It’s been a remarkable season for Northwest Junior Pipe Band.  The Grade 4 band travelled to Gresham, OR for the Portland Highland Games on July 18th.  Soloists won aggregate awards in Grade 4 piping and Grade 4 side drumming, and 1st in Grade 2 Tenor, 1st in Grade 4 side drumming 2/4 March, first in Grade 4 piping 2/4 March, 1st in Grade 4 Piobaireachd, Grade 4 piping 6/8 March, and Grade 2 piping Hornpipe & Jig; 6 first place finishes!  In all, 21 top 6 solo placings, with total competitors in the events ranging from 5 to 20.

The nice thing about these games, is that even though it’s usually hot, there’s a breeze in the morning and in the evening.  Unfortunately, it always seems to die, just about an hour, maybe two…before the band contests start.  The NWJPB youth were fighting the heat, drinking lots of water and gatorade, and doing everything they could to keep their energy and spirits high.  When time came for final tuning, they descended the steps to the competition arena and hesitantly stepped onto the red rubberized track, where the temperature probably rose by at least 5 degrees, and several people experienced the red surface melting slightly to their shoes.

Band Director Kevin Auld was very pleased with the tone coming from the pipers as they finished up final tuning, and the band was called to the line.  Marching into the competition circle in front of a couple thousand Pipe Band fans in the stadium seats, they played remarkably well, a focused team really hitting a “groove” with the medley.  Even those with no experience with pipe band music could tell by the expressions on all of the kids faces that the performance had gone very well.  The smiles broke out immediately after the medley finished.  Nearly everyone felt this was one of their strongest performancess yet.  Four bands competed.  Marching out of the competition circle at these games truly gives the band members a sense of what rock stars must feel, as the stands are mostly full, everyone cheering, and the sound projects very well from the grandstand to the track.

After a quick “debrief” and a 10 or 15 minute break, the band began preparing for the next big challenge; the Grade 3 competition.  Five bands were competing, and the instructors and students of NWJPB hoped they could pull off another strong performance, back to back.  The band took the start line again and played very well again, getting feedback from Kevin Auld that those were two of their best runs all season.

At the end of the day before massed bands, the Portland Games always stages the final “Caber Toss” on the main field in front of the grandstands, which usually causes delays to massed bands, but is an entertaining close to a fun day.  The largest cabers and top athletes compete in the event; and only three times were they able to flip the caber the full distance required to score.  Finally, massed bands were called and eventually gathered, marching and countermarching across the field.  In the final results, NWJPB placed 1st in Grade 4 with two first places from piping, one from ensemble, and 2nd in drumming.  The band didn’t get to hear their name called for the Grade 3 results, but did end up 4th of 5 bands in the grade and got a 2nd place from one of the piping judges.  A day to be very proud of, holding their own in a higher level competition grade.

The band has now won five straight contests and hopes to continue playing well through the last two “season aggregate” competition opportunities at Enumclaw for the Pacific Northwest Highland Games.  If NWJPB can hang on to first place both days, they could win the “Grand Aggregate” for the season, winning the most points overall in Grade 4, for the first time in the band’s relatively short history in this competition grade.  A win Saturday would move them into first place, but placing 2nd on Sunday would leave them ranked 2nd for the season.  Regardless of the outcome, NWJPB members will leave the season feeling proud of their accomplishments, and making history for the organization on several fronts, including never haven won 5 games in a row in Grade 5, never having an undefeated season going into the Pacific Northwest Highland Games, and never having more than 20 placings in the top 6 at nearly every event all season long.

Follow the band’s progress on Facebook this weekend, July 25th and 26th:  http://facebook.com/nwjpb for live updates from the field. 

