NWJPB - Band Family

Founded in 1995, Northwest Junior Pipe Band has become an enduring feature of the Pacific Northwest Scottish music community.

Mission

Northwest Junior Pipe Band is a Scottish bagpipe and drum band that provides world-class musical and leadership experience for youth (Ages 8-18) in the Pacific Northwest welcoming all in the pursuit of learning and performing the Celtic musical arts.

Tartan and Uniform

The band wears MacKenzie tartan kilts and a traditional ‘civilian’ style pipe band uniform. We are not associated with the MacKenzie clan, but take pride in our tartan’s association with the Highland Light Infantry, of which our founder Charlie McNeill was a member. More about the band’s history here.

Commitment and Performance

The band meets nearly year-round, practicing September through July and takes a break during the month of August. As a competitive band we travel throughout the Pacific NW to Scottish events ranging from British Colombia to Oregon and several events here in Washington. Throughout the year we perform for community events, private engagements as well as public concerts like our Celtic Celebration concert each May. Approximately every 4 years we travel to Glasgow Scotland to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships.

Membership

As Washington State’s only competitive youth pipe band, we attract players from all over the Puget Sound region. The band is based in Edmonds, WA, but our members travel from as far away as Bainbridge, Vashon and Whidbey islands, Port Angeles and the Cascade foothills. Most of our instructors and band members come from the Seattle metropolitan area and north Seattle.

Teaching and Learning

Dozens of young pipers and drummers have come through our Pipe Band School education program - most having no musical experience prior to joining. Pipe Band School gives kids a solid musical foundation that will serve them not only in pipe band, but also in their school band and onward into college. Click for more about Pipe Band School. Many of our alumni players return to help teach, with 4 out of 6 current instructors having come through our program as kids.

Organization

Northwest Junior Pipe Band is a 501(C)3 nonprofit, volunteer-run organization. Our band family includes band members, instructors, band parents past and present as well as alumni and community volunteers. Donors, sponsors and patrons help keep our organization afloat, supporting our operating costs of uniforms, instruments, instruction and travel. Click for information on how you can support NWJPB.

Values

As a band family we strive to maintain our reputation of professionalism, positive attitude, gratitude. This is represented in our band values of Excellence, Teamwork & Community.

More about our band: History / Instructors / Location / Contacts