The Annual McCallum Bagpipes &
MidWest Pipe Band Association United States Silver Medal Piobaireachd Competition will be held January 15, 2010, at the Marriott-Country Club Plaza, in Kansas City. The contest will begin at approximately 8:00 a.m.
The McCallum & MWPBA Silver Medal (USA), 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) in diameter featuring the ancient MacCrimmon piper and "MidWest Pipe Band Association" on the obverse, and the McCallum logo on the reverse, will be awarded to the day's champion in Piobaireachd. Prize moneys include First winning USD $500 through Fifth $100. The Silver Medal Champion will also be awarded a stand of Silver and Imitation Ivory pipes, courtesy of Kenny MacLeod and McCallum Bagpipes.
Open to pipers graded professional/open by their regional pipe band associations, the piper must submit five tunes of the competitor’s own choice; Competitors will be notified of the selected tune prior to entering the final tuning-room.
The contest, unique in North America, will be held just before the annual MHAF Winter Storm Weekend, January 15 - 17, and that Saturday evening's WINTER STORM 2010: The Pipes & Drums Concert, performed by the workshop faculty; the Champion will also be invited to perform with the winners of the R.G. Hardie - MHAF Gold Medal Piobaireachd Competition, the MHAF North American Professional Ceol Beag Competition, the MCDS - MHAF North American Gold Medal Drumming Championship, the MHAF Gold Medal Bass Drumming Championship, and the MHAF Gold Medal Tenor Drumming Championship.
McCallum Bagpipes has grown in a short period of time into one of the world's leading bagpipemakers. Founded in 1998, McCallum employs 25 craftsmen who manufacture 40 sets of bagpipes every week, along with pipe chanters, practice chanters and smallpipes. McCallum is owned by well-known pipers Kenny MacLeod and Stuart McCallum.
MidWest Pipe Band Association formed in 1964 with ten pipe bands; membership currently covers sixteen states, with over 50 bands and 300 solo pipers and drummers in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Committed to consistency and excellence in grading standards, MWPBA fosters piping by overseeing sanctioned games in the Midwest.
Midwest Highland Arts Fund incorporated as a non-profit in 2001 and promotes the Scottish Highland performing arts in the United States through workshops, concerts, and competitions. Augmenting the excellent instruction available from local pipe bands, MHAF brings world-class musicians to Kansas City. The Fund is a national leader in Highland Arts instruction.
Please read the contest rules and regulations before proceeding to registration.
Questions? Click here for Winter Storm contacts.
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