Maxville and Montreal

We had a very successful weekend in Canada this weekend. We traveled up to the North American Championships, in Maxville, Ontario, at the Glengarry Highland Games. We went out with only a small band, because it was a long trip, and many of our members were unable to attend. However, we put on a good show with those of us who could make it.
We managed to get first place at the North American Championship, against a competition of 8 other bands. To see the results, look at the PPBSO Website for Maxville Results.

We were fairly surprised at the results, because we went up with such a small group. But we knew we had performed well, and it is good to know that it isn't how big you are, but how big you sound that really matters.

On Sunday, we went further east, to Montreal, Quebec. There, some of the same competitors that we faced the day before were there again. While we didn't play quiet as well, we still performed admirably, and managed to place first again. (Again you can see the results on the PPBSO Website for Montreal Results.)

On both days we had the same group of competitors.
Pipe Major: Steven Sharp
Piping Instructor: Jason Barth
Pipers: Marsha Bell (Pipe Sergeant), Bill McKinley (Pipe Corporal), Tom Burke, Dick Heubschman, Mike Lenihan, and Monica McClamrock.
Drum Sergeant: Emily Mellgren
Drumming Instructor: Ron Limparis
Bass Drummer: Dave Ricklis
Drummer: Jean Dillon.

Colonial HIghland Maryland Games

The Colonial Highland Games were held today, and we fared pretty well as a Grade V band. MacMillian PB didn't do as well, and we have hopes that they can improve before their next outing.

Results of the games are available here.

Performers
Pipe Major: Steven K. Sharp, Pipe Seargant: Marsha Bell, Pipe Corporal: William McKinley; Pipers: Bill Akerley, Bruce Bush, Tom Burke, Mark Coletti, Jean Gould, Rosemary Hartman, Michael Lenihan, John McNary, Nathalie Thompson, Valorie Vaughn.
Drum Seargant: Emily Mellgren; Bass Drum: Dave Ricklis; Druming Instructor: Ron Limparis; Drummers: Louis Levine and Andrew Stewart.

I will be posting more information later, including (I hope) pictures. Including the 8 points we earned at Southern Maryland, we now have a total of 13 points for the year.

Rockville High School National Capitol Area Scottish Festival, May 5, 2007

Every year we go back to our roots and support the Rockville High School Pipe Band with their annual Scottish Festival. This year's performance was on May 5, 2007, held once again at Rockville High School. Rockville High School and its pipe band, are so important to our group, because so many of us come from there. Plus, their continued existance allows for more young pipers to have a place to play and learn. So, we like to do whatever we can to support them.

The performance started at 5:00 PM, and the pipe bands in the first half that performed were Rockville HS Pipe Band, and the Naval Academy Pipe Band. We started off the second half, and MacMillan joined us shortly afterwards. City of Washington Pipes and Drums finished off the performance followed immedately by the massed bands. The Keltics led us in Auld Lang Syne and the rememberance of those who passed away over the past year. This year we remembered Bob McDonald, former MacMillan Pipe Band member who passed away last fall, Ben Frank, who passed away this spring. May the memory of their contributions live on.

Of the members of our band who once were a part of the Peary/Rockville HS pipe band in some way are included: PM Steven Sharp (former student), Pipers Rosemary Hartman and Alacia Wight (former students); DM Robert Clarke (former teacher/band sponsor), DS Emily Mellgren (former student), and Drummer: Louis Levine (former student).

Members performaing today were:
PM Steven Sharp; DM Robert Clarke; PS Marsha Bell; DS Emily Mellgren; Pipers: Bill Akerley, Tom Burke, Bruce Bush, Mark Coletti, Rosemary Hartman & Valorie Vaughn; Drummers: Dave Ricklis & Louis Levine.

Will pictures follow? I don't have any....

MacMillan Birtles Pipe Band

The MacMillan Birtles Pipe Band is a lower grade (currently Grade V) pipe band companion with the MacMillan Pipe Band. Both (The) Band(s) are based in the Suburban Maryland area, and we practice at a variety of locations. In fact, we are currently looking for reliable and steady practice location. The band consists of Bagpipe players, Snare, Tenor and Bass drummers from the Washington DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas, and some from even as far away Lancaster Pennsylvania.
We compete in the Mid Atlantic Branch of the EUSPBA, and most of the games we participate in are in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, though we are going to New York this year, and have gone to (and will go agin this year) to Maxville, Ontario, and Montreal Quebec.

Currently our officer body is as follows:
Pipes Drums
PM: Steven K. Sharp DM: Robert Clarke
PS: Marsha Bell DS: Emily Mellgren
PC: William McKinley

Southern Maryland Highland Games, April 2007

This is our second year competing at the Southern Maryland games. This year, the weather started out cool, with overcast, but as the day progressed, it got warmer and sunnier. We had a good turnout of pipes and drums (10-5-1-1). And we performed with our 6/8 March Medley set for the first time. (The tunes are Red Brae (6/8), Farewell to Nigg (3/4), Argylls Crossing the River Po (3/4) and Corriechollies (2/4).)
We were one of 11 bands that competed. We went on 7th, at 2:30 pm in the afternoon. We had a little issue with the time because we had heard that the competition was about 15 minutes behind, and were still up the hill (at our normal meeting place, in the "pink" lot) when we were told that we needed to be down the hill. We were "on". So we ran down the hill and then played a little warm up piece, to set the pipes again. Then we went on the field. I think the rush made people a little nervous. However, we did really well overall. The drums got a 1st place finish. Pipers got a 2nd and 4th. The Ensemble score was 6th. Overall, we placed third, behind 1st place Mac Donald Pipe Band and 2nd place Eagle Pipe Band.
I'll try to get a picture posted of this event soon. Anybody got any pictures they want up? Any other thoughts? e-mail me.

Here are a couple of pictures sent to me by Emily.
This is Emily, out on the shore of the Patuxent River, down at the far end of Jefferson Patterson Park, in Calvert County.

In this picture, of the Massed Bands for the games, Andy Limparis is making his debut as a bass drummer for our band. Way to go Andy!

Results of the games can be found here.

Members Present/performing today:
PM Steven Sharp
PS Marsha Bell
PC Bill McKinley
Pipers: Bill Akerley, Monica Buescher, Tom Burke, Bruce Bush, Mike Lenihan, John McNary, Nathalie Thompson, Valorie Vaughn
Piping Instructor: Jason Barth
DM Bob Clarke
DS Emily Mellgren
Bass: Dave Ricklis/Andy Limparis
Tenor: Steve Dale
Snares: Bill Dolan, Louis Levine, Andrew Stewart
Drumming Instructor: Ron Limparis