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New group lessons starting soon!
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Historic Start to 2009 Season!
Northwest Junior Pipe Band started the 2009 summer season at the Bellingham Highland Games with a first place and best drum corps for both Grade 5 and Grade 4 bands. The Grade 4 band made their first trip to the Sons of Scotland Highland Games in Delta, BC on June 13th, placing 1st of 3 bands and best drum corps.
Saturday, June 27th, the band
returned the 2008 Grade 4 Robert Malcolm Memorial Trophy to the BC Highland Games in the morning, but returned with it again in the evening.
The band had 23 soloist top 6
results in solo competitions, 3 aggregate trophies
(Grade 5 piping, Grade 4 drumming, and Grade 2 piping), and then
won best drum corps and 1st place in band. The Grade 5 band made their second trip to the games and competed in a talented
field of bands, taking 3rd place.
In NWJPB's 14 year history, the
Grade 4 band has never had such a
successful start to the competition
season. NWJPBlog... | |
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| NWJPB Ceilidh Fundraiser Blowout!
Our annual Mother's Day Eve ceilidh fundraiser
was a huge success. A sold-out crowd of nearly 250 family
and friends filled the Lake City Elks Club to help support
these kids and their music. Silent auction, desert auction,
raffles, dinner, coctails and three hours of awesome
music and dance. What a show. NWJPB alumnus Micah Babinski
dropped by to play a few tunes, as well as local pro-level
piper Brian McKenzie. The Karen Shelton Highland Dancers
graced the stage with beautiful display of Scottish
traditional dance. The Bucket Men joined in to get the
crowd rockin while the NWJPB Grade 4 and Grade 5 bands
filled the evening with fabulous performances.
We are happy to report that after all the numbers were
crunched, this was our most successful fundraiser EVER,
raising nearly $10,000! Thanks to everyone who attended,
volunteered and donated to this memorable and hugely
successful event.
Check
out the photos here >>
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| BCPA Indoor Competition Successes
NWJPB pipers and drummers brought home a pile of awards
from the British Columba Pipers' Association Annual
Gathering over the Easter weekend. Northwest Junior
Pipe Band entered two bands in the Grade 4 competition,
with more members in each band than we had in the whole
organization just 5 years ago.
Top Band: The two NWJPB Grade
4 mini-bands placed 1st and 4th, with the "A"
band led by our youth Pipe Major bringing home trophies
for winning the competition as well as for best piping.
World-renowned piper and adjudicator Alasdair Gillies
ranked the pipers in our bands in 1st and 2nd place.
The competition is very close again this year and this
is an exciting start to the new season for NWJPB.
Top Soloists: Two aggregate
awards for solo competitors, two piping & drumming
scholarships, and top 6 finishes in 15 events made for
a historic and memorable outing for NWJPB members.
See more info on our Blog.
NWJPBlog...
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| 2009 Here We Come!
This will be another big year for NWJPB, in more ways
than one! Our ranks have nearly doubled over the past
year and our Grade 4 band will field it's largest roster
to date. At this time, we have more PIPERS in the Grade
4 band than we had MEMBERS in the entire organization
5 years ago. Incredible.
Always Growing: This is a building
year for NWJPB - working on music fundamentals, recruiting
and building the organization. As well as growing in
numbers, our band is also growing taller! It's always
a struggle to keep kids in kilts that fit. So this year
we will embark on an ambitious fundraising campaign
to ensure the band has what it needs to succeed.
Big plans are in the works around the
NWJPB camp. A revised and retooled teaching program,
new instruments, revamped website, travel plans and
of course our commitment to community outreach and student
scholarships ~ making piping and drumming accessible
to as many kids as possible.
Stay
tuned for all the exciting details as 2009
unfolds. We will be unveiling new and easy ways for
you to be a part of the growth of this unique and dynamic
band family.
Happy 2009!
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| Home At Last... Ready for More?
The band had barely begun to unpack from two action-packed
weeks in Scotland when we put on our kilts again and
performed for thousands of Seattle Mariners Baseball
fans. It was Irish Heritage Night at the Mariners and
the band played a set of Irish jigs for the Baile Glas
Irish Dancers. A big thanks to the Seattle
Irish Heritage Club for a great performance opportunity.
Here
are some photos of the event >>
Next up we will be finalizing our practice and teaching
calendar for the Fall and Winter. Group lessons and
band practices will be starting soon, so contact us
if you are interested. Or
join our mailing list.
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| NWJPB First at Crieff Highland Games!
NWJPB competed for the last time this season at the
Crieff Highland Games on August 17th. Graduating Senior
and Juvenile Pipe Major Matt M led the band into the
last competition with the junior band, with seniors
Katie G, Katie H, and Colleen S. also competing for
the last time. The announcer read Northwest Junior Pipe
Band in first place. The band comes away from our Scotland
trip with two first place finishes, two fifths, a third
and a seventh, a very respectable showing against some
of the best bands the world has to offer.
Blog...
Results...
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| NWJPB Fifth in World Pipe Band Championships!
A lot of pride filled the ranks of NWJPB at the World
Pipe Band Championships on August 16th at Glasgow Green.
The band placed 3rd in the qualifier heat, and 5th overall
in a very successful day for the little pipe band that
has grown up rapidly over the past several years. The
band brought home the Tayside Shield and prepared for
the Crieff Highland Games on August 17th.
Blog...
Results...
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| NWJPB First at Perth, Scotland!
