Northwest Junior Pipe Band is a non-profit youth music program teaching bagpipes, drums, musicianship and valuable life skills to youth in the Puget Sound region.  The band has won the title “Washington State Grade 4 Pipe Band Champion” at the Skagit Valley Highland Games in Mount Vernon, WA for the past two years.  Last year, the band “challenged up” to a higher level competition grade 3, and placed 2nd.  There were fewer competitors this year, but every Grade 4 pipe band challenged up, and the top 3 results were the same in each grade. Northwest Junior Pipe Band is the 2010 Washington State Grade 3 Pipe Band Champion, as well as the 2010 Washington State Grade 4 Pipe Band Champion, extending the streak to three years as Washington State Champions.

 Full results:

Saturday, Grade 4 Medley Selection Competition, 5 bands competing: 1st place and Best Drum Corps. Judges: Piping: 2 firsts, Drumming: 1st, Ensemble, 2nd.

Sunday, Grade 4 Quick March Medley, 3 bands competing: 1st place and Best Drum Corps. Piping Judges: 1 & 2, 1st Drumming, 1st Ensemble.

Sunday, Grade 3 Medley Selection competition, 4 bands competing: 1st from all four judges, best drum corps.

Overall result: NWJPB 1st place in Grade 3 and 4, Washington State Champions in both grades (combined total in each grade for both days was higher than any band in Grade 3 or 4)

Grade 5 Piping:

Slow Air, 15 competitors: 3rd: Peter N, 5th Karl S.

2/4 March, 14 competitors: 5th: Morgan S, 6th Karl S.

Grade 4 Piping, 12 competitors

2/4 March:  2nd, Marcus; 4th, Megan

6/8 March: 1st, Marcus; 4th, Megan

Grade 4 Piping Aggregate (tie): Marcus

Grade 3 Piping:

Strathspey & Reel , 12 competitors: Saul, 3rd place

2/4 March , 12 competitors: 2nd: Elliot Thomson, Alumni

Piobaireachd, 9 competitors: 3rd: Elliot Thomson, Alumni; 5th: Matt A.

Grade 2 Piping, 6 competitors:

March, Strathspey & Reel:  Aaron Stone, 1st place

Hornpipe & Jig: Aaron Stone, 4th place

Piobaireachd: Aaron Stone, 4th place

Grade 1 Piping:

March, Strathspey & Reel, 7 competitors: Alexander Schiele, 2nd place

Hornpipe & Jig, 8 competitors: Alexander Schiele, 2nd place

Grade 4 Side Drumming:

2/4 March, 6 competitors: Morgan M 1st, Robbie G. 2nd

6/8 March, 5 competitors: Morgan M 2nd

Grade 4 Side Drumming Aggregate: Morgan M.

Grade 3 Side Drumming, 2 competitors:

March, Strathspey & Reel: Bryce K 1st

6/8 March: Bryce K 1st

Grade 3 Side Drumming Aggregate: Bryce K.

Grade 2 Side Drumming, 3 competitors:

March, Strathspey & Reel:  Amber S 1st, Graham Young (instructor) 2nd

Hornpipe & Jig: Graham Young (instructor) 1st, Amber S 2nd.

Grade 2 Side Drumming Aggregate (tie) Graham Young and Amber S.

Grade 2 Tenor (1 competitor):

6/8 March: Colleen Salmi (alumni) 1st place

Grade 2 Tenor Aggregate winner: Colleen Salmi (alumni)

Grade 1 Tenor (1 competitor):  March, Strathspey & Reel: Alexander Schiele, 1st place

Grade 1 Tenor Aggregate winner: Alexander Schiele

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NWJPB Grade 4 travelled to Coquitlam, BC, Canada on Saturday June 26th for the British Columbia Highland Games.  The morning started cool and overcast and solo pipers from many different bands were facing challenges with moisture causing tone challenges with their drones and reeds, but NWJPB members managed to pull off some successes on the solo platforms, regardless of the moisture in the air.

