Edina Fourth of July Parade
Once again, the band celebrated the Fourth of July with the city of Edina by marching in their parade. |
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Richfield Fourth of July Parade
The band helped the city of Richfield celebrate Independence Day by marching in their parade on July 3. |
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Big Lake Spudfest
On June 26 the band travelled to Big Lake to help the town celebrate their summer Spud Fest. |
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Chicago Highland Games
Our Grade 4 band,along with many soloists, travelled to Chicago for their annual highland games on June 19. The Band was lead by Pipe Major Paul Severeide.
Joel Sarapas, Abby Peterson, Ian Elias and Alyssa Gregory took home medals for piping solos. Ian Peterson took home two first place medals for tenor drumming and Wayne Sanford placed second in the Drum Major competition.
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Winona Steamboat Days
For the first time, MPPB participated in the Winona Steamboat Days celebration on June 20. The band really enjoyed this fun parade in a lovely town. |
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Sgt. Bergeron Benefit Event
Piper Todd Hendrickson provided his services to a benefit event for fallen Maplewood police officer Sgt. Joseph Bergeron on June 19. As members of the Emerald Society the Minnesota Police Pipe Band proudly serves our state law enforcement officers and community at large. |
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Morristown Dam Days
While the Grade 3 band was competing at the Milwaukee Highland Games the Grade 4 band represented MPPB at the annual Morristown Dam Days. As always,it was a very enjoyable parade. |
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Milwaukee Highland Games
On June 5, the Grade 3 band competed at the Milwaukee Highland Games. This was their third competition in as many weeks and, once again, they came home with medals for the band and for soloists.
The band took 1st place in MSR and Best Bass Section. Wayne Sanford and Sheila Loucks took 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the Drum Major competition. Pipers, Ian Elias, Joel Sarapas, Alyssa Gregory, Wayne Sanford, Evan Johnson and Abby Peterson all came home with medals in the solo competition and drummer Ian Peterson also came home with medals.
The Grade 3 band is now finished with competitions until The World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in August.
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Memorial Day Weekend
While the Grade 3 band was competing in Alma, the rest of the MPPB members were very busy. The Memorial Day weekend saw band members marching in the Bayport Memorial Day Parade, peforming at a ceremony at the Veterans' Home and playing at the Wayzata Winds Concert at Wayzata High School.
Special thanks to Phyllis Mahan for taking the lead for the Bayport parade, Larry Peiterson for leading the events at the Veterans' Home and Paul Savereide for spearheading the Wayzata Concert. Also, a huge thank you to all the band members who performed at all of these events over the weekend! What a splendid way to kick off our summer performances!
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Alma Highland Festival
May 29-30 found the Grade 3 band in Alma, Michigan to participate in US Open Pipe Band Championship at the Alma Highland Games. A special thanks to PM Chuck Timmers who lead the band to a 3rd place finish in the MSR and the Medley. Galen Lerwick led his drum corp to the honors of Best Bass Section for the MSR and the Medley. The results of this competition have placed the MPPB Grade 3 in 3rd place for the US Open Pipe Band Competition.
Ian Peterson, Trevor Bailey, Evan Johnson, Abby Peterson, Joel Sarapas, Wayne Sanford and Alyssa Gregory all placed or showed for their solo competitions. In addition, Abby Peterson was awarded the Dame Flora McDonald Trophy for Excellenc in Piobaireachd which is awarded to the most promising young Piobaireachd player and Evan Johnson was awarded the Ronald J. Chapman Memorial Award for Best Amateur Piper of the Day, Grade IV. Nice job, Abby, Evan and all the soloists!
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Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games
The band began its competition season this year on May 22, competing at the MN Scottish Fair & Highland Games. MPPB Grades 3 & 4 both participated as well as numerous soloists from all of the bands. Despite the early rain the band came away shining with Grade 3 taking first place in MSR and Medley, Best Bass Section MSR and Medley, and Best Drum Corp MSR and Medley. Grade 4 took second place in Medley and third place in QMM.
