Washington Pipers’ Association

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)

100 years ago next year, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition put Seattle on the map, celebrating the culture, industry and innovation that still define our region today. 

More information will be coming soon, but bookmark the below webpage, and expect to hear more from us at the Washington Pipers’ Association to encourage your individual and band participation in this significant opportunity to promote our art.  The opportunities for news coverage and media exposure are going to be significant, and the more people hear and see the talent of Washington State bagpipe bands, the more people will be interested in joining us in this unique and rewarding experience. 

100 Pipers for 100 years!

After a busy summer and challenging beginning of fall, we’ve finally confirmed a new location for the 2009 competition season.  Registration forms coming soon.  We’re going to move the “deadline” for discounted registration up to January 3rd, due to another late start getting the information out for the upcoming year.

January 3rd
January 31st (skipping February due to MSA and BC mini gatherings)
March 7th
April 4th
May 2nd

Location: Grace Fellowship church in Lynnwood, WA
6328 180th St SW
Lynnwood, WA 98037

Registration Forms available now!

Directions updated

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) 

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.

The current aggregate standings for 2008 are here>>

Please help us by reviewing for accuracy. Competitors who attended 4 of 5 events for the season are eligible for the scholarship drawings and aggregate awards, and are highlighted in bold. If you attended 3 or 4 events but your name isn’t listed in bold, please contact us.