MWPBA - Latest news from the MWPBA

MWPBA AGM Sat Nov 1, 2025, 1:00pm CDT

The MWPBA Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday November 1nd 2024, 1:00pm CDT at

Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care's Scottish Home
2800 Des Plaines Avenue
North Riverside, IL 60546
(Google map and directions)

The AGM will be downstairs in Heritage Hall, the usual location. Please do not enter through the Main Door. Go around to the back of the facility and enter there.

Here is the link for the agenda, proposals, and reports. Please download them if you plan on attending remotely. We will have copies for distribution on premises.

There will also be a Zoom online meeting option for those that are out of town and cannot make it. The call details will be posted on November 1, 2024.

We hope to see many of you in person at the meeting as once again many announcements will be made. All member bands have a vote, so please make be present, either in person if you can, or online.

For those planning on attending the meeting, either in-person or remotely, please review the 2024 AGM Minutes by downloading them here. This saves valuable time and allows us to simply vote on approving those minutes from last year's AGM vs. reading them in person at the meeting itself.

The Grading Process, and Grade Level Expectations

The MWPBA Music Board has made available two very timely documents, as we look forward to Season 2026

Understanding the Grading Process - how the Music Board ensures that bands and soloists are in the correct grade
Recommended Grade Level Expectations - a guide from ANAPBA on what is expected of a top-level band or soloist in each grade

Both are highly informative reads that are are recommended for all members, not just for those that are considering requesting a regrade.

Inveraray & District Pipe Band Coming to Chicago

The Chicago Games have just announced that Inveraray & District Pipe Band are coming to the 2026 Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games, June 12-13. There will be a concert on Friday evening, June 12th as Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College, and the band will play twice at the Pipe Band contest on Saturday, June 13th.

Ticket sales will be announced soon; more details to come! We hope to see everyone at the concert and at the games next year!

Link to ticket sales/announcement is here.

Press release for the event is here.

2025 Champions Supreme Standings

The 2025 MWPBA Champions Supreme points standings have been tallied.

The latest updates are from July 25, 2025, and include the results from the 2025 Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games.

A summary of bands' champion supreme standings is available here.

A detailed view of band's champion supreme points is available here.

A summary of drum corps champion supreme standings is available here.

A detailed of drum corps champion supreme points is available here.

A summary of soloists' champion supreme standings is available here.

A detailed view of soloists' champion supreme points is available here.

The standings are still unofficial, and pending ratification before official announcement of the 2025 MWPBA Champions Supreme at the end of the season. Champion Supreme points are earned only by registered MWPBA members.

For more information on how Champion Supreme points are accumulated, please refer to the "Contests" tab on the FAQ.

End of Season 2025

Thanks for a fantastic 2025 season at the MWPBA!

The AGM will be held on Saturday, November 1, 1pm, in person at the Scottish Home in North Riverside, Chicago, and live-streamed. Full details to follow, including some exciting announcements!

All contest entry and membership registration forms are now offline, and will be activated for the 2026 season following the AGM on our revamped website.

The updated Champions Supreme standings will be posted soon, to be awarded at the AGM.

If you do have a band or solo Champion Supreme trophy, please return it now to Jim Sim, to allow time for engraving prior to being awarded.

If you are looking to be regraded for 2026, now is a great time to submit your petition to the Music Board.

If you have any suggestions for rule changes, please submit them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before October 11, 2025. These proposed changes will be discussed at the AGM in November.