NWJPBlog http://insider.nwjpb.org Insider Information for the Northwest Junior Pipe Band Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:19:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Seasons Greetings from NWJPB http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/12/21/seasons-greetings-from-nwjpb/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/12/21/seasons-greetings-from-nwjpb/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:18:34 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=495

]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/12/21/seasons-greetings-from-nwjpb/feed/ 0 The Competitions Begin Again…With Style http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/11/14/the-competitions-begin-again-with-style/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/11/14/the-competitions-begin-again-with-style/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:57:54 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=488 Last week was the third annual US Juvenile Solo Bagpiping Championships in Pittsburg, PA, at the Balmoral Classic.   Thirteen year old NWJPB Pipe Major Alexander Schiele was invited to the event, competing with 15 registered pipers and came back to the Seattle area with 5th place finish in the Piobaireachd competition.  The classic was a lively event culminating in a concert featuring the St. Thomas Episcopal  School Pipe Band, another top US youth pipe band program, with five Juvenile world championships to their credit, and another trip planned for 2010.

Friday the 13th, NWJPB was invited to perform at the BCPA Knockout competitions; where professional pipers and drummers and a couple of top amateurs are invited to compete. A small band of NWJPB Grade 4 pipers and drummers and a volunteer instructor and alumni tenor drummer performed a short set of tunes following the competition for 50 or 60 attendees and were very well received by the audience.

Today (Saturday November 14th) was the first official day of competition opportunities in the British Columbia Pipers’ Association.  Eight of the Northwest Junior Pipe Band solo pipers and drummers, most of whom were promoted to new amateur grade levels after last season, and every one of them placed in the top 6, a remarkable accomplishment.

The results:

Grade 4 piping 2/4 march, 12 competitors:  Marcus 2nd, Megan 5th

Grade 4 side drumming 2/4 march, 3 competitors:  Morgan M 2nd

Grade 3 side drumming 2/4 march, 6 competitors:  Steven W 1st, Bryce 2nd

Grade 2 piping 6/8 march, 8 competitors:  Aaron 1st

Grade 2 piping 2/4 march, 8 competitors:  Aaron 3rd

Grade 2 side drumming 2/4 march, 7 competitors:  Amber 3rd

Grade 1 piping 6/8 march, 13 competitors:  Alexander Schiele 4th

Congratulations to all, as well as last year’s graduate of our youth program, Almuni Elliot T. for placing 4th of 11 in the Grade 3 2/4 march.

]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/11/14/the-competitions-begin-again-with-style/feed/ 0 Pride and Satisfaction – a season worth remembering http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/08/03/pride-and-satisfaction-a-season-worth-remembering/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/08/03/pride-and-satisfaction-a-season-worth-remembering/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:29:07 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=483 Northwest Junior Pipe Band had a remarkable weekend at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games on Saturday and Sunday July 26th & 27th, 2009.  The band started the season adding one additional event to the Grade 4 schedule, to give us a mathematical “shot” at winning the Grand Aggregate for the season, but it required an undefeated season.  Other bands go to two other events on Vancouver Island; the Comox Valley Highland Games and the Victoria Highland Games in May.  NWJPB started the season at Bellingham, already down by two victories, which are worth 88 points each, but placed first in Bellingham and won best drum corps for the first time at those games in Grade 4 competitions.  Grade 5 placed 2nd of 3 bands.

On to Sons of Scotland, with another 1st place and best drum corps.  Vague glimmers of hope began to surface, but the competition in the region is tough, and the band stayed focused on the next competition.  BC Highland Games has always been a bit of a challenge for the band, the heat on the rubber surfaces the band practices and performs on seems to raise the actual temperature by 10 degrees or so.  The band is also taking on the top bands in the region on their home turf.  This year was no different, the heat was taking its toll, but the band performed well.  3 first places and a 4th from one piping judge was enough for the band to win first and best drum corps again.  Grade 5 placed 3rd with a 2nd place for the drum corps. 

Skagit Valley was next.  The Grade 5 drum corps won 1st and the band placed 2nd, but the Grade 4 band won its 4th straight 1st place finish and another best drum corps.  On day two, NWJPB won its second Washington State Pipe Band Championship, and challenged up to the Grade 3 competitions, placing 2nd of 5 bands.  The next weekend brought the Portland Highland Games, and the 6th straight 1st place victory (5 which are counted in the BCPA standings), this time with two first places from the piping judges, and White Spot won best drum corps. 

The band was now two 1st place finishes away from the Grand Aggregate, but had already won more events in a row than ever before in their history.  The heat was sure to play a role at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games, but the band performed very well on Saturday and managed to step into 1st place overall for the first time ever.  One event remained.  NWJPB had now won 1st place at SEVEN straight Grade 4 competitions, more than any other pipe band in our division.  The band took the field in high temperatures and played very well.  Band Director Kevin Auld praised them for playing well despite the conditions, and noted that they played with great skill, doing what it takes to overcome the conditions.  The band results were announced and NWJPB received 2nd place.  It was somewhat disappointing because it meant NWJPB would end the season with fewer points than the very talented White Spot Pipe Band from Canada, but NWJPB members recognized they had performed better than any time in their history against a tough field of at least 15 bands in the division.  The most 1st place finishes of any Grade 4 pipe band in the BCPA region this year, and the most consecutive wins in NWJPB’s history in Grade 4, and it was a remarkable season for some incredibly talented youth musicians.