As afternoon approached, the sun came out and after 2 grade 5 bands performed, NWJPB was the last of 6 Grade 4 bands to compete.  Results were announced at the end of the day, with Northwest Junior Pipe Band receiving 1st place marks from all four judges.  NWJPB received the Robert Malcolm Memorial Trophy for the 3rd straight year at the BC Highland Games.

RESULTS:

Grade 5 Piping, Slow Air 11 competed

5:  Peter N.

Grade 4 Piping, 2/4 March 16 competed

1:  Megan M
4:  Paul V
5:  Marcus D

Grade 4 Piping, Strathspey & Reel 16 competed

2:  Paul V
5:  Marcus D

Grade 3 Piping Piobaireachd 16 competed

6:  Matt A

Grade 3 Piping 2/4 March 16 competed

2:  Elliot Thomson, Alumni

Grade 2 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel 9 competed

1. Aaron Stone

Grade 2 Piping Piobaireachd 10 competed

1. Aaron Stone

Grade 2 Piping Aggregate winner: Aaron Stone

Grade 1 Piping, Piobaireachd  11 competed

1.  Alexander Schiele

Grade 1 Piping, Hornpipe & Jig 12 competed

3.    Alexander Schiele

Grade 1 Piping, March, Strathspey & Reel 13 competed

4.    Alexander Schiele

Grade 4 Side Drumming, 2/4 March  12 competed

1. Morgan M
2. Robert G.

Grade 4 Side Drumming, 6/8 March  11 competed

1. Morgan M

Grade 4 Side Drumming Aggregate: Morgan M

Grade 3 Side Drumming, 6/8 March 7 competed

2.   Bryce K

Grade 3 Side Drumming, 2/4 March  7 competed

6.  Bryce K

Grade 2 Side drumming March, Strathspey & Reel 6 competed

1.   Amber S
3.   Graham Young, Instructor

Grade 2 Side Drumming Hornpipe & Jig 6 competed

4.   Graham Young, Instructor
5.   Amber S

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Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4 side, tenor and bass recieved their last piece of competition music  1 week before the competition, and all studied and practiced as hard and fast as possible to pull together a surprisingly strong performance for the first outing of the season; surprising even themselves.  5 bands competed, and three bands tied for 2nd place, with placings being decided based on the ensemble judges preference. 

RESULTS:

NWJPB received 1st place from both piping judges, 1st in drumming, and 1st in ensemble.  2nd went to White Spot Pipe Band, 3rd to the Keith Highlanders, and 4th to Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band.  To most observers, it was a very close competition.

NWJPB Grade 5 unfortunately was unable to compete, but look forward to competing this year at the Skagit Valley Highland Games and the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw in July.

Solo results:

Grade 4 Side Drumming 4/4 March
1st Robert G Jr.
5th Morgan M

Grade 4 Side Drumming 2/4 March
1st Morgan M
5th Robert G. Jr

Grade 3 side drumming 2/4 March
1st Bryce K
2nd Steven W, Grade 5 Tutor

Grade 3 side drumming 6/8 March
1st Steven W, Grade 5 Tutor
2nd Bryce K

G3 Side Drumming Aggregate, Tie: Bryce K & Steven W

Grade 2 side drumming Hornpipe & Jig

1st Graham Young, Instructor
5th Amber S

Grade 2 Side Drumming March, Strathspey & Reel
1st Amber S
3rd Graham Young, Instructor

Aggregate: Graham Young, Instructor

Grade 1 Bass Drumming March, Strathspey & Reel

1st Morgan S.

Grade 5 Piping Slow Air
4th: Peter N

Grade 4 Piping  6/8 March
3rd Marcus D.

Grade 4 Piping 2/4 March
3rd Megan M
4th Marcus D.
5th Paul V.

