Three Western US bands bumped up to Grade 2

There’s more good news for the pipe band scene in western North America with the promotion of three bands to Grade 2 by the Western United States Pipe Band Association.

From Grade 3 the WUSPBA has promoted the Bushmills Irish Pipers of San Francisco, the Queen City Pipe Band of Denver, and the Wasatch & District Pipe Band of Bountiful, Utah, to the penultimate grade.

The moves come on the heels of three additions to Grade 2 in Alberta, injecting additional life into a grade that has been struggling to maintain viability in other areas.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the decision,” Queen City Pipe-Major James Cuthill said. “The band is relatively new, and we’ve come a long way since our formation in 2011. We are especially pleased to be the first band in Colorado to make this grade. We will be going into the 2015 season with at least 20 pipers, eight sides, five tenors, and a bass. All but two live in Colorado, and we are proud to make a name for ourselves with dedicated local musicians.”

Queen City and Wasatch are the highest graded bands even from Colorado and Utah, respectively, while Bushmills Irish Pipers continue a 50-year tradition of top-grade bands from San Francisco, joining cross-town rivals Prince Charles in Grade 2.

The Irish Pipers of San Francisco was started in 1932 and claims to be “the oldest continuously active Irish pipe band west of the Mississippi River.”

While the western part of the continent has been boosted, Grade 2 in Ontario continues to languish. The Grade 2 Ottawa Police Services Pipe Band is widely expected to be promoted to Grade 1 after competing up successfully at several Ontario competitions in 2014. It is also anticipated that the Grade 3 Paris-Port Dover Pipe Band will be upgraded, joining only the 400 Squadron in Grade 2. The Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario has not disclosed upgrades made by its Music Committee.

Cuthill added, “I hope our grading may attract other bands to consider traveling to compete in Colorado. We will make it to World’s when we feel we will be a real contender on that stage, but want to prove ourselves at home first.”