Adding to the excitement of the Pacific Northwest Highland Games, the band won 1st and 2nd place finishes in the Quartet competition, and the first ever West Coast Grade 4 Drum Corps Championship win for NWJPB with the drum fanfare, with lead stroke Joseph Y coming back for his first competition after a season-ending injury.  Finally, there were 4 aggregate winners at the games and 2 overall Grand Aggregate winners in solos for the season:

Aggregate winners at the games:

Aaron – G3 piping, Alexander – G2 piping, Amber – G3 side drumming, Steven (lead stroke) - G4 side drumming.

Grand aggregate winners:  Bryce K, Grade 4 side drumming and Alexander S (PM), Grade 2 piping.  See them mentioned on the Pipes|Drums website, the world’s only independent pinping and drumming publication.

Saturday results:

  • NWJPB 1st of 9 bands
  • Grade 4 Quartets, NWJPB “A” (Alexander, Aaron, Matt, Elliot):  1st place
  • Grade 4 Quartets, NWJPB “B” (Kevin, Sterling, Paul, Patrick):  2nd place
  • Grade 5 piping 6/8 March:  Marcus 3rd, Megan 4th
  • Grade 4 piping 2/4 March, group A:  Paul V. 5th
  • Grade 4 piping 2/4 March, group B:  Saul 2nd, Matt 4th, Devon 5th
  • Grade 4 piping Piobaireachd:  Saul 3rd
  • Grade 3 piping 2/4 March:  Aaron 2nd
  • Grade 3 piping Piobaireachd:  Aaron 2nd
  • Grade 2 piping Piobaireachd:  Alexander 6th
  • Grade 2 piping Hornpipe & Jig:  Alexander 1st
  • Grade 4 side drumming 2/4 March:  Steven 1st, Morgan M 3rd, Bryce 4th, Robbie 5th
  • Grade 3 side drumming 6/8 March:  Amber 1st
  • Grade 2 Tenor 2/4 March:  Ali 6th

Sunday results:

  • NWJPB 2nd of 8 bands
  • West Coast Grade 4 Drum Corps Championships:  1st place NWJPB Grade 4, 3rd place NWJPB Grade 5
  • Grade 5 piping Slow Air:  Marcus 1st, Megan 2nd
  • Grade 5 piping 2/4 March:  Megan 3rd
  • Grade 4 piping Strathspey & Reel, Group A:  Paul 5th place
  • Grade 4 piping Strathspey & Reel, Group B:  Saul 2nd, Devon 3rd, Matt 5th
  • Grade 3 piping Strathspey & Reel, Aaron 2nd
  • Grade 3 piping Jig:  Aaron 2nd
  • Grade 2 piping MSR:  Alexander 2nd
  • Grade 4 side drumming 6/8 March:  Bryce 1st, Steven 2nd, Robbie 3rd, Cheyenne 6th
  • Grade 3 side drumming 2/4 March:  Amaber 3rd
  • Grade 2 tenor drumming 6/8 March:  Ali 4th, Alexander 5th

Other notable awards and placings:

Best from Washington aggregate scores:

  • Grade IV piping:  Saul G.  (James McNeill Memorial Scholarship–NWJPB founder Charlie McNeill’s brother)
  • Grade III piping:  Aaron S (also games aggregate)
  • Grade II piping:  Alexander S (also games aggregate)
  • Grade IV Side Drumming:  Steven W (also the games aggregate and winner of the David M. Moore –NWJPB’s first drumming instructor– Scholarship)
  • Grade III Side Drumming:  Amber S (also the games aggregate and winner of the David M. Moore Scholarship)

 

]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/08/03/pride-and-satisfaction-a-season-worth-remembering/feed/ 0 NWJPB Youth win at Portland–5th straight 1st place http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/24/nwjpb-youth-win-at-portland/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/24/nwjpb-youth-win-at-portland/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:05:53 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=476 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
]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/24/nwjpb-youth-win-at-portland/feed/ 0 NWJPB supports documentary “On the Day” http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/16/nwjpb-supports-documentary-on-the-day/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/16/nwjpb-supports-documentary-on-the-day/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:32:37 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=467 There were several incredible stories we followed during our Scotland trip in 2008:

  1. Our own experiences winning two first place trophies at Perth and Crieff and 5th in the World
  2. SFU winning the World Championships for the 5th time, as well as best drum corps
  3. Besides SFU, there were three pipe bands from the Northwest and BC including NWJPB, the Keith Highlanders AND the White Spot Pipe Bands; taking on the worlds and placing in the top 6
  4. The story of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.   

This band included top soloists and instructors from all over the world who were not competing in bands.  Several of those performers come from the Pacific Northwest / BC area.  Now, a very talented documentary film maker is nearing completion of a story about the band, the obstacles they overcame to compete with the top bands in the world, make it through the qualifier round and ultimately win an incredibly respectable 11th place.  NWJPB made a small donation to help John finish this important project, and we encourage our supporters to do the same.  

