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.

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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 >>

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.

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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!

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.

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.

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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.

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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!

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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>>>

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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.

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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".

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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!

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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

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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!

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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>>

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.

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!

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