Winter Storm 2008 was recorded live on January 12, 2008 at the Christian Community Church in Kansas City, Missouri. This facility, a Frank Lloyd Wright designed building, combines the best of intimate seating with acoustic dynamics to create an extraordinary piping and drumming venue. Enjoy our seventh annual concert of the best in Highland Piping and Drumming! GOLD MEDAL PIPERS Chris Armstrong Former Pipe Major of David Urquhart Travel Pipes & Drums, since 2005 Chris has been Pipe Major of the ScottishPower Pipe Band.Solo successes include the Grade A March at the 2000 Argyllshire Gathering, the A Grade March - Strathspey - Reel at the 2001 Northern Meeting, and the Former Winner's MSR at the 2001 AG. He was overall Champion at the 2002 and 2003 Cowal Highland Gathering. In 2003 Chris won the Highland Society of London Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting. A prolific and popular composer, he's published "Notes Frae Ma Heid" 1 & 2, and recorded several CDs. Chris is a full-time instructor at the National Piping Centre. Chris appears by kind permission of KRL/Lochshore Recordings John Cairns John Cairns has won almost every major soloist prize in North America, and in 1999 achieved the rarest of feats, becoming the 11th person in the history of piping to win "The Double": both Highland Society of London Gold Medals for solo piping, at Oban and Inverness, in the same year. Most recently, he has won the Bratach Gorm in 2004. As an instructor, John holds the internationally recognized Institute of Piping's Senior Teacher's Certificate. During his seventeen years in the Canadian Forces, he taught over ten thousand students in the Cadet Pipes and Drums Training Program, and developed a curriculum now available to pipers everywhere. In 2000, John's composition "The Lament for the Unknown Soldier" was selected and performed during the dedication of Canada's National War Memorial. His work is prominently featured in the 78th Fraser's 2003 concert extravaganza "Seanchaidh". Mike Cusack Mike is an eleven time winner of the U.S. Piping Foundation Championship, most recently in 2003. The first American to have won the Gold Medal at Oban and Inverness, his awards also include the Senior Piobaireachd Competition at Oban, the Clasp at Inverness, the Bratach Gorm at London, and the March, Strathspey and Reel and Piobaireachd events at the Glenfiddich. Mike is Headmaster at St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston, Texas, and led the band to four Juvenile World Championships, including 2004. Alasdair Gillies Former Pipe Major of the Queen's Own Highlanders, Alasdair is Pipe Major of the Carnegie-Mellon University Pipes and Drums, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. featured on Lismor Recordings "World's Greatest Pipers" volume 12, he has won numerous Glenfiddich Championships in Scotland, the Braemar Gold Medal (twice), eleven Silver Stars, the Gold Medal at Oban, the Gold Medal at Inverness, and in 2007 the Argyllshire Gathering Former Winners MSR. Jack Lee Jack Lee is Pipe Sergeant of the four-time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, of Vancouver, British Columbia. Featured on Lismor's "World's Greatest Pipers" volume 15, he's won the Gold Medal and Clasp at Inverness, and the Gold Medal and Senior Piobaireachd at Oban, as well as the Glenfiddich. Jack won the 2006 Bratach Gorm in London, and in 2007 his third Silver Star at the Northern Meeting. Stuart Liddell Stuart's solo achievements include the Silver Medal at the 1992 Argyllshire Gathering, the Gold Medal at the 2000 Northern Meeting, and most recently, the Gold Medal at the 2004 Argyllshire Gathering. A former member of the Scottish Power Pipe Band for six years, he currently plays with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, helping win their World Championships in 1999 and 2001. Angus MacColl Angus distinguished himself by winning the Gold Medal , Silver Star, and Clasps at Inverness, and the Gold Medal, Former Winner's MSR, and several Senior Piobaireachd at Oban. He won the Glenfiddich Invitational in 1995, repeating this Championship in 2006. Colin MacLellan A professional educator, Colin has achieved much as a bandsman and solo piper. As Pipe Major, he led the 1986 Grade 4 Glengarry Pipe Band to the 1996 Grade 2 North American and U.S. Championships; the band was promoted to Grade 1 the following year. He was appointed Pipe Major of Edinburgh's Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band in 1999, serving to 2004. Colin won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1982, consecutive MacCrimmon Silver Chanters in 1990 and 1991, and the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1992. He