Washington Pipers’ Association

update 2/1/2009:  missing tenor drum results added

Great turnout for the 2nd mini-gathering of the season, and a lot of talent was on display.  Micah Babinski judged piping events, and John Scullion from Northern Ireland (in town for the Mastery of Scottish Arts events beginning the 6th of February) judged drumming.  Washington is continuing to see great growth in talent and continued growth of interest in bagpiping and drumming.  Our season of monthly competitions give the community an opportunity to keep in touch, and for pipers and drummers to keep their focus on improvement and building skills and preparing for the summer competition season. 

Competitions were held in every grade level in piping, with two competitors in both Grade 2 and Grade 1; a first in the last several years.

It’s fun to see everyone in the community turn out, there were at least eight of top bagpipe instructors in Washington present, in addition to several of the top drumming instructors (not to mention our judge from Ireland), and a whole host of volunteers, supporters and parents, visiting, catching up on some of the stories of the past summer and listening to the wide variety of music of the Great Highland Bagpipe.

Chanter:  Slow Air  1 competitor

1. Peter North, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 5 Piping:  Slow Air    5 competitors

1. Megan McCrea Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Russell Prewitt
3. Marcus Devight  Northwest Junior Pipe Band
4. Karl Stahlfield

Adult Piping:  Piobaireachd Ground  2 Competitors

1. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band
2. Kenneth Robinson, Alumni, Clan Gordon Pipe Band

Adult Piping:  Any March  2 competitors

1. Cleda Thompson,  Kenmore & District Pipe Band
2. Kenneth Robinson, Alumni: Clan Gordon Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping:  2/4 March    7 competitors

1. Elliot Thomson, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Paul Vegors, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Malcolm Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping:  Piobareachd Ground  3 competitors

1. Malcolm Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band
2. Sean Sele, Portland Metro Pipe Band
3. Saul Goodwin, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 3 Piping:  Piobareachd   5 Competitors

1. Aaron Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Eric Roux, Elliott Bay Pipe Band
3. Chris Cahoon, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Grade 2 Piping:  March, Strathspey & Reel  2 Competitors

1. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Alex MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band

Grade 2 Piping:  Hornpipe & Jig  2 Competitors

1. Alex MacLeod, Washington Scottish Pipe Band
2. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 1 Piping:  March, Strathspey & Reel  2 Competitors

1. Theodore Krogh

Grade 1 Piping:  6/8 March  2 Competitors

1. Theodore Krogh
2. Christohper Donald, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band

Grade 5 Drumming:  Any March  2 competitors

1. Robert Graham, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Jackson DeVight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 4 Drumming:  Any March  4 competitors

1. Bryce Kreger, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Steven Wheeler, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Joseph Young, Northwest Junior Pipe Band
4. Morgan Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 3 Drumming, 6/8 March  1 competitor

1. Amber Stone, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Tenor Drumming, 6/8 March 2 competitors

1. MacKenzie Webster, White Spot Pipe Band
2. Alexander Schiele, Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Several Washington pipers and drummers are headed to Kansas City, Missouri to participate in one of the newest and fastest growing events in the United States, which attracts competitors world-wide.   The 2009 Kansas City Winter Storm by the Midwest Highland Arts Fund begins Friday January 16th.

The event posted the order of play last week, here are the relevant competitions and the Washington representatives.  Washington Pipers’ Association wishes all of them the very best in their travels and competitions:

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medal Bass Drumming Championship
Noel Keyes; Coupeville, WA

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medal Tenor Drumming Championship
Anne Head; Camas, WA

MHAF & MidWest Pipe Band Association US Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Brian McKenzie; Seattle, WA
William Nichols; Blaine, WA

Tone Czar Bagpipes – MHAF North American Gold Medal Ceol Beag Competition
Colin Gemmell; Lacey, WA
Jori Chisholm; Seattle, WA
Brian McKenzie; Seattle, WA
William Nichols; Blaine, WA

R.G. Hardie – MHAF US Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Jori Chisholm; Seattle, WA
Colin Gemmell; Lacey, WA

Here are the 2008 results for Washington pipers and drummers:

The Midwest Highland Arts Fund & MidWest Pipe Band Association United States Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition:
3rd: $300 USD Brian McKenzie, Seattle, Washington “Corrienessan’s Salute”

The Midwest Highland Arts Fund Amateur Bass Drumming Championships:
Intermediate winning an MHAF Bronze Medal
2nd: Noel Keys, Coupeville, Washington

The Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medal and Amateur Tenor Drumming Championships:
Intermediate winning an MHAF Bronze Medal
1st: Libby Hale, Lake Forest Park, Washington

The Kansas City St. Andrew Society – Midwest Highland Arts Fund United States Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Champion: $750 USD, and the US Gold Medal Jori Chisholm, Seattle, Washington “My King has Landed in Moidart”

Thanks to Brian McKenzie, local piper and instructor who is among the top professional pipers in the world in solo competitions, recently winning 3rd in 2008 and 2nd in the 2007 Midwest Highland Arts Fund & MWPBA US Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition at Winter Storm,  Thanks also to Steve Roy, multi-talented percussionist, instructor and drumming director for judging Snare and Tenor drumming Saturday. 

Our new location was very well received, and we look forward to working through the kinks and continuing to enhance the experience at the Grace Fellowship Church in Lynnwood, WA.  We look forward to your feedback, please let us know if you have any concerns, comments, or suggestions.

Chanter (Any March)

1. Peter North (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)  

Grade 5 Piping (Any March)

1. Megan McCrea (Northwest Junior Pipe Band) 
2. Russell Prewitt

Adult Piping – Slow Air

1. Cleda Thompson (Kenmore and District Pipe Band)
2. Ken Robinson
3. Allan MacLeod (Washington Scottish Pipe Band)

Adult Piping -  Any March

1. Cleda Thompson (Kenmore and District Pipe Band)
2. Ken Robinson

Grade 4 Piping – 6/8 March

1. Elliot Thomson (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Matthew Alger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Paul Vegors (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 4 Piping – Strathespey & Reel

1. Matthew Alger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 3 Piping - 2/4 March

1. Aaron Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. MacKenzie Webster (White Spot Pipe Band)
3. Kathleen Lindsey

Grade 3 Piping – Strathspey & Reel

1. Aaron Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Kathleen Lindsey

Grade 2 Piping - Piobaireachd

1. Alex MacLeod (Washington Scottish Pipe Band)
2. Alexander Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 5 Drumming (Any March)

1. Robert Graham (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 4 Drumming – Any March

1. Steven Wheeler (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Bryce Kreger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Joseph Young (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
4. Morgan Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
5. Morgan McCullough (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 3 Drumming – 2/4 March

1. Amber Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Tenor Drumming – Any Tune

1. MacKenzie Webster (White Spot Pipe Band)
2. Alexander Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Ali North (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)