Wake and District Pipe Band had the honor of competing at the Virginia Highland Games, and we’re thrilled to share that we took first place! It was a day filled with challenges, hard work, and ultimately, triumph. But beyond the trophies and titles, this experience reminded us of some important truths about ourselves and our journey as a band.
A Day of Dedication and Teamwork
From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the success of the day would hinge on the collective effort of everyone involved. Paul and Fisher, your musical leadership on and off the field has been instrumental in guiding us to where we are today. Your dedication set the tone for our performance and ensured we stayed focused and prepared.
A special thank you goes to Andrew Wilkinson and Joe Harwell for taking on the crucial task of transporting and setting up our equipment. With the help of Katie Hope and others, they made sure everything was in place so that we could hit the ground running.
The entire band showed up ready to give their best, with a notable shoutout to Adrian Melvin and Andrew Kosydar for keeping the midsection drums and pipes in perfect harmony. And to Dan, who captured the day’s events through his lens, thank you for preserving these memories that we’ll look back on with pride.
Overcoming Challenges Together
Of course, none of this came without its challenges. Eight hours of driving, being away from our families on a holiday weekend, and enduring the heat in our heavy wool kilts—it’s all part of the reality we face as a pipe band. But despite these obstacles, we came together and did what we do best: perform as a team.
A Special Mention
Congratulations are also in order for Bridget, who took home two second-place finishes in piping, and Katy, who earned a second-place in Piobaireachd! And to Orin, who had the honor of marching us off the field with the trophy in hand—it was a big day for you, and we’re looking forward to seeing you in the circle with us next year.
The Trap of Comparison
As we celebrate this victory, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on something that affects all of us at some point in our pipe band lives: the tendency to compare ourselves to others. Whether it’s another band or even our past performances, it’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring our worth based on what we observe others doing.
If it were just an observation, it might not be so harmful. But often, this comparison leads to self-judgment, and let’s face it—there’s no one harsher to judge than ourselves. Here’s some news: we’re all a hot mess in one way or another.
Moving Forward with Confidence
Instead of getting caught up in comparisons, let’s focus on what truly matters—our growth as a band and the progress we’ve made together. The only comparison that counts is the one where we look at where we’ve been and where we’re headed.
With one more contest left in Scotland County, let’s keep our momentum going, stay band ready, and focus on what we can improve. We have everything we need to continue succeeding as long as we stay united and keep pushing forward.
Celebrate this victory, take pride in what we’ve achieved, and let’s continue to build on this success!
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