NWJPB members struggled with the wind, rain, and mud
at North Berwick Highland Games on Saturday August 9th,
placing in the middle of the group of both the Novice
Juvenile and Juvenile grades when they challenged up
to perform both the March Medley and the Medley Selection.
The band really shined in the spotty sunshine at Perth
on Sunday August 10th. Competing against the largest
field of pipe bands in NWJPB history, the band approached
the start line with renewed purpose, and played through
like professionals.
From a field of 24 pipe bands, NWJPB placed 1st in
the Grade 4 March Medley competition. Way to go!
Blog...
Results...
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| Big Weekend in Enumclaw!
Braving rain, sun, wind and end-of-the-season
exhaustion, NWJPB came away with some very respectable
results!
The
Grade 4 band placed 3rd out of 9 on Saturday, and 2nd
out of 9 on Sunday including the prize for "best
drum corps". Our drummers also tied for "best
overall drum corps" for the two day event.
Our Grade 5 band played very well, and we are hoping
that next year some other Grade 5 bands will come to
Enumclaw to compete!
Our two piping quartets did quite well, placing 1st
and 4th, in a field of seven entries. Many of our soloists
brought home prizes as well, including two aggregate
trophies. Congratulations to everyone for a great weekend,
and a fantastic local competition season!
Once we have dried out our pipes and wiped the mud from
our drums, we'll be practicing this week and heading
for Scotland on August 5th!
A big thank-you to the entire piping community for your
unending support this season. The cheers, kudos and
well-wishes have really meant a lot. All this good energy
really helps us toward our biggest goal yet, just one
week away. Stay tuned for more info, and be sure to
sign up for email updates>>>
Blog...
Results...
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| 1st Place - Portland Highland Games!
4 in a row for NWJPB Grade 4. After a long
drive, and expecting another blazing hot cooker in Portland,
the band was pleasantly surprised with an unusually
mild, sunny day.
Through a very close contest, the band came away with
yet another 1st place, letting us know we are on the
right track headed for Scotland this year.
Next up is Enumclaw! (The Claw) Including a free concert
performance at the games Friday night. Join us for our
last North American contest this summer.
Blog...
Results...
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| 2008 Washington State Champions!
July 12th and 13th was an incredible weekend
for the band at the Skagit
Valley Highland Games. Many solo competitors placed
very well (4 of 6 placings in Grade 4 drumming, and
an aggregate winner). On Saturday Grade 5 gave a great
performance, winning 1st place in band competition and
taking the prize for "best drum corps". On
Sunday Grade 5 also took 1st place in the Drum Salute
contest.
Grade 4 won best drum corps and 1st place of 5 bands
Saturday, and best drum corps and 1st place of 3 bands
Sunday, earning the title "2008 Washington Grade
4 Pipe Band Champions".
Blog...
Results...
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| NWJPB Grade 4 - 1st Place at BC
Wow, what a day. Despite a very early morning,
long drive, scorching heat and intense competition,
our grade 4 band took home the 1st place trophy, including
Best Drum Corps! Only our third year in this grade and
our highest placing as a band to date. What a great
feeling.
We would like to thank the White Spot Pipe Band for
providing lunch, as well as friendship, on our visit
to the BC Games. Also, congratulations to White Spot
and Fraser Valley Youth Pipe Bands for playing sooo
well in Grade 5. What an inspiration.
Next up is the Skagit Valley Highland Games the 2nd
weekend in July. You can bet we'll be working hard to
maintain our momentum. All the way to Scotland!
Blog...
Results...
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Great start to the competition season!
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 5: 1st place
at the Bellingham Highland Games, also winning Best
Drum Corps.
Grade 4 placed 2nd of 5 pipe bands in the best overall
showing ever for NWJPB. Our next competition is
the British
Columbia Highland Games. Check our schedule
for our next performance Fathers' Day at the Lake Forest
Park Third Place Books "Children's Fair at the
Farmers' Market", 11:00 am
Blog...
Results...
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| Ceilidh Nite a Big Success!
Wow, what an event... The reaction to our first ever
Ceilidh/Dinner/Fundraiser has been overwhelmingly positive.
Thanks to everyone who attended and helped support our
last Scotland fundraiser. This night helped push us
over the top of our fundraising goal of $32,000.
And a big thank you to all of our guest performers,
including some NWJPB alumni, Piper's Creek and Patrick
Downing. The Karen Shelton Highland Dancers wowed the
crowd of 280 supporters and the Bucketmen capped off
the night with their big, energetic sound.
We are definitely planning another ceilidh night for
next year, so stay tuned and get your tickets early!
Blog..
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NWJPB on TV
Northwest Junior Pipe Band members appeared
on the King 5 morning news on St. Patrick's Day. We marched
along Madison street to The
Attic Ale House and joined Irish Pipers, Fiddlers,
the Baile
Glas Irish Dancers and the Seattle
Gaels Hurling Club celebrating St. Patrick's Day.
Bonus video was also filmed for the King 5 and Northwest
Cable News websites, available here>>
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NWJPB on 710 Kiro Radio's Ron and Don Show
Two NWJPB pipers and a drummer appeared on 710 Kiro's
Ron
and Don Show at 3:00 on St. Patrick's Day. A
Podcast is available on their website.
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Happy 2008!
This is going to be one exciting year for the
band. We are planning a 'ceilidh night' fundraiser in
May, highland games start in June and of course SCOTLAND
in August! The World Pipe Band Championship is a dream
come true for the NWJPB and our plans for the trip are
really shaping up.
Watch this space for exciting new info as last year's
news items are archived and we drive full-steam-ahead
into 2008!
Blog...
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