Washington Pipers' Association » Community

Historic Washington Band Seeking New Members

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:09:58 +0000

The Washington Scottish would like to extend an invitation to any pipers or drummers in the area that might be considering joining a pipe band in the near future or possibly in the fall to contact band officers, visit a band practice, or stop by the band tent at one of the games during the summer. The band competes in grade 3 competition. However, it also does programs, parades, and special events so there is activity for all levels of experience. Instruction for beginners is available. As can be seen in photo below there is a wide range of age that include parents and children of three families. The band practices Thursday nights in Seattle off 45th NW, just a few blocks off of I-5 in the First Nazarene Church at 4401 2nd NE. Contact P/M David Guthrie at 253-946-2538 or Band President Roy Cotton at 425-776-7473

Visit the Washington Scottish website

Washington sends largest number of competitors to US Juvenile Solo Championships

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:32:02 +0000

A sure sign of a very bright future for Washington State piping and drumming, four young competitors between the ages of 11 and 16 head to Pittsburgh, PA this weekend for the Balmoral Classic, the US Junior Solo Bagiping & Snare Drumming Championships.

Our best wishes for great music and great experiences go with all of these fine young Grade 1 pipers and drummers: (listed alphabetically)

Alexander Schiele (14), BCPA Grade 1 Piping 2nd place in Grand Aggregate standings 2010
Joe Stewart (15), BCPA Grade 2 Piping 2nd place in Grand Aggregate standings 2010
Aaron Stone (16), BCPA Grade 2 Piping Grand Aggregate Champion 2010
Amber Stone (11), BCPA Grade 2 side drumming Grand Aggregate Champion 2010

All of these top level competitors began with Washington based instructors and progressed very quickly through the competition ranks through their own hard work and determination, as well as instruction from some of the finest instructors in the US. They’re all very good friends as well, now playing with Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band, a Grade 1 Pipe Band based in the Vancouver, BC area. Alexander, Aaron and Amber played with Northwest Junior Pipe Band for the last several years, and Joe started his piping career with Kevin Auld, NWJPB Director, and has studied with Jori Chisolm and Shaunna Hilder.

The competitor list is on the Balmoral Classic website, and Washington is sending the largest number of competitors to the event. California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio are tied for 2nd place with three each. Only 13 pipers and 6 drummers from around the United States were invited to this relatively new event celebrating youth musicians with the goal of strengthening US youth piping and drumming.

Winners receive Highland bagpipes by McCallum Bagpipes and Inveran Bagpipe Makers, a Premier HTS800 snare drum via Henderson Pipe & Drum Supply, scholarships to Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming, and a variety of additional prizes and trophies. Alexander Schiele attended the event last year, placing 5th in Piobaireachd. This is the first trip to the event for Joe, Amber, and Aaron. Good Luck!!

Celtic Arts Foundation Winter School Applications Posted

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:47:38 +0000

Learn from many of the masters of piping, drumming and fiddling at the 2011 Celtic Arts Foundation Winter School in Seabeck, WA.

Applications and more information available here>>

Fiddlers and Smallpipe/Border Pipes sessions: January 30 – February 3rd

Bagpipe & Drumming session: February 5 – 9th

Piping Instructors:

Brian Donaldson, Cardenden, Fife, Scotland
Bruce Gandy, Hallifax, Nova Scotia
Alasdair Gillies, Pittsburg (via Ulapool, Scotland)
Murray Henderson, Scotland (via New Zealand)
Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland
Roddy MacLeod, MBE, Glasgow, Scotland
Fred Morrison, Bishopton, Scotland (and Gernish, South Uist)

Border/Smallpipe Instructors (dedicated smallpipe session January 30 – February 3rd)

Fred Morrison, Bishopton, Scotland (and Gernish, South Uist)

Dr. Gary West, Pitlochry in Perthshire, University of Edinburgh Celtic studies department chair

Drumming Instructors:

Michael Cole, Bass Drum, Chicago, IL

Tyler Fry, Tenor Drum, Ontario, Canada

John Scullion, Side Drum, Omagh County, Northern Ireland

Blair Brown, Side Drum, Ontario, Canada

Gordon Brown, Side Drum, West Lothian, Scotland

Fiddle Instructors:

Andrea Beaton
Troy MacGillivray
Deirdre Morrision

SSHGA Heather Tartan Ball November 6th

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:48:09 +0000

Mark your calendars for the annual Heather Tartan Ball on November 6th! This is an important fundraiser for the largest Scottish event in region, the Pacific Northwest Highland Games. Click the poster for more details.

April Mini-Gathering Pictures Posted

Todd — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:36:38 +0000

We’re missing a photo card, not sure if it’s a permanent loss, but we hope our Grade 3 pipers can forgive us for misplacing them, your pictures were left off this posting. Hopefully it will turn up and we’ll add them later. Visit the photo album to see the everyone else’s pictures though.

Seattle Firefighters Pipes & Drums Pipe Major nominated for a Jefferson Award

Todd — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:52:58 +0000

The awards, sponsored by the Seattle P-I and Microsoft Corp., have honored community involvement in Washington state since 1977. The program was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sen. Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard to recognize the special dedication, sacrifices and significant accomplishments of individuals in service to the American people. The awards also strive to motivate new leaders in public service.

Five people will be selected from the nomination list to receive Jefferson Award medallions honoring their contributions to community service.

Spencer Nelson, Snoqualmie — Has been a Seattle firefighter for five years, after serving three years with the Phoenix Fire Department. When he arrived in 2003, he discovered that Seattle did not have department bagpipers to play at celebrations and funerals. Using his own bagpiping skills, he was the inspiration for the Seattle Firefighters’ Pipes and Drums, which now has 21 members from firehouses throughout Seattle.

See more of the nominees in the Seattle PI story.

Local Pipe Band in the news

Todd — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:14:18 +0000

Northwest Junior Pipe Band performed on live television today for St. Patrick’s Day on King 5, and recorded a story for Northwest Cable News. See the NWJPBlog for details, and catch some of the video online.

We’ll post links or info for any Washington Pipe Pand or piping and drumming news about our members, contact us to let us know about it!

Help the SSHGA continue their years of success!

Todd — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:43:09 +0000

The Seattle Scottish Highland Games Association has been going strong in the Northwest for 62 years. The largest Highland Games west of the Mississippi and north of San Francisco, it’s time for new volunteers to help. The 2nd Annual SSHGA Volunteer Fair & 2007 Volunteer Thank You event is coming in February!

February 23, 2008
Saint Andrews Episcopal Church
111 NE 80th
Seattle, Washington

See the brochure, and register online here: http://www.sshga.org/association/volunteer.htm

Governor Gregoire announces Heritage Award for Skagit Valley’s Celtic Arts Foundation Director.

Todd — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 05:09:20 +0000

Congratulations to Skye Richendrfer, Director of the Skagit Valley Celtic Arts Foundation in receiving the Governor’s Arts & Heritage Award. The Arts and Heritage Awards recognize individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to the creativity and culture of Washington.

Skye K. Richendrfer is the founder of the Celtic Arts Foundation and the Skagit Valley Highland Games, which draws 10,000 annually. His impact in the community is also demonstrated through is work to support the restoration of the historic Lincoln Theatre in downtown Mount Vernon, worked on fundraising to support the McIntyre Hall on the Skagit Valley College campus, and creating the “Celtic Stage” in Mount Vernon’s Edgewater Park. The Celtic Arts Foundation has been a long time supporter of the Washington Pipers’ Association.