US OPEN PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIP
The band traveled to Alma Michigan over Memorial Day for a two-day competition at Alma College. 

On Saturday, Grade 3 took first place in the Medley contest and was awarded Best Bass Section.  The US Open Pipe Band Championship was held on Sunday and Grade 3 ranked third.  Congratulations Grade 3 for a very successful holiday weekend.  

Placing solo competitors included Joe Hawthorne, John Keenan, Ewan Ferguson Alyssa Gregory, Klaus Hinrichsen, Erin Lerwick, Owen Russell and Wayne Sanford.

POLICE WEEK 2009
Band members participated in a variety of Police Week events.  Minneapolis 3rd Precinct open house 5/12; St. Paul Police Department memorial service in Mears Park 5/13, the Law Enforcement Memorial Association ceremony 5/14 and 5/15 and Public Safety Days in Minnetrista 5/16.  Many thanks to the law enforcement community around the state.

MINNESOTA SCOTTISH FAIR AND HIGHLAND GAMES -- SUCCESS!
The weather on May 9th was dreary but the day was bright for MPPB!  Grade 3 won both the medley and march, strathspey and reel contests and was awarded Best Bass Section.  Grade 4 was second in the medley and won Best Bass Section in Grade 4.  Twelve soloists brought home medals.  In addition, Alyssa Gregory was named James D. MacDonald Piper of the Day and Audrey Stumpf received the George MacCracken Most Promising Bass award.  Many thanks to games organizers for a great event. Next year's games are scheduled for May 22, 2010.

BM1 EDGAR CULBERTSON MEMORIAL
MPPB Piper, John Keenan, represented the band at the April 30th Coast Guard memorial service for BM1 Edgar Culbertson.  Culbertson lost his life in 1967 while trying to rescue three teenage brothers during a severe storm in Duluth.

SPEICAL OLYMPICS SPRING GAMES

Minnesota Police Pipe Band joined the Minnetonka Police Department in presenting the torch at the April 18th Minnesota Special Olympics Spring Games.  Many thanks to the Special Olympics staff and athletes for including us in this great event.

MOMS BENEFIT
MPPB pipers and drummers joined Elgin Foster, Lehto and Wright, Dylan Mckinstry and Hammond Cheese, Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, New Roots Duo,  and The Eleventh Hour at the April 4th MOMS Program benefit concert. 

Photo by Mark Ellis

MACHE PIPER
Piper Evan Johnson auditioned for and was accepted as one of five student musicians to perform prior to the keynote speech at the April 3rd Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) annual conference.  Evan was the first piper selected for the MACHE event. Congratulations, Evan!

LINE OF DUTY
John Keenan, MPPB piper, represented the band at the funeral of Sgt Ervin Romans, Oakland California SWAT officer killed in the line-of-duty last week.  Sgt. Romans’ funeral was held at his home town, Ironwood, Michigan.  Thank you, John, for representing MPPB.

DRUMMER HELPS WITH FLOOD RELIEF
Tom Mahan, MPPB snare, headed to Fargo on 3/26 to help the Fargo Morehead Humane Society establish an emergency pet shelter for animals at risk and/or displaced because of the flood.  By the end of the day on 3/27 the emergency shelter housed 170 cats and dogs, 80 horses, a goat and two pot-bellied pigs.  Tom took on the role of logistics and donations coordinator and made sure that two semi-trailers of donations were organized and that each area was supplied.  Thank you, Tom, for being such a good neighbor to our friends in Fargo.

MINNESOTA TARTAN DAY CELEBRATION
The Twin Cities Scottish community began the 2009 Tartan Day celebration on Thursday, April 2nd at the Central Library in downtown Minndapolis. 

MPPB opened the program which celebrated the 250th birthday of Scottish poet laureate Robert Burns.  MPPB piper Todd Hendrickson piped-in the haggis as part of the festivities.

MINNESOTA SWARM IRISH NIGHT
The Minnesota Swarm kept the St. Patrick's Day spirit alive with it 3/28 Irish Night festivities.  MPPB had a great time playing for the lacrosse fans before the game.

NEW DUBLIN ST. PATRICK'S DAY
MPPB joined Wisconsin's largest St. Patrick's Day celebration in New London aka New Dublin on March 21st.  Sponsored by the New London Rotary Club, the band joined the the 25th annual parade and was awarded the Grand Marshall award. 

After the band performance in the main event tent, Celtic rockers, Seven Nations, invited Pipe Sergeant Mark Lucas to join them on stage for a set of reels.

TWIN CITIES ST. PATRICK'S DAY
MPPB’s 2009 Twin Cities St. Patrick’s Day tour included band appearances in the St. Paul and Minneapolis St. Patrick’s Day parades, at First Avenue and 13 other locations in the metro area. Marking the beginning of our performance season, the Twin Cities St. Patrick's Day tour is a band tradition.

2009 SCOTTISH RAMBLE
Many thanks to Scottish Ramble producers Liz Michaelson and Peggy Lushine for the opportunity to perform at the 2009 Ramble.  MPPB piped the retreat on Saturday and called everyone to the Kirkin' of the Tartans on Sunday.              

WCCO Video

MPPB welcomes new pipers [front row left to right]
Diana, Evan and Kathleen

CHAMPION SUPREME 2008
MPPB Grade 5 and Milwaukee's Celtic Nations Pipes and Drums have been awarded 2008 Champion Supreme status by the Midwest Pipe Band Association.  Tied at 10 champion supreme points each, both groups completed successful competition seasons.  MPPB grade 5 was led by Pipe Major Wayne Sanford, Pipe Sergeant Trevor Bailey, Drum Sergeant Nate Kerr and Mid Section leader Erin Lerwick.MPPB solo Champion Supreme winners are drummer Erin Lerwick for Group Tenor and piper Tom Hinrichsen for Grade 3  2/4 march and Grade 3 6/8 march.    Congratulations to all.