3-time Western US Champion soloist on Great Highland Bagpipes. Winner of hundreds of awards, performing professionally since 1969, Fred has the best credentials in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. He is a full-time professional bagpiper available on short notice.
64 reviews
Yolanda R.
July 21, 2025Fred was extremely professional throughout the whole process. He clearly communicated with me frequently. He assisted me in hiring another bag piper. He and the other bag piper showed up early, they looked professional and played beautifully. Their music added a special touch to our event.
Hired as: Bagpiper
Michael S. J.
June 15, 2025Fred is an outstanding bagpiper, showed up on time and worked closely with our honor Gaurd to ensure an excellent opening ceremony for our event.
Hired as: Bagpiper
Karina V.
May 24, 2025Absolutely wonderful!
Hired as: Bagpiper
Elizabeth S.
March 4, 2025Great to have such talent come to us!
Hired as: Bagpiper
Diane O.
February 23, 2025Fred Payne provided excellent entertainment for my Dads 100th birthday party. He was flexible and played inside the hall as well as in the patio area adjacent to the hall. He was a pleasure to work with, professional, and on time for our event. I would hire him again and give him a great recommendation of 5 stars! Thank you Fred Payne
Hired as: Bagpiper
Fred Payne, Champion Bagpiper
Thank you, Diane. You and your siblings were wonderful clients. You made my part very easy. I appreciate your kindness in giving such a positive review. Best wishes to you, your family, and especially your dad.
Price range: Contact for rates
Gig length: 5 - 120 minutes
Contract Fred to perform for you.
Consult as little or as much as you desire - no added fees.
Fred arrives early, prepares.
Performance, satisfaction!
Fred is a full-time professional piper throughout the San Francisco Bay area, northern/central California, and Nevada. His rates are competitive and he is available on short notice.
Fred began piping in 1966 at age 11 and joined the Walter B. Truman Pipe Band a year later. He played his first professional gig at age 14. In San Luis Obispo, Fred co-founding the Central Coast Pipes and Drums in 1999 and was pipe major in 2002. He then played in contests with the Monterey Bay Pipes and Drum and the San Francisco Irish Pipers. He competed as a soloist until 2012, winning more than 100 contests in the Western United States. He took the Western US Championship three years running in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Fred now devotes all his time to professional bagpiping. His references are the best and his contest winnings public record.
Highlights of Fred's career:
Performed with the San Francisco Opera in "Heart of a Soldier," 2011.
Performed with the California Symphony on the 9-11 memorial in 2009.
Performed with the Napa Symphony, 2008.
Performed with the Diablo Symphony 2008.
Performed with the Chieftains, 2008, 2009, 2010.
Countless weddings, memorials, corporate functions, golf tournaments, military and law enforcement events. The list is nearly endless.
Fred is ultimately versatile. He requires no setup, no equipment. Instructions may be changed at the very last minute.
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Sacramento, CA
Thursday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:30am - 12:00pm
•
Dixon, CA
Friday
Birthday Party
9:00pm - 9:30pm
•
Napa, CA
Wednesday
Corporate Event
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
5:00pm - 5:30pm
•
San Jose, CA
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
10:00am - 10:15am
•
Oakland, CA
Friday
Nonprofit Event
8:00am - 9:00am
•
Sausalito, CA
Saturday
Dinner Party
5:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Pleasant Hill, CA
Monday
Personal Occasion
2:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Ukiah, CA
Saturday
House Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Oakley, CA
Sunday
Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Oakland, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 11:15am
•
Larkspur, CA
Monday
House Party
1:30pm - 2:00pm
•
Davis, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Montara, CA
Tuesday
Personal Occasion
1:00pm - 1:15pm
•
Fremont, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 5:45pm
•
Santa Rosa, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 11:30am
•
Hayward, CA
Friday
Personal Occasion
7:30am - 8:30am
•
Sonoma, CA
Wednesday
School Assembly
9:00am - 9:15am
•
Oroville, CA
Tuesday
Nonprofit Event
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
San Mateo, CA
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
6:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Stockton, CA
Sunday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
West Sacramento, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
9:00am - 9:15am
•
Dixon, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
7:30pm - 7:45pm
•
Alameda, CA
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Fremont, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:30pm - 4:00pm
•
Brentwood, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
4:00pm - 4:15pm
•
San Rafael, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 6:00pm
•
Meadow Vista, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 2:00pm
•
Granite Bay, CA
Wednesday
Worship Service
1:30pm - 3:00pm
•
Sacramento, CA
Sunday
Fundraiser
2:00pm - 2:15pm
•
San Leandro, CA
Saturday
Worship Service
1:00pm - 1:15pm
•
Walnut Creek, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Wednesday
Holiday Party
12:00pm - 12:15pm
•
Emeryville, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:30am - 12:15pm
•
Walnut Creek, CA
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:30pm
•
Loomis, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:00pm - 3:15pm
•
Walnut Creek, CA
Saturday
Birthday Party
3:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Novato, CA
Friday
Wedding Ceremony
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Sebastopol, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 3:00pm
•
San Pablo, CA
Friday
Religious Celebration
11:30am - 11:45am
•
San Mateo, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Napa, CA
Sunday
Cocktail Party
4:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Los Altos, CA
Thursday
Birthday Party
8:00am - 8:15am
•
San Francisco, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
Dixon, CA
