Washington Pipers’ Association

Thanks to David Keachie for judging drumming this month, and Patrick Downing for returning to judge piping.  David is an accomplished drummer and currently lead stroke for the Washington Scottish Pipe Band Grade 3; you may recognize him from WPA in Adult piping competitions over the last couple of years; he’s re-focusing on Snare Drumming.  Patrick recently made the leap to the Professional grade of competition bagpiping after a couple of years of great success in Grade 1 and 2 straight World Pipe Band Championship wins with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. 

Note, the Washington Pipers website got a “trojan horse” virus recently.  We believe it has been corrected, but please ensure you scan and repair your systems if you have visited the site in February.  Here’s a free Virus software program: AVG Free we’ve used with success.

Chanter – Slow Air – 2 Competitors

1. Stuart MacDonald – Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Morgan Schiele – Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 5 Piping – 6/8 March – 3 Competitors

1. Katrina Jones – Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Russell Prewitt
3. Karl Stahlfeld – Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Adult Piping – 2/4 March – 3 Competitors

1. Diane Axworthy
2. Cleda Thompson Kenmore and District Pipe Band

Adult Piping – Slow Air – 3 Competitors

1. Cleda Thompson – Kenmore and District Pipe Band
2. Diane Axworthy
3. David Wilkie

Grade 4 Piping – Piobaireachd – 1 Competitor

1. Malcolm Roux – Elliott Bay Pipe Band

Grade 4 Piping – 6/8 March – 2 Competitors

1. Malcolm Roux – Elliott Bay Pipe Band
2. Marcus DeVight – Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 3 Piping – Jig – 3 Competitors

1. Matthew Alger Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Saul Goodwin Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Eric Roux Elliott Bay Pipe Band

Grade 3 Piping – Strathspey & Reel – 3 Competitors

1. Saul Goodwin Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Matthew Alger Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Eric Roux Elliott Bay Pipe Band

Grade 1 Piping – 6/8 March – 1 Competitor

1. Alexander Schiele Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 1 Piping – 2/4 March – 1 Competitor

1. Alexander Schiele Northwest Junior Pipe Band

Grade 4 Side Drumming – 6/8 March – 3 Competitors

1. Morgan McCullough Northwest Junior Pipe Band
2. Robert Graham Jr.  Northwest Junior Pipe Band
3. Grayson Parr  Northwest Junior Pipe Band

The BC Pipers’ Association added an update about the amazing results from our region at the biggest solo competition event for piping and drumming in the United States.

Washington State was well represented, with 3 top placings

United States Silver Medal for Piobaireachd

1. Brian McKenzie – Seattle
2. Will Nichols – Blaine

North American Amateur Drumming Championships – Grade 3

1. Steven Wheeler – Auburn

All of these competitors have competed or adjudicated at Washington Pipers’ Association events.  Congratulations on this major accomplishment!

In all, there were 12 players in the results from the Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia region, and including players who play with BCPA region bands, our region had the largest number of players in the top results of any North American organization.   Congratulations!

 The first event of the competition season had a modest turn-out, but good music, great adjudicators, and a bonus drumming workshop made for a great day overall.   Thanks to Scott Robertson making the trip down from BC, and John Dally for making the trip from Vashon Island. 

A couple announcements about the season; note that tune requirements are on the last page of the membership and registration form and are the same requirments used by the BC Pipers’ Association, which will help competiors preparing for events at the BC Mini Gatherings, or during the summer competition season.  Next, please note that ALL events are the third Saturday of the month, a change from the original schedule. 

Grade 5 piping – 2/4 March - 5 competitors

1. Diego Alvarez
2. Karl Stahlfeld
3. Peter North
4. Russell Prewitt
5. Kennan Mighell

Adult piping – Slow Air - 3 competitors

1. Diane Axworthy
2. Cleda Thompson
3. David Wilkie

Adult piping – 6/8 March – 3 competitors

1. Diane Axworthy
2. Cleda Thompson
3. David Wilkie

Grade 4 piping – 2/4 March - 5 competitors

1. Paul Vegors
2. Marcus DeVight
3. Sean Sele

Grade 4 Piping – Strathspey & Reel – 5 competitors

1. Marcus DeVight
2. Sean Sele
3. Paul Vegors

Grade 3 Piping – Piobaireachd – 2 competitors

1. Matthew Alger

Grade 2 Piping – 6/8 March – 1 competitor

1. Aaron Stone

Grade 2 Piping – Hornpipe & Jig - 1 competitor

1. Aaron Stone

Grade 4 Side Drumming – 2/4 March – 4 competitors

1. Robert Graham
2. Morgan McCullough
3. Jackson DeVight
4. Grayson Parr

Grade 3 Side Drumming – 2/4 March - 1 competitor

1. Bryce Kreger

Grade 2 Side Drumming – March, Strathspey & Reel – 1 competitor

1. Amber Stone

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

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)

Eight pipers and drummers from Washington State–all recent members of WPA–received promotions in their competition grade from the British Columbia Pipers’ Association, announced on September 27th, 2008.

The Promotions announcements are available here>>

Congratulations to these members for the recognition of their hard work last season.

Grade 2 to Grade 1 piping:

Christopher Donald

Grade 3 to Grade 2 Piping:

Alex MacLeod
James Makinson
Alexander Schiele

Grade 4 to Grade 3 Piping:

Daniel Stewart
Joseph Stewart
Aaron Stone

Grade 4 to Grade 3 Drumming:

Amber Stone

Congratulations to the Northwest Junior Pipe Band and the Keith Highlanders Grade 4 pipe band for their great showings on their recent Scotland trips.  Both bands were the top bands from the United States in their competition grade.  The Keith Highlanders was the top Grade 4B band from the United States at the World Championships, and the Northwest Junior Pipe Band was the top US youth pipe band from either Novice or Juvenile.

The Keith Highlanders competed at the Perth Highland Games, placing 5th in a field of 24 bands.  They followed this strong performance with a first place in the World Pipe Band Championships qualifier for Grade 4B, and a third place finish in the final.  Results from the RSPBA are available here>>.

The Northwest Junior Pipe Band competed at North Berwick Highland Games, Perth Highland Games, Crieff Highland Gathering and The World Pipe Band Championships.  The band placed 5th in Juvenile and 7th in Novice Juvenile at North Berwick, First of 24 bands in Grade 4 at Perth, first of 11 Grade 4 bands at Crieff, third in the World Championships qualifier, and fifth in the world at the World Pipe Band Championships.  Results for NWJPB from the RSPBA are available here>>.  A growing Blog about their Scotland trip is available here>>.

Combine these incredible top results for Washington Pipe Bands with the other results from our region from White Spot Pipe Band from BC, who placed sixth in Juvenile at the World Championships, and Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from BC, who won the title of World Champion AND best drum corps, the Northwest and BC are truly among the most talented areas of the world for the top talent in bagpipe bands.

Two bands from Washington are competing in Scotland at the World Pipe Band Championships on Saturday, August 16th.  The Keith Highlanders and Northwest Junior Pipe Band.  NWJPB competed at North Berwick and Perth, and KHPB competed at Perth.  Northwest Junior Pipe Band placed 7th in Novice Juvenile and 5th in Juvenile at North Berwick, playing under extreme weather conditions, then won first in Grade 4 at Perth, with the Keith Highlanders also doing well, placing 5th out of 24 bands from around the world.  See the news from NWJPB on the NWJPBlog>>.  The placings at Perth on the RSPBA website>>. 

Congratulations, and good luck at the World Pipe Band Championships Saturday!!

NWJPB with the Perth Trophy:

Aggregate awards were handed out at end of the May 3rd gathering.  To receive the award, competitors must not have won in the same grade previously, and must have competed in 4 of 5 events.  Points were awarded in reverse order for the top 6 positions at each event.  1st place: 6 points, 2nd place: 5 points, 3rd place: 4 points, etc.

Chanter:  Paul Vegors

Grade 5 Piping:  Sean Sele

Adult Piping:  Rochelle Eldredge

Grade 4 Piping:  George Perantatos

Grade 3 Piping:  James Makinson

Beginning Drumming (Pad):  Colin Jones

Grade 5 Side Drumming:  Robert Graham

Grade 4 Side Drumming:  Amber Stone

Tenor Drumming:  Kendra MacLeod

Thanks to everyone for attending this year and congratulations to these dedicated competitors!

Scholarship Awards:

There was a bit of confusion about the scholarship process.  To be eligible for an award, competitors had to compete in 4 of 5 events, register before the end of December 2007, and check the box indicating they wished to be included in the Scholarship drawing.  A couple of members were not drawn because their memberships were received at the first event, but one member was received in time but was inadvertently left off the list.  These have been added as second alternates.  The rule for scholarship awards is unlikely to change for next year, because it’s very important to the volunteers of WPA that the membership forms be received early enough to get them processed, especially since Angie Maier has indicated this was her last year volunteering as registrar after many many years of service (nearly 10, we think).  We were a little more flexible about the deadline this year, extending it to the end of December because we were late getting the newsletter and information posted, but for the 2009 season, the deadline will move back to December 15th, 2008.  The rules are posted in the newsletter. 

