If you are a piper or drummer (or both) and want to learn from and hear world-class Highland musicians, I highly encourage you to come to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund’s 8th annual Winter Storm in Kansas City. The dates are January 16-18 (Fri-Sun).

On the 16th, pipers and drummers from around the world will compete for championships in US Gold and Silver Medal Piobaireachd, North American Gold Medal Ceol Beag, Gold Medal and Amateur Tenor Drumming, Gold Medal and Amateur Bass Drumming and North American Gold Medal and Amateur Drumming.

Then, workshops for pipers of all levels – including those who have just picked up the chanter – will be held Saturday (all day) and Sunday (morning). Participants get world-class instruction from Gold Medal-winning faculty, including guys like Chris Armstrong, Alasdair Gillies, Jack Lee, Stuart Liddell and Fred Morrison. “The Captain,” Ken Eller, a true ambassador of piping, offers a beginner’s workshop that is highly motivational and gets any new piper off to a great start. I sat in on his class and get a tremendous amount out of it. I still warm-up using his exercises.

Drummers have the opportunity to learn from such amazing talents as Drew Duthart, Emily MacLeod, Haggis MacLeod, Steven McWhirter and Big Johnny Rowe.

The highlight, however, is the Winter Storm Pipes & Drums Concert, held in an acoustically-ideal church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The concert features an international, all Gold-Medal line-up of 22 of the world’s best Highland pipers and drummers. The champions of the 2009 Gold and Silver Medal piping competition and the Gold Medal snare, tenor and bass competitions also win the opportunity to play.

The concert is followed-up by Winter Steam, a ceilidh of epic proportion, sponsored by Newcastle Brown Ale. Mmmmmmmmmm...Newky Broooowwwwnnnn.

I simply can’t speak highly enough of this truly world-class event in Kansas City (of all places). Go to www.mhaf.org for more information, including competition registration, workshop registration, concert tickets (which you get if you register for the workshop) and spectator tickets for Friday’s competitions. There are also blocks of rooms at the Winter Storm hotel (Mariott) and the Holiday Inn directly across the street, but move fast. The rooms are going quickly!

Hope to see you over bagpipes and BBQ!