Bagpipers for Hire

Hire Bagpipers

A bagpiper in full Highland dress creates an atmosphere that few other musicians can match. The distinctive sound of the Great Highland Bagpipe carries across outdoor spaces and fills indoor venues with powerful, resonant melodies rooted in centuries of Celtic tradition. Professional pipers typically perform in kilt, sporran and Glengarry bonnet, and many also offer military dress uniform as an alternative for formal occasions.

What a Bagpiper Offers

Most bagpipe players maintain broad repertoires covering traditional Scottish airs, Irish tunes, military marches and popular pieces arranged for pipes. Standards like Scotland the Brave, Amazing Grace, Flower of Scotland and Highland Cathedral are common requests, and experienced pipers can often learn specific tunes on request. For indoor events or smaller spaces, some performers also play the Scottish small pipes, which produce a softer, mellower tone better suited to enclosed rooms. Pipers looking to create a fuller sound may work with a drummer to form a mini pipe band, or collaborate with ceilidh bands for an evening of Scottish music and dancing. If you are planning an event with a broader Celtic theme, you might also consider Irish and Scottish entertainment acts that combine piping with other traditional performance styles.

Events and Occasions

Wedding ceremonies are the most popular booking for Highland pipers. The piper typically plays as guests arrive, performs during the processional or recessional, and pipes the newlyweds out to photographs or through to the reception. Many couples with Scottish or Irish heritage choose a piper alongside wedding ceremony musicians to mark the occasion. Funerals and memorial services are the other major category, with pieces such as Amazing Grace and Flowers of the Forest providing a moving tribute. Beyond these, bagpipers are regularly hired for Burns Night suppers, St Patrick's Day celebrations, Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) events, corporate functions, military ceremonies, golf days and milestone birthdays. Peak dates like Burns Night (25 January) and St Patrick's Day (17 March) book up well in advance, so early enquiries are advisable for these occasions.

Bagpiper Pricing

Rates for hiring a bagpiper typically range from $89 for a short performance of around 20-30 minutes to $1189 for extended engagements, multiple sets or events at more than one location. The average cost sits at $256. Pricing is usually influenced by performance duration, travel distance and the complexity of the booking. Wedding packages that include music at several points throughout the day (arrival, ceremony, photographs, reception entrance) cost more than a single-slot memorial service. Most pipers include Highland dress and their own instrument, so there are no additional equipment costs to factor in.