WPA increased the number of scholarships our members and donors help fund to 5 from 4 last year, and the amount per award to 300.00.  To claim a scholarship award for the two awards donated by Mastery of Scottish Arts and Coeur D’Alene School of Piping and Drumming, please contact us to let us know you plan to use it and we will notify the organization, then you will be able to register with them.  Remember that these awards are for tuition only, the room and board is your responsibility.

WPA $300.00 award winners should register with the piping or drumming school of your choice, get confirmation email from them if possible and then forward the confirmation email to our general contact address info [at] washingtonpipers.org (replacing [at] with @).  Our treasurer Diane Axworthy will then arrange payment with the school you have chosen.  Congratulations!

MSA:               Stewart Nevling (confirmed)
Alternate:       Bryce Kreger

Coeur D’Alene:  David Keachie
Alternate:          Sean Sele

WPA $300:     James Makinson
                     Steven Wheeler
                     George Perantatos
                     Robbie Graham  (claimed)
                     ineligible (to be awarded to alternate)

Alternates:   Gareth Jones
                    Amber Stone
                    Sam Horn
                    Sterling Monroe
                    Eric Roux

2nd Alternates: Malcolm Roux
                        Alex MacLeod
                        Sash Dachenhausen
                        Paul Vegors
                        Peter Jayne

Sorry for the delays getting these posted.  We had a last minute challenge with scheduling judges, but ended up with two judges who needed to leave early, so we scheduled simultaneous competitions.  Thanks to Patrick Downing and Colin Gemmell for jumping in at the last minute to make the day a success.  Thanks to Stephen Farrell for joining us again to finish the season’s drumming competitions.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade 4 performed in the morning, and the Bucketmen performed in the afternoon to rave reviews.  Here’s a sample video from a recent bucketmen recording session.  We’ll try to get video from the WPA event posted soon. 

Chanter (Any March)

1. Todd Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)  
2. Megan McCrea (Northwest Junior Pipe Band) 

Grade 5 Piping (Any March)

1. Gareth Jones (Northwest Junior Pipe Band) 
2. Paul Vegors (Northwest Junior Pipe Band) 
3. Karl Stahlfeld
4. Sash Dachenhausen
5. George Meier (Elliott Bay Pipe Band)
6. Sean Sele

Adult Piping – Slow Air (note, these results were switched, Adult 2/4 March and Slow Air were incorrect, corrected 5/29)

1. Bruce Poliak
2. Diane Axworthy
3. Rochelle Eldridge
4. Allan MacLeod (Washington Scottish Pipe Band)
5. Cleda Thompson (Kenmore and District Pipe Band)

Adult Piping -  2/4 March

1. Bruce Poliak
2. Rochelle Eldridge  
3. Cleda Thompson (Kenmore and District Pipe Band)
4. Diane Axworthy
5. Allan MacLeod (Washington Scottish Pipe Band)

Grade 4 Piping – 6/8 March (8 competitors)

1. George Perantatos
2. Eric Roux (Elliott Bay Pipe Band)
3. David Pollock
4. Sam Horn (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
5. Peter Jayne (Peninsula Pipes and Drums)
6. Matthew Alger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 4 Piping – Strathespey & Reel

1. Aaron Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. George Perantatos
3. Eric Roux (Elliott Bay Pipe Band)
4. David Pollock
5. Matthew Alger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
6. Peter Jayne (Peninsula Pipes and Drums)

Grade 3 Piping – 6/8 March

1. James Makinson (Keith Highlanders Pipe Band)
2. Chris Cahoon (Keith Highlanders Pipe Band)

Grade 3 Piping – Jig

1. Alexander Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. James Makinson (Keith Highlanders Pipe Band)
3. Chris Cahoon (Keith Highlanders Pipe Band)

Grade 1 Piping - March, Strathespey & Reel

1. Patrick Downing (Simon Fraser University Pipe Band) 
2. Christopher Donald (Keith Highlanders Pipe Band)

Grade 5 Drumming (Any March)

1. Thomas Horn (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Angus Hamill (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Robert Graham (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Grade 4 Drumming – Any March

1. Bryce Kreger (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
2. Amber Stone (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
3. Steven Wheeler (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)
4. Morgan Schiele (Northwest Junior Pipe Band)

Tenor Drumming – Any Tune

1. Kendra MacLeod (Washington Scottish Pipe Band)