served as President of the Competing Piper's Association from 1999-2004, and is featured on Lismor's "World's Greatest Pipers" volume 11. Fred Morrison Combining the Gaelic piping tradition of the Uists with contemporary influences, Fred has carved an international reputation on the Highland, bellows blown, and uilleann pipes and the low whistle with a powerfully exuberant, highly improvisational style. His prowess on the Highland pipes gained him honors including the Gold Medals at Oban and Inverness, and the prestigious McCallan trophy at Brittany's Lorient Celtic Festival, no fewer than seven times. Voted 2004's "Instrumentalist of the Year" by the Scots Trad Music Awards, Fred's stature as a musician was recognized by Glasgow's Celtic Connection festival in 2005, when he was commissioned to write the grand opening composition. CHAMPION DRUMMERS Michael Cole Mike is bass drummer for the Windsor Police Pipe Band, the North American Bass Section Champion of 2006. Mike won MHAF's 2007 Davis Drum Gold Medal in professional bass drumming competition. A professional teacher, Mike instructs at workshops, seminars and summer camps in North America and Scotland, and is a drumming and band ensemble judge. Drew Duthart Drew started playing under the instruction of his father, Alex, and at age 14 moved to Shotts & Dykhead. FDuring the next five years he achieved every drum corps prize possible, also winning the World's Juvenile Solo Drumming Championship. After Shotts, Drew joined the British Caledonian Airways Pipe Band until moving to Ontario in 1986. He was Lead Drummer of the Metro Toronto Police, helping win the North American Pipe Band Championship twice in the 1990s. After a short hiatus from the pipe band world, Drew returned to play with the Peel Regional Police, and then the Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders, becoming lead tip in 2004. Under Drew's leadership, the 78ths won Best Drum Corps at the 2007 World Pipe Band Championships. John Fisher A former North American Drumming Champion, John was a member of the World Champion Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band drum corps under the leadership of Alex Duthart. John was most recently Lead Drummer of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, and performed for many years as a session drummer in Los Angeles and Canada. With over 25 years experience as a performer and educator, John has gained an international reputation as a master of technique. Duncan Gibson For over thirty years, Duncan Gibson has played with great pipe bands such as City of Toronto, Caber Feigh, McNish Distillery, and the Clan MacFarlane, giving a wealth of experience, both performing and teaching. On numerous occasions he's won the Canadian, U.S. Open, and North American Championships, and in 2001 helped Niagara Regional Police win the Best Bass Section at the World Championships in Scotland. Currently playing Bass with the Toronto Police Pipe Band, Duncan was instrumental in their Best Bass Section wins at the 2005 Ontario, Canadian, U.S. and North American Championships. He has taught numerous Bass and Tenor Clinics throughout Canada and the United States. Kevin MacHeffner Internationally renowned as one of today's finest Drum Majors, Kevin Holds many notable competitive benchmarks both at home and overseas including being the first American Drum Major to have placed at four of the five Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association major championships. A professional-grade tenor drummer, Kevin plays in the Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band. Drum Major MacHeffner actively organizes and leads massed band displays across North America. Norman "Haggis" MacLeod Norman MacLeod joined the St. Andrews Boys Brigade pipe band at age 12, and has been performing the globe over ever since. He has contributed to many prize-winning bands and drum corps, including World Champion Best Bass Section of The Vale of Atholl, and was involved in the first tenor drumming workshop run in Scotland by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. Haggis currently is lead tenor drummer with the 2006 World Champion Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band of Northern Ireland. J. Reid Maxwell When the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band captured "the Worlds" in 1995, Reid made history as the first leader of drum corps of two different pipe band World Champions (his other the 78th Fraser Highlanders in 1987). All this was preceded by two World Pipe Band Championships and four World Drum Corps titles as a teenaged member of Scotland's Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band! With SFU's capture of