BagPiper Bill

Wedding Ceremonies
Grace your wedding with the timeless sound of a highly skilled bagpiper. I’ve had the privilege of performing at more than 500 weddings, and one of the greatest compliments is being invited to play at a young couple’s wedding after having performed at their parents’ wedding years before.

Whether your ceremony takes place in a chapel, church, historic building, or outdoors beside a mountain, lake, or rushing river, the Great Highland Bagpipes bring a majestic and unforgettable touch to the occasion.

I can provide music for guest arrivals, the processional, unity candle or reflective moments, the recessional, the transition from ceremony to cocktail hour, and the reception entrance—or any combination you prefer.

Typical Cost: $500 (+/-)

Birthday Parties
Add a spectacular musical surprise to a special birthday celebration! Imagine the sound of the pipes approaching from a distance as “Bagpiper Bill” marches toward the birthday honoree. Bill can perform favorite selections ranging from Irish Eyes Are Smiling to Scotland the Brave and Amazing Grace, then finish with “Happy Birthday” on the bagpipes as everyone joins in singing. It’s a memorable surprise guests won’t soon forget!

Typical Cost: $250-$350

Memorials & Funeral Services
Honor your loved one with the soulful, dignified sound of the Great Highland Bagpipes. With extensive experience performing at memorials and funeral services, Bill brings compassion, professionalism, and heartfelt musicianship to these deeply meaningful occasions.

He can perform at churches, cemeteries, military ceremonies, memorial gatherings, or ash-scattering services. Bill has even performed as a solo piper at Arlington National Cemetery following full military honors for a Marine Corps sergeant who lost his life in Afghanistan.

Whether you desire a traditional lament, Amazing Grace, or another meaningful selection, Bill’s pipes can add a profoundly moving and uplifting presence to the service.

Typical Cost: $250–$350

Celebrations, Golf Tournaments & Anniversaries
Make your special event one to remember with the stirring sound of the bagpipes. From festivals and golf tournaments to anniversaries and intimate private gatherings, Bill brings enthusiasm, creativity, and professionalism to every performance.
He adapts quickly to the needs of each client and enjoys creating a musical experience that perfectly complements the occasion.

Typical Cost: $250–$500

School Events, Cultural Days & Boy Scout Troops
Bring Scotland and Ireland to life for the next generation! Bill performs for schools and youth organizations as part of his commitment to cultural education and entertainment.

Having lived in Scotland as a boy, Bill combines storytelling, music, and humor in his engaging presentation, “A Trip to Scotland and Ireland.” Using low-volume electronic bagpipes, he introduces students to Celtic music and culture—and then gets them dancing and marching to the pipes. It’s educational, interactive, and lots of fun!

Typical Cost: $100 and up

Understanding the Cost of a Professional Bagpiper
The cost of hiring a bagpiper depends on several factors, including performance length, travel distance, travel expenses, special tune requests, preparation, and the specific requirements of your event. A piper’s experience and the local market may also influence the final quote.

It’s natural to associate the price directly with the number of minutes spent performing. However, the performance itself is only one part of the service. Even a 20-minute engagement can involve several hours of preparation and travel.

Behind the scenes are consultations, bagpipe maintenance, dressing in traditional uniform, travel to and from the venue, pre-event coordination, and learning or practicing special music requests. Professional musicians also invest significantly in maintaining their instruments, uniforms, and musical skills.

Think of it much like dining at a fine restaurant: the price reflects far more than the time spent eating. It includes the ingredients, expertise, preparation, years of training, quality of service, and the overall experience.

Add the sterling, stirring sound of the Great Highland Bagpipes to your event and make your special occasion truly unforgettable!

I’ve been playing the bagpipes—or some form of them—since I was five years old, when I was just a “wee lad.” My passion for piping grew through advanced instruction from some of the “Great Ones,” including Donald Shaw Ramsey (MBE), John D. Burgess, and Willie Ross—revolutionary pipers who helped bring the energy and spirit of the modern sound into piping during the early and mid-20th century.

More recently, I’ve had the extraordinary honor of studying with the World Champion bagpiper, Ian Whitelaw, a devoted traditionalist, gifted musician, and lover of wolves and kindred spirits.

I was born into a Scottish family of musicians, and my piping career truly took flight at age 13 in San Francisco under my instructor, J. William Merriman of the Prince Charles Pipe Band. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of performing for Queen Elizabeth II during her 1983 state visit to Seattle, as well as for two former Presidents of the United States at campaign events and for countless other dignitaries.

Over the years, I’ve been honored to perform and compete with several premier pipe bands at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. I’ve won numerous international solo piping competitions and performed with pipe bands that captured major championship titles.

Yet, after all these years, what I treasure most isn’t the trophies or titles—it’s the opportunity to touch the hearts and souls of my audiences through the stirring, unforgettable sound of the pipes.

It would be my honor to help make your event truly special.

Sláinte,

Bill MacMurchy

P.S. “He Makes Your Event Special With His Amazing Grace.”
—My Mum, Elizabeth Jane MacMurchy

I am self-sufficient and ready to performance at a moment's notice.