The Midwest Pipe Band Association

 

 

MWPBA 2025 Regular Season Contests and Events
 

All MWPBA sanctioned contests are open to bands and soloists with membership in good standing with the MWPBA, any association with reciprocal membership agreement within ANAPBA, or any other association properly recognized by the MWPBA Advisory Board.

Champion Supreme points are awarded only to MWPBA member bands, drum corps and MWPBA individual members in regular season competitions with official sanctioned status. Events at Champion Supreme games are awarded double points. Where multiple band events are offered, points and prize money is awarded based on the aggregate result.

New for 2025, there is a new Champion Supreme Drum Corps award for each grade, in addition to the Champion Supreme Band award. The Solo Champion Supreme awards remain for each music discipline in each grade.
 
The music requirements for each band contest is shown, either
  • QMM - Quick March Medley
  • MSR - March, Strathspey, and Reel
  • Medley - Timed Medley

All contests and events are run in accordance with current MWPBA Rules.

Entry forms are on the MWPBA home page, and CONTESTS menu. Late entries will be permitted for 7 days after the deadline, with a late fee assessed.

Note that “travel money” is no longer paid for band contests.

Orders of play will be posted on mwpba.org about one week before each contest.

The band, quartet, and solo events offered at each contest is after the list of games.

  

Contest Host Games and Event Information

St. Louis

Saturday, May 17, 2025
 
Friday evening, May 16, 2025
(Open Grade Piping/Piobaireachd)
 

 

On-time entry by Sunday, April 27

(Late entry until Sunday, May 4)

St. Louis Highland Games

Schroeder Park,
359 Old Meramec Station Road, Manchester, MO

https://stlouis-scottishgames.com/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests
Open Grade Piping, Piobaireachd, and Snare solo contests

Open Grade Solo Contest Cash Awards:
Piobaireachd = $150 - $100 - $50

MSR = $150 - $100 - $50
H/J = $75 - $50 - $30
6/8 March = $75 - $50 - $30
Snare Drumming (per event) = TBD

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1400 - $1200 - $1000 - $800
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1200 - $1000 - $800 - $600

G4 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1000 - $900 - $800 - $700
G5 QMM = $400 - $350 - $300 - $250

Alma

Saturday, May 24, 2025
 

 

On-time entry by Sunday, May 4

(Late entry until Sunday May 11)

US Open Pipe Band Championship

Alma Highland Festival (Saturday)

Alma College,
Alma, MI

http://www.almahighlandfestival.com/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests
Open Grade Piping, Piobaireachd, and Snare solo contests

Open Grade Solo Contest Cash Awards:
Piping, Light Music (per event) = $100 - $75 - $50
Piobaireachd = $100 - $75 - $50
Snare Drumming (per event) = $100 - $75 - $50

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G1 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1400 - $1300 - $1200 - $1000
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1000 - $900 - $800 - $600
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $800 - $700 - $600 - $400
G4 MED/MSR Aggregate = $600 - $500 - $400 - $200
G5 QMM = $400 - $300 - $200 - $100

Milwaukee

Saturday, June 7, 2025
 
 
 

On-time entry by Sunday, May 18

(Late entry until Sunday, May 25)

Milwaukee Highland Games

Croatian Park,
9100 S. 76th Street, Franklin, WI

https://milwaukeehighlandgames.org/

MWPBA Standard Sanctioned
Amateur Solo and Band contests (no Quartets)

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G3 MSR = $500 - $400 - $300 - $200
G4 MED = $400 - $300 - $200 - $100
G5 QMM = $300 - $200 - $150 - $100

Chicago

Friday, June 13, 2025
(all solos, except Drum Major)
 
Saturday, June 14
(bands + Drum Major)
 
 
 
 

On-time entry by Sunday, May 25

(Late entry until Sunday, June 1)

Midwest Pipe Band Championship

Chicago Scots Scottish Festival and Highland Games

DuPage County Fairgrounds,
Wheaton, IL 60187

https://chicagoscots.org/festival/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests
Open Grade Piping, Piobaireachd, and Snare solo contests

Open Grade Solo Contest Cash Awards:
Piping, Light Music (per event) = $100 - $75 - $50
Piobaireachd = $100 - $75 - $50
Snare Drumming (per event) = $100 - $75 - $50

