Northwest Junior Pipe Band top North American youth band at Worlds

Posted on 2008/08/30 by Todd Schiele

The Northwest US and British Columbia (BCPA region) saw talented bands with four of the highest placings for North American bands at the World Pipe Band Championships, with Simon Fraser winning Grade 1, White Spot Pipe Band placing 6th in Juvenile, Keith Highlanders 1st in the 4B Qualifier and 3rd in Grade 4B, and Northwest Junior Pipe Band 3rd in the Novice Qualifer and 5th in the Championships.  The bands also fared very well at other events around Scotland, with Northwest Junior winning Perth and Crieff in Grade 4.

NWJPB 5th at World Pipe Band Championships 2008

Northwest Junior Pipe Band - Top Youth band from North America at Worlds

After three years of planning, dreaming, intense music study, and record-breaking fundraising, Northwest Junior Pipe Band from Shoreline, WA (just north of Seattle) returned August 19th from the first trip to Scotland in the youth bagpipe band’s 13 year history.  The band traveled around Scotland with 30 band members aged 9 to 18 to compete in several highland games and the World Pipe Band Championships, and were featured performers at the opening of the Piping Live! Festival at George Square in Glasgow. 

After placing 5th and 7th in two competitions in heavy rain, wind and mud at the North Berwick Highland Games, the band competed in Perth, winning first out of a field of 24 pipe bands from around the world, including the “triple threat” Edinburgh based Stockbridge Pipe Band from Edinburgh who won the British, European and World Championships in Grade 4B in 2008.  At the Crieff Highland Gathering, the young pipers and drummers of NWJPB won first place of 11 bands, and made a very strong showing at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on August 16th, winning third place in the Novice Juvenile qualifier round and ultimately placing 5th in the World; the top position of any North American youth bagpipe band at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2008.  See all of their 2008 RSPBA results here>>.

The band members felt a great deal of pride in their accomplishments.  Many did not wish to leave, and have asked how soon the band plans to return to Scotland.  The memories of the warm welcome, interest, and support along with the immense pride in the hard work and focus will last the young band members a lifetime.

About Todd Schiele

Todd Schiele is the volunteer President of Northwest Junior Pipe Band based in Shoreline, WA, USA. His wife Weatherly began volunteering with the band in 2004, and he joined her in 2005, helping the band's instructors build the largest and most successful youth pipe band in Washington State. Todd's children play bagpipes and snare in the Grade 4 band, and tenor and bass in the Grade 5 band. Todd has been learning the bagpipes himself, competing on the practice chanter in the off season at the Washington Pipers' Association mini-gatherings in 2008, and is signed up to compete on bagpipes at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games, although he keeps telling everyone he'll need to scratch because he doesn't have enough time to practice. Todd is a Software Development Engineer in Test in his day job, but he reports that his job with Northwest Junior Pipe Band makes him "overpaid with pride". His passion is triggered each time he sees a new member show up in their new uniform, or join the band in their first parade or competition. Todd had no experience with Highland Games, bagpipes or the Scottish Community in general when his 8 year old son announced he wanted to learn to play bagpipes. "It's not something I even thought about...but this community is incredible. Where else can a 9 year old piper or drummer walk up to the best in the world and play for them, talk with them, get guidance and feedback, and even gain new friends? It's about respect for musicianship. I don't think you're treated as an equal based on skill in any other undertaking. It doesn't matter how old or popular you are, you are treated serioiusly and with respect by most of the people in the community."
This entry was posted in News. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply