THUNDER BAY — One of Canada's oldest bands continues to build on its history of cultivating musical excellence and cultural pride.
The Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay – founded 112 years ago – has returned from the 2024 Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games with numerous honours.
Competing in the Grade 4 level on the grounds of Macalester College in St. Paul, it placed second overall and received an additional award for Best Drum Corps.
Five members of the band were also recognized individually for their performances:
- Anna Bain - 1st place, intermediate tenor group
- Chris Grenke - 3rd place, Grade III Strathspey/Reel
- Gabe MacRae - 2nd place, Grade IV Snare 6/8 March
- Isobel MacRae - 1st place, Beginner Tenor 2/4 March
- Ryan Moore - 2nd place, Grade III 2/4 March
This was the Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay's first competitive event in about 20 years, said Ryan Moore, the group's president.
"We were looking for something to sort of drive us, especially coming out of COVID. It just kind of worked out that when the last time we were down at the Minnesota State Scottish Fair was when it used to be held at Macalester College. So it was kind of a throwback to a lot of us who've gone down there before."
Moore described the group's successful return to competition as a testament to the hard work the members put in to prepare for the event, and said the pipers and drummers had agreed on the importance of having a goal to shoot for, so that they could get even better.
"You know, this is a hobby we all take on, and we do it because we love the instrument, and we want to sort of push ourselves . . . We've been practicing these sets for almost a year now to get to that level, so I think everybody came out of it quite well. It was a very rainy, wet day but we were still excited about it."
Ten pipers and seven drummers made the trip to the Twin Cities, and they ranged in age from about 12 to 75.
Moore said the band is always looking to introduce new people to the instruments, so that the Pipes and Drums of Thunder Bay can carry on for years to come.
It will soon be performing at numerous upcoming events in the area.
