Winter Storm 2025 – Contest Results

Kansas City, Missouri – The Midwest Highland Arts Fund (MHAF) board of directors is pleased to announce the results of the Winter Storm 2025 piping and drumming competitions. Awards were presented Friday evening, January 17, 2025, at the Kansas City Marriott – Country Club Plaza Grand Ballroom.

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

1st – Andrew Donlon
2nd – Derek Midgely
3rd – Nick Hudson
4th – Alastair Lee
5th – Ben McClamrock
6th – Ian K. MacDonald
Judges: Donald MacPhee, Roddy MacLeod

Midwest Highland Arts Fund North American Gold Medal Ceol Beag Championship
Sponsored by Henderson & Drum Supply

1st – Alastair Lee
2nd – Cameron Bonar
3rd – Joseph Biggs
4th – Jack Williamson
5th – Nick Hudson
6th – Derek Midgley
Judges: Michael Grey, Bob Worrall, Jack Lee

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Aggregate Gold Medal Piobaireachd and Gold Medal Ceol Beag Award

Winner: Alastair Lee

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

1st – Eli Fugate
2nd – Sebastian Arguelles
3rd – Robert Graham
4th – Eric McNeil
5th – Kyle Wardell
6th – Alex Kuldell
Judges: Stephen Creighton, Jake Jorgenson, Kerr McQuillan

Gold Medal Tenor Drumming Championships
Sponsored by Rhythm Monster
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion and Ace Percussion

1st – Jensen McConnell
2nd – Kathryn Byzewski
3rd – Whitney Glenn
4th – Jamie Alfred
5th – Kate Dudek
6th – Andrea Jackson
Judges: Kahlil Cappuccino, Andrew Elliott, Owen Russell

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

1st – Terry Cadiente
2nd – Ben Elkins
3rd – Jamie Alfred
4th – Allison North
5th – Alex Kudell
6th – Eric Legere
Judges: Kahlil Cappuccino, Andrew Elliott, Owen Russell

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

1st – Joseph Biggs
2nd – Ryan Praskovich
3rd – Robert Bruce
4th – Micah Babinski
5th- Dan Lyden
6th – Tyler Destremps
Judges: Callum Beaumont, Andrew Douglas

North American Silver Medal Ceol Beag Championship
Sponsored by Dojo University
Presented by Roddy MacLeod Bagpipes

1st – Ryan Praskovich
2nd – Zephan Knichel
3rd – Micah Babinski
4th – Bobby Durning
5th – Zak Read
6th – Andrew Lewis
Judges: Richard Parkes, Gary West, Terry Lee

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

GRADE 3
1st – Peter Liu
2nd – Olivia Boydstun
3rd – Cooper Lloyd
4th – Brigitta Benroth
5th – Kimberly Meek
6th – Christopher Baum
Judges: Donald McPhee, Callum Beaumont

GRADE 2
1st – Christopher Rodriguez
2nd – Luke Ashton
3rd – Chaz Stuart
4th – Andrew Reynolds
5th – Jacob Bowers
6th – John Hughes
Judges: Andrew Douglas, Michael Grey

GRADE 1
1st – Kathleen Brown
2nd – Abby Long
3rd – Alex Pavlovic
4th – Ian Minnear
5th – Andrew Zhao
6th – Alexander Walker
Judges: Bob Worrall, Roddy MacLeod

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

GRADE 3
1st – Sylvia Thiessen
2nd – Brigitta Benroth
3rd – Cooper Lloyd
4th – Michelle Blam
5th – David Barrash
6th – Anthony St. Clair
Judges: Jack Lee, Roddy MacDonald

GRADE 2
1st – Logan Gorsuch
2nd – Jacob Bowers
3rd – Agustin Arguelles
4th – Jack O’Connell
5th – Luke Ashton
6th – Chaz Stuart
Judges: Richard Parkes, Donald MacPhee

GRADE 1
1st – Abby Long
2nd – Olivia Corcoran
3rd – Euan Gattinger
4th – Mihir Zambre
5th – Alex Pavlovic
6th – Malachi Johannsen
Judges: Terry Lee, Gary West

Grade 3 – Most Promising Piper Award
Sponsored by R.G.Hardie & Co.

Winner: Sylvia Thiessen

Midwest Highland Arts Fund North American Amateur Snare Drumming Championship
Sponsored by Custom Drum Sound Inc.
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion

GRADE 3
1st – Andrew Keppel
2nd – Ulises Reyes
3rd – Drew Postma
4th – Brenden Good
5th – Chris Hugie
6th – Jim Kilburg
Judges: Kerr McQuillan, Jim Sim

GRADE 2
1st – Eric Legere
2nd – Samuel Giles
3rd – Luca Damiani
4th – Jonathan Giles
5th – Max Fenwick
6th – Andrew Koupal
Judges: Jim Sim, Stephen Creighton

GRADE 1
1st – Nicholas Bowden
2nd – Sloan Pierce
3rd – Cameron MacDonald
4th – Aidan Hogan
5th – Will Powell
6th – Alexandria Bieschke
Judges: Stephen Creighton, Jake Jorgensen

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Amateur Tenor Drumming Championships
Sponsored by Rhythm Monster
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion and Ace Percussion

1st – Carolin Stonier
2nd – Lindsay MacGregor
3rd – Elise Svangtun
4th – Iris Fugate
5th – Allison Hildebrand
6th – Sophia Jantzen
Judges: Kahlil Cappuccino, Andrew Elliott, Owen Russell

Midwest Highland Arts Fund Amateur Bass Drumming Championships
Sponsored by MassedHead
Presented by Andante Drums & Percussion and ACE Percussion

1st – Evan Duckett
2nd – Isla Ross
3rd – Marie Rude
4th – John Bertino
5th – Gale Walker
6th – Mary Thrasher
Judges: Kahlil Cappuccino, Andrew Elliott, Owen Russell