Shoreline, WA -? The Northwest Junior Pipe Band placed first in a field of 7 pipe bands competing with a mix of traditional and modern pipe band tune compositions at the Tacoma Highland Games June 23rd.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band is nearly 40 talented youth aged 7 to 18 learning dedication, focus, respect, perseverance, and commitment. NWJPB has announced their intention to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland, 2008 and compete several times throughout the summer at area Highland Games events. Highland Games competitions are a cultural and music experience unlike any other.

Next up for the Grade 4 youth band is in Coquitlam, BC at the BC Highland Games June 30th. Pipe Bands are graded based on ability and success in their grade level. There are 5 competition grades with Grade 1 being the top in the world; a field which includes only 3 pipe bands in the United States, and at least 6 in Canada including the BC-based Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, four time World Champions.

Northwest Junior Pipe Band competes against Grade 4 and 5 youth pipe bands based in Canada, including Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band Grade 4 (part of the Simon Fraser University pipe band teaching program), White Spot (sponsored by the successful White Spot Restaurant chain in Canada), and Fraser Valley Youth Pipe Band, as well as ?adult? pipe bands such as the Keith Highlander Grade 4 pipe band, Bellingham Pipe Band, Tacoma Scots, Clan Gordon and many others. The Northwest region of the US and BC is highly regarded in the piping world as holding a lot of talent, and some of the best instruction available.

The next competitions in the Northwest are the BC Highland Games June 30, Skagit Valley Highland Games July 14/15, Portland Highland Games July 21 and Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw July 27-29th.

Youth in Northwest Junior Pipe Band practice often individually, as well as meeting twice a week for band practice, and most have private instruction or group instruction as well. NWJPB teaches perseverance, dedication, teamwork, respect and NWJPB instructors are among the top in the region with a proven success record in the Northwest.

Band Site