Portland Highland Games solo results for NWJPB members:

• Piping:  Grade 4, 2/4 March:  Saul 1st, Elliot 4th, Devon 6th
• Piping: Grade 4, 6/8 March:  Elliot 1st, Saul 2nd, Devon 5th
• Piping: Grade 4 Piobaireachd:  Saul 1st
• Piping: Grade 3:  2/4 March, Aaron 3rd; Jig, Aaron 5th, Strathspey & Reel:  Aaron 6th
• Piping: Grade 2:  Hornpipe & Jig, Alexander 1st;  MSR, Alexander 2nd
• Side Drumming: Grade 4 2/4 March:  Bryce 1st, Steven 2nd, Morgan M. 3rd
• Side Drumming: Grade 4 6/8 March:  Steven 2nd, Bryce 3rd
• Side Drumming:  Grade 3; 2/4 March; Amber 3rd; 6/8 March; Amber 2nd
• Tenor Drumming:  Grade 2 2/4 March:  Alexander 1st, Ali 6th

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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:

1. White Spot Pipe Band 5
2. Northwest Junior Pipe Band 5, Best Drum Corps

Saturday Grade 4 Medley Competition:

1. Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4, Best Drum Corps
2. White Spot Pipe Band
3. Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Drum Fanfare:

1. NWJPB Grade 4
2. NWJPB Grade 5

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

1. Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4, Best Drum Corps
2. Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
3. Keith Highlanders Grade 4

Grade 3 Medley Selection, 5 competitors:

1. Portland Metro Pipe Band, Best Drum Corps
2. Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4
3. 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

• 2/4 March:  Bryce 1st, Steven 2nd, Morgan M 3rd
• 6/8 March:  Bryce 1st, Robert 3rd, Steven 4th

Grade 3 Side Drumming, 5 competitors

• 6/8 March:  Amber 2nd
• 2/4 March, Strathspey & Reel:  Amber 3rd

Grade 2 Tenor Drumming, 8 competitors

• 6/8 March:  Ali 3rd, Alexander 5th

Grade 5 Piping – Aggregate winner: Megan, 13 competitors

• 2/4 March:  Megan 1st, Marcus 3rd
• Slow Air:  Marcus 1st, Megan 2nd

Grade 4 Piping - Aggregate winner:  Devon, 15 competitors

• 2/4 March:  Devon 1st, Elliot 3rd
• 6/8 March:  Saul 1st, Elliot 2nd, Devon 6th

Grade 3 Piping - Aggregate winner: Aaron, 19 competitors 

• 2/4 March:  Aaron 1st
• Strathspey & Reel:  Aaron 1st

Grade 2 Piping - Aggregate winner:  Alexander, 15 competitors 

• Piobaireachd:  Alexander 1st
• Hornpipe & Jig:  Alexander 1st
• March, Strathspey & Reel:  Alexander 2nd 

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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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Eleven Northwest Junior Pipe Band pipers and drummers competed in solo events at the 77^th Annual British Columbia Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering Friday and Saturday April 10^th and 11^th ; the largest turnout of solo competitors to the event in NWJPB history. 10 placed in the top 6, for a total of 15 top six finishes, including:

Piping

• Grade 5 Piping 2/4 March, Megan M 1^st Place. 8 registered to compete
• Grade 4 Piping Strathspey & Reel; Elliot T 1^st place. Matt A 6^th place. 20 registered to compete.
• Grade 3 Piping Strathspey & Reel; Aaron S 5^th place. 23 registered to compete
• Grade 2 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel; Alexander S 1^st place (William Lamont Memorial Trophy). 25 registered to compete
• Grade 2 Piping Piobaireachd; Alexander S 2^nd place. 20 registered to compete.
• Grade 2 Piping Hornpipe & Jig; Alexander S 5^th place. 24 registered to compete.
• Grade 2 Piping Aggregate Winner; Alexander S. Heather MacInnes Collins Memorial Trophy and Scholarship to Mastery of Scottish Arts Winter School, presented by the Celtic Arts Foundation

Drumming

• Grade 4 Drumming 2/4 March; Steven W 2^nd place, Bryce K 4^th place. 11 registered to compete.
• Grade 4 Drumming 6/8 March; Steven W 1^st place, Bryce K 2^nd place. 9 registered to compete.
• Grade 4 Drumming Aggregate Winner; Steven W. BC Pipers’ Association Shield
• Most Promising Drummer; Steven W. Roderick MacLeod Memorial Trophy and Piping Hot Summer Drummer School of Scottish Pipes & Drums Scholarship
• Grade 3 Drumming March, Strathspey & Reel; Amber S 3^rd Place. 9 registered to compete.
• Grade 3 Drumming 6/8 March; Amber S 3rd place.  9 registered to compete.
• Grade 2 Tenor Drumming 2/4 March; Alexander S 3^rd place, Ali N 4th. 5 registered to compete

In the Band Competition, Northwest Junior sent two Grade 4 mini-bands for the first time in our history. Each band was larger than the entire competition band in 2004, with 8 pipers, 2 snare drummers, 2 tenor drummers in NWJPB Grade 4 A, and 7 pipers, 2 snare drummers, 2 tenor drummers in NWJPB Grade 4 B. Bass drummer Morgan S. played for both bands (as allowed by the BCPA competition rules) for a total of 24 Northwest Junior Pipe Band members. Bands competing included White Spot Pipe Band, Keith Highlanders Grade 4, Portland Metro Youth, Robert Malcolm Memorial IV and NWJPB A and B.

Results:

1. Northwest Junior Pipe Band “A”, winning the Malcolm Nicholson Shield for the best Pipe Section, and the John MacKenzie Memorial Trophy.
2. White Spot Pipe Band
3. Keith Highlanders’ Pipe Band
4. Northwest Junior Pipe Band “B”
5. Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
6. Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band IV

The top three bands all competed and placed at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2008, so the competition is very close in this grade level. Northwest Junior Pipe Band greatly appreciates the hard work of the dedicated volunteers of the British Columbia Pipers’ Association for their work staging an incredible event featuring hundreds of pipers and drummers from the Northwest. Full results from the event will be posted soon at www.bcpipers.org/results.html

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August 16^th, the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow Scotland. The day NWJPB had been planning,  fundraising, and practicing for for years for had finally arrived. There is no pipe band competition like the World Championships anywhere. The field was enormous; there were 224 pipe bands competing and 23 bands in NWJPB’s grade, Novice Juvenile. There was a light rain falling occasionally, but for the most part the sky stayed free of it. The band’s qualifier started at 9:00 AM so the band arrived, unloaded instruments and got to work tuning up and working through the music. Seeking out competition arena 4, the band approached the final tuning area to play their three tunes that comprise the “MAP” tune set, or a required set of marches all Novice and Grade 4 bands play in order to qualify for the championship round, when they then play a longer set of tunes.

Performing in the Qualfier

Northwest Junior Pipe Band placed third in the qualifying round, and only one point behind the two bands who tied for first place in “Qualifier 2″ which included 11 bands. NWJPB advanced on to the finals feeling jubilant at the recognition of their hard work and clean sound.

NWJPB goes on to the championships

White Spot Pipe Band was there at the qualifier to cheer on NWJPB, as were many of the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band. Some NWJPB members went to watch the Keith Highlanders compete in their qualifier round, in which they were placed first by both MAP judges in Grade 4B. The next stop for NWJPB members was the Juvenile competition to hear White Spot  compete in their field of 10 Juvenile bands.  White Spot put on a solid performance in Arena 5 at 10:30.  Many members also went and watched the Keith compete. 

NWJPB performed again at 12:12 PM.  It was a strong performance and the band was hopeful. The rest of the day was spent watching many of the bands around Glasgow Green, especially the Grade 1 bands, including the exciting new “Spirit of Scotland” pipe band with some of the best known names in piping and drumming that weren’t in bands, including Jacquie and Jamie Troy, Craig Calhoun (Hoss, creator of Hosbilt tenor and bass drums) on bass, Roddy MacLeod, John Fisher, Alasdair Gillies and more. The band was one of 5 Grade 1 bands to go on to the final round of the championships out of 14 to attempt it, but they did it with only a week of practice together as a band. Congratulations to Simon Fraser University Pipe Band for being the obvious winner in the Medley, according to many who heard them play. Some members also stayed around to hear the other Novice bands compete, and the ultimate Novice World Champion Bucksburn and District was an amazingly good Novice band who played without any noticeable mistakes, as well as an impressive performance musically.

Thanks also to the people of Scotland for opening their hearts and arms to the youth of NWJPB. There were literally hundreds of comments overheard and given directly to us at each of our performances and competitions about how talented the band was, and photographers and newspaper reporters almost everywhere we performed and competed.  Many told the band’s leadership that the kids had a great chance at it. We’ve got many more stories to share, keep an eye on our blog to get them over the next couple weeks or so, or join our mailing list by visiting our contacts page.

NWJPB lead instructors and musicians at the 2008 World Pipe Band Championships

Northwest Junior Pipe Band wins fifth

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NWJPB arrived at Seatac airport at 4:30 AM Tuesday morning, to learn that Houston was having flight delays as well as Chicago the night before.  The Continental staff really had their hands full, but ended up getting us checked in on time after a few hours of hurrying up to wait for them to “just get through it”.

The band arrived in Newark, New Jersey expecting a 3.5 hour layover and ended up with approximately 5 hours and one gate change.

The flight crew into Glasgow commented to several of the parents and other travelers that our kids were one of the best groups of kids they’ve ever had on the airplane.  They were respectful and friendly and generally great on the flight to Scotland.  One of the flight crew told several different adults in our party how great the kids were. 

But we arrived in Scotland at approximately 9:00 am Wednesday morning, got checked into our rooms and met for our first practice to make sure the instruments still work correctly after all that time on an airplane.  We practiced under the “M-8″ expressway to stay out of the rain, about 4 blocks down hill from our lodging.   While we were practicing under the M-8 Wednesday, a reporter drove by, who then contacted the National Piping Centre thinking it might be an interesting story for a Glasgow News magazine he works for.  The Piping Centre emailed us and we’re hoping their reporter shows up to our practice Friday morning.  Here’s a camera-phone picture of us at practice under the bridge, right next to the offramp from the M-8 to the Great Western Road (A82):

NWJPB practicing out of the rain, under the M-8 freeway in Glasgow

The rain is coming down here occasionally, a lot like spring in Seattle was this year; gray overcast, mist, light showers and occasional heavy rains all day long Wednesday.   We’re all exhausted after the travels, but got up for 10:00 AM practice Thursday morning (9:00 for Snare Drummers).  The rain held off for the most part Thursday.  We’ve found a place only three blocks away that will let us do morning practices indoors while we’re here, it acts as a bar only on Fridays and Saturdays and hosts performances with the Glasgow School of Art students.  It’s a nice change from the Freeway overpass when we get to use it for our morning practices.  Picture below.  Thanks to the very kind people at the Glasgow School of Art, Margaret MacDonald House for helping us get in at this unique space and to Colin and his co-workers at “The Vic” for scheduling it for us and letting us in when we arrive and ring the bell. 

NWJPB in our morning practice space at "The Vic"

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Northwest Junior Pipe Band struggled through a grueling but fun weekend at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games Friday July 25th, through Sunday July 27^th 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 1^st in 4 events and 3^rd 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 1^st and 2^nd place.

Saturday morning at 8:00 am the solo competitions started. Grade 4 side drumming: Morgan won 1^st place, Amber 3^rd place, Steven 5^th place. Grade 3 piping, 2/4 March; Alexander 6^th place. In Grade 4 piping, Matt A placed 2^nd in group “B” and Sam placed 6^th 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 3^rd 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 4^th out of 10 quartets who signed up, and 7 who actually competed. NWJPB has won 1^st place in Grade IV quartets for the past three years at these games. Grade V performed well on Saturday, winning 1^st place and getting good comments.  Grade 5 is preparing to compete in the below picture:

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 The North American season end is drawing near for Northwest Junior Pipe Band.  The Grade 4 band went to the Portland Highland Games at Mt. Hood Community College on July 19th.  The drum corps placed first, the ensemble judge placed the band first, and the band tied with White Spot Pipe Band in another close contest between these bands this year.  The points were tied, but NWJPB won on ensemble preference.  The victory at Portland makes 4th straight first place finish for Northwest Junior Pipe Band.

Two competitions remain before the band leaves for Scotland.  NWJPB’s Grade 4 and 5 bands will perform at a free concert on Friday evening at 7:00 PM at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw Washington, then both Grade 4 and Grade 5 bands will compete both Saturday and Sunday July 26th and 27th.  The band has signed up two bagpipe quartet competition groups, the Grade 5 drum corps drum salute and a bunch of solo competitors as well. 

Here’s a shot of the band leaving the competition circle in front of the packed grandstands at Portland:

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