SCOTLAND 2010
In 2006 the Minnesota Police Pipe Band (MPPB) began a four-year project to compete at the 2010 World Pipe Band Championships. We are challenging ourselves to a test against the best of the best; a test that can come only from this world championship competition.
MUSIC GOALS
In 2007 we reached our first musical milestone; the Grade 4 band was promoted to Grade 3 by the Midwest Pipe Band Association (MWPBA). In 2008, Grade 3 completed a very successful season and Grade 5 was awarded Champion Supreme status by MWPBA (tied with Celtic Nations Pipes and Drums) and was promoted to Grade 4. In May 2008, Grade 3 ranked third at the US Open Pipe Band Championships. We have reached the performance level critical for successful world championship competition and will continue our musical work into 2010.
FINANCIAL GOALS
Along with our musical goals, we also have funding goals for the trip. We’ve added 30% to our performance schedule and non-musical fund raising activities to begin to raise the money needed for Scotland. Of the $100,000 budget originally estimated for the project, we have raised/earned all but $15,000.
Instruments
To meet the instrument requirements for world-class competition, we needed to replace all of our drums and bagpipe chanters. The consistent sound necessary for this level of competition is created on instruments matched for tone at the time of manufacture. Our musical equipment, purchased at various times over the last ten years, could not create the sound required for the Scotland contest no matter how well played. In 2008, with grant assistance from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and our own savings, we replaced our drums. In 2009, using our performance earnings and donations we replaced our bagpipe chanters.
Musicians
We are an all-volunteer organization. Our musicians have pledged their vacation time for the trip and plan to pay travel expenses. We have been able to cover housing costs for everyone through our fee-for-service work. For 15 of the 40 performers going to Scotland, however, the travel costs present serious financial hardship. These performers (family groups, self-supporting college students and adolescents who require chaperones to travel) are musicians important to the band’s success. A travel subsidy for these key performers is the final piece of our fund raising effort, the final $15,000.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Any size donation will help us. Gifts are fully tax deductible and will be acknowledged, with your permission, on our website and appropriate printed material. Also, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you have helped showcase Minnesota on a world-class stage. A $1,000 gift would fully subsidize one of our key performers and move us forward that much faster to our final goal. MPPB is a 501 (c)(3) organization and all donations are fully tax deductible. Thank you for your support. Click here to donate. |
