Whether you’re honoring tradition at a wedding, marking a solemn moment at a memorial, or just want to turn heads at your next celebration, the bagpipe adds a rich, unforgettable presence to any event. In a city as vibrant and diverse as Boston, finding a talented piper is easier than ever\u2014if you know where to look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are eight of the most talented bagpipers and pipe bands in the Boston area for private events in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adam G. Holdaway<\/strong> Duncan Hurst<\/strong> Nate Silva (\u201cPassion Piper\u201d)<\/strong> Bob Cameron, Piper<\/strong> Brian Quirk<\/strong> \ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band<\/strong> Hollybriar Bagpipers<\/strong> Sutherland Pipe Band<\/strong> Whether you’re planning a traditional wedding, a heritage festival, or a meaningful memorial, these Boston-based bagpipers offer rich musical experiences that elevate every occasion. Their pipes don\u2019t just play notes\u2014they create memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udce9 Need help choosing the right bagpiper for your special event? Reach out to us anytime at dreamteam@booklive.com<\/a><\/strong> or visit www.booklive.com<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 we\u2019re here to help you plan something truly unforgettable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Whether you’re honoring tradition at a wedding, marking a solemn moment at a memorial, or just want to turn heads […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":868,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-best-of-2025","category-boston-musicians"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=867"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":869,"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/867\/revisions\/869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.booklive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Raised in Somerville, Massachusetts, Adam began playing bagpipes at the age of eleven under the instruction of renowned piping instructor Archie MacLeod. Soon after, he began competing in solo competitions and has competed with a number of prestigious bands including the grade 2 Tulach Ard pipe band based in Lexington, Massachusetts and the Manchester Pipe Band of Manchester, Connecticut. Adam is currently Pipe Major of the grade 1 Stuart Highlanders of Wilmington, Massachusetts, which on August 13, 2011 won the overall piping score at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland
\ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a>\ud83d\udcf1YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m a bagpiper based in Whately, Massachusetts, with over 15 years of experience performing, teaching, and leading in the piping community. I started learning the bagpipes at age ten, studying under Adam Holdaway, and quickly found my place in the Stuart Highland Pipe Band of Wilmington, MA, where I\u2019ve played ever since and have served as pipe major since 2018. Pipe majors are responsible for the overall sound of the band, leading rehearsals, instructing players, and making sure the band is ready for any competition or performance. I am also a member of The Commonwealth Pipes and Drums of Melrose, MA.
\ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a>\ud83d\udcf1Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
My name\u2019s Nate. I\u2019m an experienced player and performer of a variety of Scottish and Irish related bagpipes, and I\u2019ve be at it for more than 20 years. Piping is a passion of mine, and it\u2019s one I love to share.
\ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a>\ud83d\udcf1 Instagram<\/a> \ud83d\udcf1 Facebook<\/a> \ud83d\udcf1 X<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been a professional musician since I was a senior in high school, starting as a tubist in all sorts of ensembles both professionally and as a Music Education major in College.
I started learning bagpipes in late 1979 and since the 1980s have been playing for weddings, funerals, other church services, graduations, parties and all sorts of events, including parades, as a solo piper.
\ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weddings, funerals, parties, events
– Scottish, Irish, Canadian, and American tunes
– Marches, strathspeys, reels, hornpipes, jigs, airs, hymns, piobaireachd.
Rates (from 12 Days of Christmas):
$280 for funerals, $320 for weddings and other events: for the first 90 minutes; negotiable if longer, or if more than 30 miles from Lawrence, MA.
I may be able to find a bagpiper near you.
At a funeral, I can provide “Taps” on a bugle at no extra fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the region\u2019s premier pipe band, the Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band is available to perform at a wide range of events. From festive parades and corporate gatherings to more solemn occasions such as memorials and funeral processions, we provide an atmosphere of dignity and celebration with every performance. Our musicians are skilled, versatile, and always ready to tailor our performances to suit the specific needs of any event. If you\u2019re looking to bring a touch of tradition, emotion, and excitement to your next gathering, we\u2019d love to help make it a memorable occasion.
\ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hollybriar Bagpipes and Drums are a family of 3 bagpipers and 2 snare drummers. Our eastern Massachusetts based bagpipers and drummers are available to perform for wedding, funeral, birthday party, graduation, or many other events, either individually or as a combination of two to five musicians in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
\ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a>\ud83d\udcf1 Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Russell’s own words: “Enclosed is the photo, most likely printed in the Boston Globe or Herald about 1955. I was seventeen at the time and the youngest member of the band. We had 12 pipers and 6 drummers at that time, (3 snare, 2 tenor, 1 bass) I left the band in 1956 when I entered the US Coast Guard. I later heard that the band was invited to play at the birthday bash for Michael Todd in New York.”
\ud83d\udd17 Website<\/a>\ud83d\udcf1 Facebook<\/a>\ud83d\udcf1 Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFinal Thoughts<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n