Contest Results 2023

Kansas City, Missouri – The Midwest Highland Arts Fund (MHAF) Board of Directors is pleased
to announce the results of the Winter Storm 2023 Competitions. Awards were presented Friday
evening, January 13, 2023, at the Kansas City Marriott – Country Club Plaza Grand Ballroom.

United States Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Sponsored by Midwest Pipe Band Association
Presented by McCallum Bagpipes

1st – Blaise Theriault
2nd – Joseph Stewart
3rd – Dan Lyden
4th – Jack Williamson
5th – Joe Biggs
6th – Avens Ridgeway

Judges: Roddy MacLeod and Callum Beaumont

North American Silver Medal Ceol Beag Competition
Sponsored by The Midwest Pipe Band Association
Presented by Roddy MacLeod Bagpipes

1st – Joe Biggs
2nd – Zephan Knichel
3rd – Dan Lyden
4th – Bobby Durning
5th – Joseph Stewart
6th – Blaise Theriault

Judges: William McCallum and Ken Eller

Amateur & Gold Medal Tenor Drumming Championships
Sponsored by Rhythm Monster
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion, and  Pearl Drums

Amateur Tenor:
1st – Anna Irvine
2nd – Alexander Kuldell
3rd – Mitchell Olding
4th – Seton Helwig
5th – Lindsay MacGregor
6th – Leslie Young

Judges: Simon Hodgett and Christina Henry

Gold Medal Tenor:
1st – Danielle Hamilton Cooper
2nd – Andrew Elliott
3rd – Brianna McDonald
4th – Louise Augaitis
5th – Shanna McDonald
6th – Kathryn Byzewski

Judges: Simon Hodgett and Christina Henry

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Amateur and Gold Medal Bass Drumming Championships
Sponsored by MassedHead
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion, and  Pearl Drums

Amateur Bass:
1st – Eric Legere
2nd – Mary Thrasher

Judges: Simon Hodgett and Christina Henry

Gold Medal Bass:
1st –  Andrew Elliott
2nd – Danielle Hamilton Cooper
3rd – Ben Elkins
4th – Johnny Rowe
5th – Alexander Kuldell
6th – Allison North

Judges: Simon Hodgett and Christina Henry

North American Amateur Ceol Beag Competition
Sponsored by Tartantown
Presented by Lee & Sons Bagpipes

Amateur Ceol Beag GRADE 3:
1st –  Agustin Arguelles
2nd – James Douglas
3rd – Daelen McCumber
4th – Andra Stoller
5th – Hunter Nichols
6th – Orin Weiss

Judge: Fred Morrison

Amateur Ceol Beag GRADE 2:
1st – Paul MacKay
2nd – Jack Martin
3rd – Abby Long
4th – Calum MacKinnon
5th – Colum Faris
6th – Matt Davis

Judges: Ken Eller and William McCallum

Amateur Ceol Beag GRADE 1
1st – Cameron Bonar
2nd – Colin Forrest
3rd – Duncan Winters
4th – Thomas Cangelosi
5th – Conner Eckert
6th – Adam Blaine

Judges: Richard Parkes, MBE and Terry Lee

Midwest Highland Arts Fund North American Amateur Piobaireachd Championships
Sponsored and Presented by The Tone Protector by bagpipelessons.com

Amateur Piobaireachd GRADE 3
1st – Melanie Brown
2nd – Agustin Arguelles
3rd – Ignacio Solis
4th – Courtney Schnee
5th – Emmitt LaBelle
6th – Hunter Nichols

Judge: Jori Chisholm

Amateur Piobaireachd GRADE 2
1st – Abby Long
2nd – Paul MacKay
3rd – Matthew Launer
4th – Allison Jackson
5th – Kim Greeley
6th – John Bertino

Judges: Jack Lee and William McCallum

Amateur Piobaireachd GRADE 1
1st – Cameron Bonar
2nd – Thomas Cangelosi
3rd – Adam Blaine
4th – Kayleigh Johnstone
5th – Colin Forrest
6th – Mason Parsons

Judges: Bob Worrall and Roddy MacLeod

Midwest Highland Arts Fund North American Gold Medal Ceol Beag Competition
Sponsored by Henderson’s Pipes & Drum Supply

1st – Matt MacIsaac
2nd – Alastair Lee
3rd – Andrew Carlisle
4th – Nick Hudson
5th – Matt Wilson
6th – Derek Midgley

Judges: Judges: Bob Worrall, Richard Parkes, MBE and Jack Lee

Midwest Highland Arts Fund North American Amateur Drumming Championships
Sponsored by Custom Drum Sound Inc.
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion, and  Pearl Drums

Amateur GRADE 3
1st – Eric Legere
2nd – Jessica Frye
3rd – Christian Hirschey
4th – Jeremy Downs

Judge: Jim Sim

Amateur Snare GRADE 2
1st – Tony Todero
2nd – Ken Decker

Judges: J. Reid Maxwell and Jake Jorgensen

Amateur Snare GRADE 1
1st – Sloan Pierce
2nd – Oli Burbury
3rd – Brian Turner
4th – Nicholas Moore
5th – George Irvine
6th – Sophia McConnell

Judges: Stephen Creighton and Hugh Cameron

Midwest Highland Arts Fund North American Gold Medal Drumming Championship
Sponsored by Henderson’s Pipe and Drum Supply
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion, and  Pearl Drums

1st –  Robert Graham, Jr.
2nd – Grant Maxwell
3rd – Derek Cooper
4th – Eric McNeill
5th – Shane Stapleton
6th – Alexander Kuldell

Judges: Hugh Cameron, Stephen Creighton, Jake Jørgensen, and Jim Sim

Midwest Highland Arts Fund United States Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition
Sponsored by R.G. Hardie & Co.

1st – Andrew Carlisle
2nd – Nick Hudson
3rd – Andrew Lewis
4th – Alastair Lee
5th – Derek Midgley
6th – Zephan Knichel

Judges: Jack Lee and Fred Morrison

Andrew Carlisle was the aggregate winner of the United States Gold Medal Piobaireachd Championship and the United States Gold Medal
Ceol Beag Championship. He was awarded up to $1,500 USD for travel to Scotland to participate in professional solo events, or to travel back to Kansas City to compete at Winter Storm 2024.