Update: Band Rosters not due until July 1

Band Managers - we've extended the deadline for updating your competitive band rosters to July 1, 2021. We're hoping to have our first band competition on September 4 in Waukesha, WI.

To check/update your band roster, click here . You'll need a login ID and password to do this; nothing has changed since 2020, just use the login ID that was sent out to you. If you've forgotten or misplaced it, send me an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and I will reset it for you. Just specify your band name and grade.

Remember, all bands that registered with the MWPBA for the cancelled 2020 season were automatically re-registered for the 2021 season, for free. If you're not sure of your band's status, check here.

Terry McHugh Memorial Amateur Piping Contest

The entry is now open for the Terry McHugh Memorial Amateur Piping Contest, held on May 1, 2021 at the Hope Community Bible Church, 1266 N. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL (same location as 2019, but new name of church).

Entries will close on April 16th.

You will be assigned a specific time to arrive and a time to play well before the event. We look forward to seeing you LIVE & in-person. The Piping Scholarships will be awarded to the top 3 Grade 3 placings that are under 18, and the top placings in Grade 4 Jr. The results will be announced on-line, as we can't have any large gatherings. Let me know if you have any questions. Lets get those entries in. Stay safe!!!

Jim Sim

Winter Storm @ Home 2021 Trailer

Here is a trailer for the 2021 Winter Storm Concert broadcast, set to debut on March 27th. The 100 minute video concert will be free. Look for it then.

Winter Storm @ Home 2021 Trailer

MWPBA Video Series #4

The MWPBA is hosting several interviews with piping, drumming, and pipe band celebrities. These interviews will be instructional, educational, and historical. The four in the series is with Cliff Davis and Jeff Kruske of the Midwest Highland Arts Fund, about the founding and history of the Winter Storm Indoor Contest and Seminars. We hope you enjoy the interview!

Video #4

Additional 2021 News

Good Morning,

Well here are more announcements from the MWPBA Board. Look for for shortly as we go forward.

1. All of the Regionals leading up to our May 1st Day of Piping have been cancelled. We are still hoping that our actual Day of Piping on May 1st will go on. If it does, it will have a different format that is yet to be decided. More news will come out on this at a later date.

2. Band Playing Requirements will be reduced for the 2021 season. Due to the fact that the bands will not have the normal amount of time to prepare for the 2021 season, we are reducing the playing requirements for the entire 2021 season. The following requirements will be for the 2021 season only. We will return to the normal requirements in 2022. The band playing requirements for the 2021 season will be as follows:

Grade 2 1 Medley & 1 MSR

Grade 3 1 MSR

Grade 4 1 Medley

Grade 5 QMM (Unchanged)

All solo requirements will remain the same. We hope this will allow the bands to better prepare quickly for the 2021 season. We wanted to get this information out as soon as we could.

Keep a look out here for further announcements as we go forward. Let me know if you have any questions for now. Take care and stay safe.....

Jim Sim

2021 Alma Highland Festival Cancelled

Good Morning,

It is with a heavy heart that the Alma Highland Games announced Wednesday night that they are cancelling their event scheduled for May 28 & 29, 2021. This was very sad news indeed. I have contacted the Games to discuss doing something that weekend on a much scaled down basis. Hopefully we might be able to do something by then but we will have to see. I understand the Games' position as sponsorships and other contracts need to be signed. There is a lot of up-front money that goes into these things. I will certainly keep you posted of any talks or news regarding Alma.

The Milwaukee Games has informed me that they will make a decision by March 1 in regards to their Milwaukee Highland Games, scheduled for June 5.

Please look for other announcements this week in regards to our 2021 season. 

Thank you to those who replied to our musical requirements survey. Decisions will be made in regards to the survey very soon. This season will most likely be like no other. I think we will all have to be a little flexible with things. My hope and desire is that players and bands will be able to compete in some fashion and some where this year. However, this all must be done with safety and the players health in mind. We are trying our best to do the right thing.

Watch for another interview in our series in the next couple of weeks. It should be another good one. Keep practicing at least at home or on Zoom like there will be events in 2021. That is our goal!!!

Jim Sim

President

MWPBA

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! The site has been updated with band and solo registration forms for the 2021 season. The MWPBA decided to renew all of our member's registrations from 2020 to 2021, so if you or your band registered to compete with the MWPBA in 2020, you're still eligible to compete in 2021 at our events; no action is required by you. Please check the Registered Bands (2021) list and the Registered Soloists (2021) list for verification.

We will get the entry forms and other associated forms up soon, but here are some key dates in our calendar:

May 1 - Day of Piping; professional and amateur solo contests held in Chicago, IL

May 29 & 30 - Alma Highland Festival, Alma, MI (cancelled)

June 5 - Milwaukee Highland Games, Milwaukee WI (cancelled)

June 18 & 19 - Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games, Itasca, IL (cancelled)

More dates will be released as they are known.