the 2004 World Pipe Band Championship, Reid gained his fourteenth World Championship. Emily McLeod Emily has competed successfully throughout North America as well as Scotland and Ireland. She helped Niagara Regional Police win the Grade 2 Best Bass Section prize at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2001, and the 78th Fraser Higlanders win the Best Bass Section prize in 2003. Emily remained with the 78th Frasers for four years, stepping into a leadership role in 2004. In 2007 she competed with Dublin's St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band, helping win the All-Ireland Championship as well as the Mid-Ulster Championships. Steven McWhirter Steven first competed with Cullybackey Pipe Band, and helped win the 2001 Grade 2 World Drum Corps Champion title. Shortly after, he joined J. Reid Maxwell's Simon Fraser University Pipe Band corps, and helped win the World Drum Corps Champion title in 2004. In 2006, Steven won the MHAF North American Gold Medal Drumming Championship, the All-Ireland Senior title, and capped it with the World Solo Drumming Championship. Michael O'Neil Mike helped Prince Charles win the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championship in 2000, as well as Best Bass Section. He went on to help win the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championship with Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band in 2006, and currently plays with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. Mike was Champion of MHAF's Gold Medal tenor Drumming contest in 2005 and 2006, and runner-up in 2007. Johnny Rowe After successful development as a snare drummer on the Maritime Canadian solo circuit, Johnny joined the Grade 2 Halifax Police Pipe Band in 1990, and began his bass drumming career. The band won the North American Championship, including Best Bass Section honors. John continued playing with Halifax into their new existence as The 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) Pipe Band. John joined the 78th Fraser Highlanders in Toronto in 2004, and in 2007 helped win Best Drum Corps and Best Bass Section at the World Pipe Band Championships. Barry Wilson Barry joined Jim Kilpatrick and his Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band at age 14, and would remain there sixteen years. While with Shotts, an amazing forty major drum championship titles were won, including twelve World Drum Corps Championships, and a "Grand Slam" of five titles in 1995. Barry has since joined the Scottish Power Pipe Band, and in his first year led the drum corps to the top six of the Champion of Champions table. Since his first appearance in 1987 at the World Solo Drumming Championships, Barry twice has been Juvenile World Champion, and now frequents the highest placings at the Adult Championships. WORLD RENOWNED BANDS The Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders Since the band formed i 1982, the Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders have been uncommonly successful. Winning the North American and the Canadian Pipe Band Championships as unprecedented 12 times each, in 1987 the 78ths became the first non-Scottish band to win the World Pipe Band Championships. Led by Pipe Major Bill Livingstone and Lead Drummer Drew Duthart, the 78th Frasers have played to packed concert halls in Northern Ireland, Scotland and coast-to-coast in North America. Simon Fraser University Pipe Band The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band of British Columbia was formed in 1966 during the school's inaugural yer, and has since earned four World Pipe Band Championships. The full ban, led by Pipe Major terry Lee, Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee, and Lead Drummer J. Reid Maxwell, consists of over thirty talented players, and has developed a significant youth program through its junior band system, the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Bands. SPECIAL GUESTS Jori Chisholm Jori made his mark on the international piping scene winning top prizes, including the 2001 A Grade March/Bronze Star at the Argyllshire Gathering, and MHAF's 2004 and 2008 U.S. Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition. Jori is a member of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, and helped win the World Pipe Band Championship in 2001. He teaches piping in Seattle and to students worldwide. Matt Kline, Mike Kotch, Tristan Wilson Matt, Mike, and Tristan are professional pipers and instructors at the Winter Storm Workshop. Previously with the Grade 2 KC St. Andrew Pipes & Drums, all are members of the Grade 2 City of Chicago Pipe Band, where Tristan is Pipe Sergeant. Matt served as a Director of MHAF.