b'THE BAGPIPER:MICHAEL McCLANATHANVisit the resorts Dreamweavers Canyon at sunset, and youll probably hear him before you see him, standing on a hill at the edge of the golf course clad in a kilt with his long hair streaming behind him. MichaelMcClanathanhasbeen performing at The Westin Kierlands daily sunset bagpipe ceremony for 13 years, but hes been playing for much longer than that. More than 50 years have passed since he started taking lessons, inspired by a bagpiper band he watched perform on summer eve-nings during family trips to Kincardine, Ontario, when he was 10 years old.For McClanathan, its important to create an enjoyable experience for his audience. Ive spent my whole life try-ing to be the best at playing the pipes, he says. On his way to that goal, hes picked up several awards and per-formed for celebrities, including Dick Van Dyke and former president George H. W. Bush.McClanathan started teaching hisFUN FACT:son, Wheaton, when he was 8, andI remember listening to now, all grown up, Wheaton also playsmusic by George Benson, at the resort. a singer and guitar player, in the 1970s. Years later, I met and played for him, and he bought my CD. It was pretty surreal.42 THE WESTIN KIERLAND MAGAZINE'