Archive for the ‘Band Top Story’ Category
Road Trip – Colonial Highland Gathering
On Friday, 17 May 2013 band members will be heading North on Interstate 95 in order to participate at the 53rd Annual Scottish Games in Fair Hill, Maryland. Both the band’s G4 and G5 will be taking the field on Saturday, 18 May 2013 at the Fair Hill Race Track. Best of luck to the G4 and G5 players in addition to all our soloists competing; we convince by our presence. Be sure to check out our Facebook feed for updates from the field… For more information on the games check out >> www.fairhillscottishgames.org << Safe travel to all the bands making the trip!
Fair Hill order of play
Top Circle–(near Grandstand)
Grade 5
2:00–Old Bridge and District—excused from Opening Massed Bands
2:10–Thomas Hall Memorial—-excused from Opening Massed Bands
2:20–St. Ann’s of Hampton—-excused from Opening Massed Bands
2:30–Philadelphia Emerald Society
2:40–Wake & District
2:50–MacMillan
3:00–Rockville
3:10–Washington Memorial
3:20–Greater Richmond
Grade 2/3 Medley Challenge
3:45—Atlanta
3:55—Ulster Scottish
4:05—Carnegie Mellon
4:15—City of Washington
4:25—MacMillan
Bottom Circle
Grade 3 MSR
2:00—Atlanta–excused from Opening Massed Bands
2:10—Ulster Scottish–excused from Opening Massed Bands
2:20—Carnegie Mellon University–excused from Opening Massed Bands
2:30—Greater Richmond
2:40—MacMillan
Grade 4 Medley
3:00–Rory O’Moore
3:10–Ceol Neamh
3:20–MacMillan Birtles
3:30–Claddagh
3:40–Wake & District
3:50–CuChullain
4:00–Delmar & District
4:10–Saffron United
never forget their sacrifice…
Everyone that has ever worn the badge, or had a family member who wears one, knows that the ultimate sacrifice might be asked of them. We know that in an instant, any assignment can turn into danger, then death, then unending sorrow. When a police officer dies in the line of duty it is a tragedy for the entire community, but it is forever a memory of fellow police officers and their families. Our community, our Nation will never forget their sacrifice.
In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week, meaning that National Police Week 2012 will be Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th. For more information on National Police Week please visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund <<.
No rest for the wicked…
On Saturday, 11 May 2013 members of Wake & District were engaged in yet another weekend full of activities (no rest for the wicked). While a mini-band played 2 Campbell University Graduation Exercises (morning and afternoon commencements) - a larger group of band members headed West to help the City of Winston-Salem celebrate their centennial with what else…A PARADE! The cavalcade was led by Winston-Salem’s finest and bravest (police and fire) and our pipe band had the distinct privilege to march with them through old Salem, over the hyphen and into downtown Winston.
We have such wonderful people in our band. Thank you to our members for your willingness to give up yet another Saturday for the band, thank you to our families for putting up with us leaving the house for another all-day Saturday excursion on behalf of the band - and thank you to all the friendly folks who smile and clap as we walk by…we hope you enjoyed the music.
dignity, grace, professionalism…TRADITION
On Saturday, 04 May 2013 members of the Wake & District Public Safety Pipes and Drums participated in the 8th Annual North Carolina Fallen Firefighters (NCFFF) march and memorial at Nash Square located in Downtown, Raleigh.
The NCFFF is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, more specifically to lead the effort to remember North Carolina ’s fallen firefighters and their families. The NCFFF compiles, maintains, and makes available information concerning fallen firefighters. The NCFFF acts in the best interest of the firefighters of North Carolina and supplement the efforts of other North Carolina based Fire Service and Government Agencies and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The NCFFF endeavors to cultivate a fraternal spirit among the firefighters as they endure the loss of their fellow firefighter.
This year members of Wake & District marched side by side with our comrades from the Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band, Asheville Fire Department Pipe Band and Cary Fire Department among others… This march honors all those who serve and all those who have sacrificed.
Some photos from band member Ashby W. Spratley III can be seen here.
Photos by Lee Wilson can be seen here with additional photos here.
Photos by Mike Legeros can be seen here.
This is why we played…
James Aiken
Brevard FD 8/25/1909
Burleigh Scotton
Wilmington FD 9/24/1972
Tommy Wright
Blowing Rock FD 3/21/2010
Samuel Butler
Evans Crossroad VFD 1/8/2012
Donald L. Suggs
Summerville Fire and Rescue 6/11/2012
Ryan S. David
NC Air National Guard 7/1/2012
Joseph M. McCormick
NC Air National Guard 7/1/2012
Paul K. Mikeal
NC Air National Guard 7/1/2012
Robert S. Cannon
NC Air National Guard 7/1/2012
Caleb Benfield
Bethlehem Fire & Rescue 10/10/2012
David M. Tatum
White Oak FD 11/5/2012
Walter M. Summerville III
Kernersville Fire and Rescue 11/6/2012
John M. Hall
Clarkton VFD 11/7/2012
5th Annual Run for our Heroes…
Members of Wake & District were honored to participate for the 5th year in a row at the Raleigh Police Memorial Foundation run for our heroes event held on Saturday, 27 April 2013 under gorgeous Carolina blue skies. The Foundation’s mission is to honor Raleigh police officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice and to pledge that their unselfish acts and commitment to protecting others will never be forgotten. The run is a fundraising event which all proceeds will go towards building a long overdue Raleigh Police Memorial which will be located at Raleigh City Hall. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26, 2014 for the 6th annual run for our heroes and hopefully the debut of the RPD memorial.