Thursday
Religious Celebration
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
Thursday
Nonprofit Event
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
San Rafael, CA
Thursday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 2:15pm
•
Oakland, CA
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:30pm - 2:45pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Sunday
Wedding Reception
6:30pm - 7:00pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:30pm - 4:00pm
•
Redwood City, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:00pm - 5:15pm
•
San Gregorio, CA
Saturday
Sporting Event
9:00am - 10:00am
•
Fairfax, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00pm - 10:15pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
4:00pm - 4:30pm
•
Salinas, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 3:00pm
•
Inverness, CA
Saturday
Anniversary Party
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Danville, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Lafayette, CA
Tuesday
Wedding Ceremony
11:30am - 12:15pm
•
Forestville, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:30pm - 2:00pm
•
Foster City, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Martinez, CA
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:30am - 10:45am
•
Los Altos, CA
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
9:00am - 9:30am
•
Dixon, CA
Thursday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:30am - 11:00am
•
Concord, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:30am - 12:30pm
•
Lafayette, CA
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:30pm - 1:00pm
•
San Mateo, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:30am - 12:00pm
•
Novato, CA
Friday
Graduation
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
San Geronimo, CA
Saturday
Sporting Event
2:00pm - 2:15pm
•
Petaluma, CA
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Dixon, CA
Wednesday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
Lafayette, CA
Wednesday
Product Promotion
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Wednesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:30pm - 2:45pm
•
Palo Alto, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Mill Valley, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 12:15pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Thursday
Corporate Event
6:00pm - 6:15pm
•
San Rafael, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:30am - 11:00am
•
San Jose, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 2:45pm
•
San Jose, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
San Mateo, CA
Sunday
Birthday Party
10:00am - 10:15am
•
Lodi, CA
Thursday
Surprise
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Los Gatos, CA
Friday
Birthday Party
7:00am - 7:15am
•
Sonoma, CA
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Dixon, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Roseville, CA
Friday
Graduation
6:00pm - 6:45pm
•
Suisun City, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 2:00pm
•
San Jose, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Nevada City, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Yuba City, CA
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:30am - 11:45am
•
Santa Rosa, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 6:00pm
•
Oakland, CA
Tuesday
Corporate Event
10:00am - 10:15am
•
San Francisco, CA
Thursday
Cocktail Party
5:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Oakland, CA
Sunday
Dinner Party
5:30pm - 5:45pm
•
Napa, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 1:15pm
•
San Bruno, CA
Thursday
Christmas Party
4:00pm - 4:45pm
•
Sebastopol, CA
Sunday
Nonprofit Event
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Pinole, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 5:30pm
•
Calistoga, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Antioch, CA
Thursday
Personal Occasion
3:30pm - 3:45pm
•
Santa Rosa, CA
Saturday
Birthday Party
9:00pm - 9:30pm
•
Walnut Creek, CA
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:30pm - 7:45pm
•
Citrus Heights, CA
Friday
Retirement Party
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Fairfield, CA
Saturday
Holiday Party
7:00pm - 7:30pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Tuesday
Retirement Party
4:30pm - 5:00pm
•
Santa Rosa, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
San Francisco, CA
Thursday
Dinner Party
5:30pm - 6:15pm
•
San Rafael, CA
Saturday
Christmas Party
7:30pm - 8:00pm
•
San Rafael, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 1:45pm
•
Carmichael, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 12:15pm
•
Rancho Cordova, CA
Thursday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 12:00pm
•
Dixon, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Clarksburg, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
12:00pm - 12:15pm
•
San Rafael, CA
Friday
Personal Occasion
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Antioch, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:30pm - 4:15pm
•
Danville, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:30pm - 4:00pm
•
Mill Valley, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 10:15am
•
Pacifica, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:30pm - 2:45pm
•
San Rafael, CA
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
3:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Walnut Creek, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 12:30pm
•
Sacramento, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
12:00pm - 12:15pm
•
Santa Rosa, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:30am - 1:30pm
•
Gualala, CA
Sunday
Birthday (Adult)
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Benicia, CA
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 11:45am
•
Novato, CA
Amazing Grace
Scotland the Brave
The Green Hills of Tyrol (The Scottish Soldier)
Mairi's Wedding
Skye Boat Song
Highland Cathedral
The Road to the Isles
My Love She's But a Lassie Yet
Jenny's Bawbee
The Rowan Tree
Caledonia
Mull of Kintyre
Flowers of the Forest
Highland Cathedral
The Dawning of the Day
The Wearing of the Green
Minstrel Boy
Let Erin Remember
The Cliffs of Doneen
Bonnie Dundee
Mist Covered Mountains
Lochanside
The Dark Island
When the Piper Plays
Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band
Gordon Duncan
Willie McCallum
Simon Fraser University Pipe Band
Bagpiper