Music, Piping and Drumming can be an incredibly healthy and meaningful activity for youth, and the more opportunities there are for people to become familiar with the superstars of piping and drumming, the more youth will consider this a reasonable option.  Please check out the press release introducing you to John McDonald, the project, and please consider donating to the cause.  Help us help John bring stories like this into the mainstream!

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker John McDonaldEmmy Award-winning filmmaker John McDonald, who also pipes with the Pasadena Scots in California, is still seeking enough funding to complete his feature-length documentary on the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.

Entitled ON THE DAY, the documentary follows the band of elite players during its one and only week together in August 2008, as the group of more than 40 pipers and drummers assembled and practiced for the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship at Glasgow Green. The film is set to premiere as part of the week-long Piping Live! festival at the Glasgow Film Theatre on August 14, the day before the Worlds. Adding another dimension to the story, McDonald will actually be competing with his Grade 4 band in the Worlds this year.

An initial donation from a private party enabled McDonald and a cameraman to travel to Scotland, and he has raised additional contributions from the piping and Scottish-American community. “I have given a year of my life working only on this film,” McDonald says. “It has been a labor of love for me, my dream project about the dream team of bagpipers. Every dollar I’ve received has gone directly into the film.” However, with a total budget for the film of more than $200,000, he says he still has a ways to go in order to finish the editing and audio mixing.

Each week McDonald has been offering short clips from the rough cut of the film that feature some of the musicians, such as Roddy MacLeod, Jim McGillivray, Angus MacColl, John Fisher, Niall Matheson, Alasdair Gillies, and Willie McCallum. These “clips-of-the week” are first launched in the ON THE DAY Facebook Group and then later go up on YouTube.

The project has non-profit status through a fiscal sponsorship with the International Documentary Association (IDA), making contributions tax-deductible for US residents. A $100 donation gets you a credit in the film’s titles and a special pre-released first-edition DVD, and for $200 or more you will additionally receive a collectable Spirit of Scotland cap badge. A preview of the film can be seen and donations can be made at www.OnTheDayMovie.com.

]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/16/nwjpb-supports-documentary-on-the-day/feed/ 0 Northwest Junior Pipe Band – Two Time Washington Champions, Great Grade 3 challenge results! http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/13/northwest-junior-pipe-band-two-time-washington-champions-great-grade-3-challenge-results/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/13/northwest-junior-pipe-band-two-time-washington-champions-great-grade-3-challenge-results/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:55:46 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=457 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 
]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/07/13/northwest-junior-pipe-band-two-time-washington-champions-great-grade-3-challenge-results/feed/ 0 48.418828 -122.343585 Building on Success, 1st place and best drum corps at BC Highland Games http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/29/building-on-success/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/29/building-on-success/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:12:08 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=450 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!

]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/29/building-on-success/feed/ 0 49.290306 -122.784489 NWJPB’s first trip to Sons of Scotland Games in Delta, BC a success http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/14/nwjpbs-first-trip-to-sons-of-scotland-games-in-delta-bc-a-success/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/14/nwjpbs-first-trip-to-sons-of-scotland-games-in-delta-bc-a-success/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:27:04 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=447 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
]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/14/nwjpbs-first-trip-to-sons-of-scotland-games-in-delta-bc-a-success/feed/ 0 49.156022 -122.91242 A day of new firsts for Northwest Junior Pipe Band http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/08/a-day-of-new-firsts-for-northwest-junior-pipe-band/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/08/a-day-of-new-firsts-for-northwest-junior-pipe-band/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:45:39 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/?p=438 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)
]]> http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/06/08/a-day-of-new-firsts-for-northwest-junior-pipe-band/feed/ 0 48.821375 -122.575008 1st Competition a New Milestone for Youth Pipers and Drummers http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/04/12/1st-competition-a-new-milestone-for-youth-pipers-and-drummers/ http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/04/12/1st-competition-a-new-milestone-for-youth-pipers-and-drummers/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:35:54 +0000 Todd Schiele http://insider.nwjpb.org/2009/04/12/403/ NWJPB May 9th Party / Fundraiser -- Sold Out!

Eleven Northwest Junior Pipe Band pipers and drummers competed in solo events at the 77th Annual British Columbia Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering Friday and Saturday April 10th and 11th ; 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 1st Place. 8 registered to compete
  • Grade 4 Piping Strathspey & Reel; Elliot T 1st place. Matt A 6th place. 20 registered to compete.
  • Grade 3 Piping Strathspey & Reel; Aaron S 5th place. 23 registered to compete
  • Grade 2 Piping March, Strathspey & Reel; Alexander S 1st place (William Lamont Memorial Trophy). 25 registered to compete
  • Grade 2 Piping Piobaireachd; Alexander S 2nd place. 20 registered to compete.
  • Grade 2 Piping Hornpipe & Jig; Alexander S 5th 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 2nd place, Bryce K 4th place. 11 registered to compete.
  • Grade 4 Drumming 6/8 March; Steven W 1st place, Bryce K 2nd 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 3rd 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 3rd 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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