Thank you to all the band members who came out to honor these heroes – it was a strong showing of support on our behalf.
Band members at the site of where the RPD memorial will be constructed…
For Boston, stay wicked strong…
Nearly 3,000 runners hit the pavement on Sunday 21 April 2013 in downtown Raleigh to remember the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing last week. Those who showed up at Moore Square for the 3-mile Boston Memorial Run were there to show solidarity and their support for Boston. Three people were killed in the pair of blasts, and more than 180 people were injured. Organizers were expecting about 300 runners – and over 3,000 showed up. Many runners who crossed the finish line Sunday afternoon said they did so for those who couldn’t on Monday. Coming together makes all of us stronger; it is part of the recovery phase. Runners go through the recovery phase after they run. They need to heal, let their muscles, body, mind and spirit all come back together to be stronger – and as a Nation we need to heal. Huge props to the nOg Run Club for helping organize this event and kudos to Raleigh’s BRAVEST and Raleigh’s FINEST for a strong showing. Wake & District was honored to send a piper to play Amazing Grace during a moment of silence and remembrance.
The photo above was taken by Beci Markijohn; her collection of photos can be seen here. A plethora of additional photos from Ben Dillon can be seen here.
For Boston, stay wicked strong!
We convince by our presence…
Song of the Open Road, by Walt Whitman is our inspiration for the 2013 competition season which opened at the 20th Annual Loch Norman Highland games on 20 April 2013. The results of which included 1st place G4, 3rd place G5, 1st place solo bass drumming (John Lovett) and 2nd place 2/4 march (Garret Justice) among others. It was a great day for the Wake & District Program; never an easy day… Throughout life, everyone encounters problems which may not always have an easy way out. Sometimes these paths involve other people who have other expectations but the most important thing to do is stay true to yourself. Walt Whitman himself was probably going through a situation similar to the words in his poems at the time he wrote it. When a person had stress, it is time to take a rest. And when you are at that point when you need to, take the open road.
Relaxation is what this poem expresses. Once you step into this open road, you have all the time by your side. It becomes your decision whether to take this path. When you do decide to take it, all your problems fade away because this relaxing road overwhelms you. Any bad feelings you seem to have change because you no longer feel troubled, stressed, or crowded. You soon feel “strong and content”. Whatever happened in the past, you forget, because once you take the road, you won’t need to know anything except how being free will be like. “I ask not good fortune, I myself am good fortune” Whitman means that when he walks on this road, he doesn’t want luck but because he is care free and cheerful that is his luck.
The theme of this poem is freedom. When a person takes the open road, you feel, “Healthy, free, the world before me.” Being free means being able to do anything you want to do. It means having no troubles upon you and wants nothing except to relax. Having relaxation is being calm, showing no signs of stress. Having both freedom and relaxation takes the troubles from you. When a person takes the open road, it involves making more choices. You have to use what you learned and apply it to the choices to be made. Doing this, you can get better results.
Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Roadis a call to arms, an exhortation to those who are strong enough to join us on the road. For Whitman the journey is the source of poetry, we see it as something larger, as a way of life. What is at stake is more fundamental and universal than literature. The road is a symbol of our mission and resolve which just happens to make for good poetry.
Allons yet take warning — we convince by our presence.
Wake & District Grade 4 – 1st Place @ Loch Norman
Wake & District Grade 5 – 3rd Place @ Loch Norman
Battlefield Band and Birthday Blessings
Thursday, 11 April 2013 was a bid of a double-feature… Not only did the band have the opportunity to open for the Battlefield Band, we also had the occasion to celebrate band member Corianna O’Leary’s 30th birthday!!! A kind thank you to the boys of the Battlefield Band for helping us sing happy birthday to Cori during our set. To Annie and all the folks at Tir Na nOg – thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family and celebrating such a milestone at the pub with you. At 30, if you see a strand of gray hair, consider it to be a gray hair of maturity. If you notice a soft wrinkle beneath your eyes, consider it to be a wrinkle of wisdom and if you notice a shadow always lurking behind you, consider it’s the band watching over you. Happy 30th Birthday Cori!
Positive Developments…
Competing band members met Saturday, 06 April 2013 (National Tartan Day) ramping up towards our season opener at the Loch Norman Highland Games on Saturday, 20 April 2013. All day long we spent time analyzing, correcting, and improving individual and collective technique, timing, execution, expression, and overall musicality. With the guidance of our G4 Pipe Major Ken McKeveny >> throughout the practice session items being worked on were detectably better than when we started and we left the day knowing we can always take the opportunity to be better than the last time.
To the members of both the G4 and G5 groups — we are making positive developments on the items we are working on and should feel more confident realizing we’re going to have to do this every time we practice from now on.
Photos from the rehearsals can be seen here.
A brief preview of our G4 Medley can be seen below:
Thirsty work it is…
Band superfan Pat Baker (husband of piper Megan Baker) has come up with something we are all looking forward to >> introducing Wake Nut Brown Ale! Pat has brewed two cases of his beer for the upcoming competition at Loch Norman on 20 April 2013. Enjoy this cold one at Loch Norman, give a free will donation — and keep the ball rolling for the next batch. All proceeds after brewing costs will go towards off setting travel costs for the band… We can’t thank you enough for sharing your time and talent for the greater good of the band Patrick – THANK YOU!