Grade 3 piping 2/4 March
1st Elliot Thomson, Alumni

Grade 3 piping Strathspey & Reel
2nd Saul G

Grade 2 Piping Hornpipe & Jig
1st Aaron S

Grade 2 Piping March Strathspey & Reel
4th Aaron S

Grade 1 Piping Hornpipe & Jig
3rd Alexander Schiele

Grade 1 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel
5th Alexander Schiele

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The Highland Games in Victoria, BC highlighted great results again for NWJPB members.  Two Aggregate winners and strong performances from everyone who competed.  It takes great commitment from families and youth to travel to and prepare for these events, but the feedback from top judges at this first two outdoor events of the season is a very positive example of the dedication and drive to succeed NWJPB members demonstrate. 

RESULTS

Grade 5 Piping 2/4 March

     6.  Morgan S.

Grade 4 Piping 6/8 March

1. Megan M
2. Paul V
3. Marcus D

Grade 4 Piping Strathspey & Reel

    2.  Megan M
     3.  Paul V
     5.  Marcus D

Grade 4 Piping Aggregate:  Megan M

Grade 3 Piping Strathspey & Reel

     2.  Saul G

Grade 2 Piping 2/4 March

1. Aaron S

Grade 1 piping March Stratshpey & Reel

     2.  Alexander S.

Grade 1 piping Hornpipe & Jig

     2. Alexander S.

Grade 4 Side Drumming 2/4 March

     1.  Morgan M
     4.  Robert G, Jr

Grade 4 Side Drumming 6/8 March

      2.  Robert G. Jr
      6. Morgan M

Grade 3 Drumming 2/4 March

1. Bryce K.

Grade 3 Drumming 6/8 March

     2.  Bryce K.

Grade 3 Side Drumming Aggregate (tie): Bryce K

Grade 2 Side Drumming March, Strathspey & Reel

     2.  Amber S

Grade 2 Side Drumming Hornpipe & Jig

     2.  Amber S.

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Winter Storm 2010 Silver Medalist Brian McKenzie assists today's Grade 4 Piping Aggregate Winner Marcus

A quick refresher on bagpipe and drumming amateur competition grading, beginners on pipes start at Grade 5, and work their way up to Grade 1 based on their ability, competition results and demonstrated performances.  There are also chanter and drum pad classes at some events for first year beginners.  Side Drummers begin at Grade 4, Tenor at Grade 2, and Bass drumming only offers Grade 1 competitions.

The Comox Valley Highland Games is the first outdoor event of the season in BC, Oregon, and Washington; where the band competes.  Far to the north on Vancouver Island in the lush and beautiful surroundings of Courtenay, BC. Many Northwest Junior Pipe Band competitors made the trip north this year and demonstrated their talents in solo competitions.  Three NWJPB members won aggregate for their grade levels, meaning the highest points across multiple events.

Grade 5 piping 2/4 March

     6.     Katrina J.

Grade 5 piping Slow Air

     4.     Morgan S:

Grade 4 piping  2/4 march

1. Marcus D.
2. Paul V.

Grade 4 piping Strathspey & Reel

1. Marcus D.
2. Paul V.

Grade 4 piping Aggregate: Marcus D.

Grade 3 piping Jig

     6.   Saul G.

Grade 3 piping Strathspey & Reel

     2.   Saul G
     5.   Matt A.

Grade 2 piping March, Strathspey & Reel

     2.   Aaron S

Grade 2 piping Hornpipe & Jig

     3.   Aaron S

Grade 1 piping Piobaireachd

1. Alexander S.

Grade 1 piping Hornpipe & Jig

1. Alexander S.

Grade 1 piping March, Strathspey & Reel

      2.   Alexander S.

Grade 1 Piping Aggregate: Alexander S.