Pipers Alyssa Gregory, Joel Sarapas, Wayne Sanford, Evan Johnson, Abby Peterson, Ian Elias, Silas Ohman and Mary Reuter all came away with medals, as did tenor drummers Ian Peterson and Caitlin Mehta
Congratulations to all for kicking off the season well!
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Congratulations, Silas!
Congratulations to Silas Ohman, a member of our Grade 5 band, for receiving a scholarship to the Balmoral School of Piping. The Balmoral School is offering instruction locally at Macalaster College. The scholarship is offfered by the Irish Music & Dance Association in honor of Tim 'Fitz' Fitzgerald who recently passed away.
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Sgt. Joseph Bergeron
Deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Sgt. Joseph Bergeron. Sgt. Bergeron's tragic death affects us all.
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Community Service
The band has a strong commitment to our local communities. This spring, MPPB musicians were part of the Healing Field child abuse prevention event at the Capitol; the Birthday Buddies benefit at Redeemer LutheranChurchin White Bear Lake; MOMS benefit in Chaska and the Emerald Society annual benefit in St. Paul. We thank these organizations for the opportunity to be part of their worthy events. |
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Tartan Day
We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to celebrate Tartan Day on April 10th. MPPB joined Macalester College Pipe Band and other members of the Scottish community on the Capitol steps to honor Scottish heritage. |
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ST. PATRICK'S DAY 2010
The traditional start of the performance season, MPPB celebrated St. Patrick's Day with 17 performances around the Twin Cities including First Avenue. On 3/20 the band participated in the New London WI St. Patrick's Day Parade. |
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IN MEMORY OF TIM "FITZ" FITZGERALD
The memory of Fitz lives on the hearts of MPPB. Fitz piped with the band for many years, served as band manager, designed our cap badge and was instrumental in establishing our relationship with the Emerald Society. In addition to his work with MPPB, Fitz was an indespensible part of the Midwest Irish Community. Fitz died peacefully in his sleep on March 3rd and we all will miss him.
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NORTH ST. PAUL TO THE WALL
The North St. Paul Police Department plans to travel to Washington DC in May for National Police Week to Honor Officer Richard Crittenden Sr. who was killed in the line of duty in 2009. His name will be carved on the wall at the National Police Memorial. Representing the Emerald Society, MPPB performed at the recent benefit to help with the fund raising. |
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FROM THE STAGE TO YOUR HEART
Members of Minnesota Police Pipe Band were happy to be included in the Rince na Chroi School of Irish Dance concert, From the Stage to Your Heart, on February 27th. It was a sell-out crowd for the third annual performance. |
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A SCOTTISH RAMBLE
Many thanks to Liz Michaelson and Peggy Lushine for another very successful Scottish Ramble. The band performed on Saturday, February 13th to a very enthusiastic audience. |
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EMERALD SOCIETY ANNUAL MEMBER NIGHT
February 16th was the annual Emerald Society Member Night. Minnesota Police Pipe Band was honored to play for the officers and their families. The band will be marching with the Emerald Society in the St. Paul St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17th. |
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BURNS NIGHT 2010
MPPB joined groups around the world celebrating the 251 birthday of Robert Burns, poet laureate of Scotland. It was a great evening of fun, comraderie, a wee dram and, of course, haggis. |
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CHAMPION SUPREME 2009
MPPB Grade 3 has been awarded 2009 Champion Supreme status by the Midwest Pipe Band Association. Grade 3 was led by Pipe Major Charles Timmers, Pipe Sergeant Mark Lucas and Drum Sergeant Galen Lerwick. MPPB solo Champion Supreme winners are drummer Erin Lerwick, Solo Novice Tenor and piper Joel Sarapas for Grade 4-6/8 march. Congratulations to all! |
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