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G1 MED/MSR Aggregate = $3500 - $3000 - $2000 - $1500
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $3000 - $2000 - $1500 - $800
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1800 - $1000 - $800 - $500
G4 MED = $1200 - $800 - $500 - $300

G5 QMM = $500 - $400 - $300 - $200 

Minnesota

Saturday July 19, 2025
 
 
  

On-time entry by Sunday, June 29

(Late entry until Sunday, July 6)

 

Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games

Macalester College,
1600 Grand Ave., St Paul, MN

https://www.mnscottishfair.org/

MWPBA Standard Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $600 - $500 - $400 - $300

G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $500 - $400 - $300 - $200
G4 MED/MSR Aggregate = $400 - $300 - $200 - $100
G5 QMM = $300 - $200 - $150 - $100

Wisconsin

Saturday, August 30, 2025
 
 
 

On-time entry by Sunday, August 10

(Late entry until Sunday, August 17)

Mid America Pipe Band Championships

Wisconsin Highland Games

Waukesha County Expo Center,
1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha, WI

https://www.wisconsinscottish.org/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests
Open Grade Piping, Piobaireachd, and Snare solo contests

Open Grade Solo Contest Cash Awards:
Piping, Light Music (per event) = $75 - $50 - $30
Piobaireachd = $75 - $50 - $30
Snare Drumming (per event) = $75 - $50 - $30

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2 MSR = $1000 - $900 - $800 - $600
G3 MED = $800 - $700 - $600 - $400
G4 MSR = $600 - $500 - $400 - $300
G5 QMM = $400 - $300 - $200 - $100

Scotfest

Saturday, September 13, 2025
 
 
 

On-time entry by Sunday, August 24

(Late entry until Sunday, August 31)

American Grade 5 Pipe Band Championship

Oklahoma ScotFest

Central Park,
1500 S. Main St, Broken Arrow, OK

https://okscotfest.com/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Grade 5 Band contests

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G5 QMM = $750 - $500 - $250 - $100

 

The band events offered at each contest are as follows:

BAND St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 1 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 1 MSR   Y   Y      
Grade 1 Medley   Y   Y      
Grade 2 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 2 MSR Y Y   Y Y Y  
Grade 2 Medley Y Y   Y Y    
Grade 3 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 3 MSR Y Y Y Y Y    
Grade 3 Medley Y Y   Y Y Y  
Grade 4 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 4 MSR Y Y     Y Y  
Grade 4 Medley Y Y Y Y Y    
Grade 5 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 5 QMM Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

 

The quartet events offered at each contest are as follows:

QUARTET St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 1 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 1 MSR       Y      
Grade 1 Medley              
Grade 2 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 2 MSR Y         Y  
Grade 2 Medley   Y   Y Y    
Grade 3 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 3 MSR   Y     Y    
Grade 3 Medley Y     Y   Y  
Grade 4 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 4 MSR Y     Y   Y  
Grade 4 Medley   Y     Y    
Grade 5 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 5 QMM Y Y   Y Y Y Y

 

The solo events offered at each contest are as follows: 

 SOLOS St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Piping, Light Music St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Open MSR Y (Fri) Y   Y   Y  
Open H/J Y (Fri) Y   Y   Y  
Open 6/8 Y (Fri) Y   Y   Y  
Grade 1 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 1 H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 1 6/8 Y Y   Y   Y Y
Grade 2 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 2 6/8 Y Y   Y   Y Y
Grade 2 S/R Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 2 Jig Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 3 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 3 6/8 Y Y   Y   Y Y
Grade 3 S/R Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 4 Senior 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 4 Senior S/R Y Y   Y   Y Y
Grade 4 Junior 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 4 Junior S/R Y Y   Y   Y Y
Grade 5 Senior 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 5 Junior 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Practice Chanter 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Piobaireachd St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Open Piobaireachd Y (Fri) Y   Y   Y  
Grade 1 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 2 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 3 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 4 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Snare St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Open MSR Y Y   Y   Y  
Open H/J Y Y   Y   Y  
Grade 1 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 1  H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 2 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 2 H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 3 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 3 6/8 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 4 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 4 6/8 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 5 Snare 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Tenor St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Adv. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Adv. Solo H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Int. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Nov. Solo 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Beginning Tenor Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Bass St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Adv. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Int. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Nov. Solo 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Drum Major St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Open 6/8 Y Y   Y (Sat)   Y