Grade 4 Side Drumming 2/4 March

1. Morgan M.
2. Robert G Jr.

Grade 4 Side Drumming 6/8 March

     1.    Robert G. Jr.
     3.    Morgan M.
     6.    Jack D.

Grade 4 Side Drumming Aggregate:  Robert G. Jr.

Grade 3 Side Drumming March, Strathspey & Reel

     3.    Bryce K.

Grade 3 Side Drumming 6/8 March

     5.    Bryce K.

Grade 2 Side Drumming Hornpipe & Jig

     2.     Amber S.

Grade 2 Side Drumming March, Strathspey & Reel

     4.    Amber S.

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NWJPB didn’t compete as a band at the Annual Gathering for the first time since 2005 due to an unfortunate lack of drumming music and some other challenges the band is working to address quickly, however several band members attended the event and saw great success in solo piping and drumming competitions. 

Grade 4 Side Drumming 2/4 March:  1st Place: Morgan M.

Grade 4 Side Drumming 6/8 March: 2nd Place: Robbie G.  3rd Place: Morgan M

Grade 4 Side Drumming Aggregate Winner (most combined points): Morgan M, tie, winning the BC Pipers’ Association Shield.

Grade 3 Side Drumming 6/8 March: 2nd Place Bryce K

Grade 3 Side Drumming MSR: 3rd Place Bryce K

Grade 2 Side Drumming Hornpipe & Jig:  1st Place Amber S

Grade 2 Side Drumming MSR: 3rd Place Amber S

Grade 4 Piping 2/4 March: 4th Place Marcus D

Grade 4 Piping Strathspey & Reel:  2nd Place Megan M, 3rd Place Paul V

Grade 3 Piping Strathspey & Reel: 2nd Place Saul G

Grade 2 Piping Piobaireachd:  1st Place Aaron S winning the Ian Charles Macleod Memorial Shield.

Grade 2 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel:  1st Place Aaron S, winning the William Lamont Memorial Trophy, presented in memory of Bill Lamont, Past President of the BCPA

Grade 2 Piping Hornpipe & Jig: 3rd Place Aaron S.

Grade 2 Piping Aggregate Winner:  Aaron S, winning the Heather MacInnes Collins Memorial Trophy

MOST OVERALL POINTS of any grade, piping or drumming:  Aaron S, winning the solid brass MacIver Memorial Trophy, first awarded in 1944 in memory of Donald MacIver, founding member of the BCPA.

Grade 1 Piping Jig:  1st Place Alexander Schiele winning the Donald & Kathleen MacLeod Memorial Trophy

Grade 1 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel: 5th Place Alexander Schiele

It was an exciting day for all competitors.  The band contest was exciting to watch; with very strong competitors across the board in the Grade 4 competition group and 15 performances altogether.  Snow remarkably started at the end of the contest and that encouraged many Washington State area pipers and drummers to leave before spending much time at the Ceilidh afterward, unfortunately, but luckily the snow was mosty centralized on the hill that Simon Fraser University campus sits on. 

Congratulations to all competitors for once again demonstrating some of the best talent in piping and drumming in the world, and thanks to all the volunteers in the British Columbia Pipers’ Association for staging a remarkable event for the 78th Annual event.  Senior Adjudicators included Stuart Liddell and Steven McWhirter, formerly of SFU Pipe Band, who lead Inverary & District Pipe Band from Novice Juvenile to Juvenile, Grade 2, and finally Grade 1 over the last several years, who have just placed 2nd in their first band competition in Grade 1 last week.  See more biography about Stuart and Steven on the IDPB roster page.  Adding to that remarkable talent from Scotand, BCPA brought Bruce Gandy, a Victoria area native and one of the world’s top pipers over from Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It’s not cheap or easy to bring the best talent from around the world to the Northwest to teach and provide performance feedback and adjudication, but it’s a valuable experience for the dedicated musicians who work year round to prepare some of the best musical performances in the world right here in our area.  It takes investment and dedication to ensure we continue to grow piping and drumming talent in our region.

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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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