJPB students a new challenge and opportunity, to compete at the next competition level in pipe bands, Grade 3. The competition level is very strong in Grade 3, but the band members have been practicing together 3 hours on Sundays and 2 hours on Thursdays almost all year, and all of the new pipers and drummers in new positons have all shown great progress. There were 5 pipe bands in Grade 3, including Northwest Junior.

Massed Bands started a bit early, around 4:10, trying to beat the next raincloud. The announcements the band had worked so hard to hear came next:

Saturday Grade 5 Quick March Medley:

White Spot Pipe Band 5
Northwest Junior Pipe Band 5, Best Drum Corps

Saturday Grade 4 Medley Competition:

Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4, Best Drum Corps
White Spot Pipe Band
Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Drum Fanfare:

NWJPB Grade 4
NWJPB Grade 5

Quick March Medley, and Washington State Grade 4 Pipe Band Championships, 3 competitors

Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4, Best Drum Corps
Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
Keith Highlanders Grade 4

Grade 3 Medley Selection, 5 competitors:

Portland Metro Pipe Band, Best Drum Corps
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4
Keith Highlanders Grade 3

The band took a quick photo and quickly started tearing down the new band tents to try to avoid the next rainstorm. The talented musicians of NWJPB thank their incredible instructors, the community of supporters, judges, other bands, and volunteers who work so hard to give us the opportunity to perform, compete, and improve at these events. It provides a meaningful experience for youth and greater opportunities than many other activities youth could choose to be involved in.

Solo Placings from Saturday:

Grade 4 Side Drumming – Aggregate winner: Bryce, 6 competitors