- Yarmouth, ME
- Bagpiper
- 333 miles from
- Contact for rates
Karen G. said
“Highly recommend John’s playing. It brought many a tear to many eyes at my mothers service. ”
Matthew Phelps
Overview
Matthew Phelps has been playing the bagpipes for 32 years, and in 1999 was promoted to Open or Professional piping status by the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. This is the highest level of competitive bagpipe playing.
Phelps has played at weddings, funerals, birthday parties, anniversaries, ship launchings, political campaign marches, concert hall and stage performances, at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, and at many international pipe band competitions throughout North America, the UK, and Northern Ireland. Past performances also include playing with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, at a berry picking Festival in Kuujjuarapik, Nunavik, and at a wedding in Panama.
Reviews
11 reviews
Jill M. T.
August 24, 2026Matthew Phelps Played Bagpipes for my Dads graveside servic
Matthew did a beautiful job and set the tone for the graveside service . He was prompt and cordial and my family was very touched with his performance .
Hired as: Bagpiper
Angela B.
August 19, 2026Welcome of Guests for Celebration of Life
Matt arrived a full half hour before his scheduled “paid” time, which allowed us time to physically take him through the “ceremonial” aspect of Dad’s Celebration of Life, before the arrival of guests.
He was completely open to whatever we envisioned his role to be and introduced the procession with the two Black Watch (RHR) of Canada marches, and led our family into the hall with “Scotland the Brave”.
His 45 minute gig prior to that, at the main entrance of the venue, welcomed guests from far and near!
Matt’s presence, professionalism and obvious extensive repertoire, provided another layer of detail to our lovely send-off for our Dad.
Matthew Phelps will definitely be our first choice of Piper at our next event! Thank you, Matt!
Hired as: Bagpiper
Dianne H.
August 18, 2026Wedding
He was fantastic! Would recommend. Great job, everyone loved him.
Hired as: Bagpiper
Anne N.
May 20, 2026Mathew had us all in tears.
Mathew had us all in tears. He was great.
Hired as: Bagpiper
Gilbert R.
May 8, 2026Exceptional Piper
It was a pleasure having Matthew perform at my mother-in-law's funeral. He was kind, compassionate, and very accommodating. He is an excellent piper. Highly recommended!
Hired as: Bagpiper
Booking information
Price range: $200-$1000
Languages: English
Gig length: 15 - 120 minutes
What to expect
Clients can expect professionalism and flexibility. If guidance is what you're looking for, I'm happy to provide it. If you have an idea in mind I'll do everything I can to make it happen.
About
Matthew Phelps began piping at the age of eight. He later attended the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. There he studied under Ed Neigh, Bob Worrall, Bruce Gandy, John Walsh, Fred Morrison, and R. S. Macdonald among other influential pipers of our time.
Matthew attended Saint Andrews Presbyterian College on scholarship for piping and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.
2015 brought performances with the Boston Pops and Carlos Nunez at Symphony Hall, also in Boston. Phelps played in Canada for the North American Champio
Matthew has performed throughout the Eastern United States and Canada as well as in Switzerland, Panama, Italy, Ireland and Scotland. Canada and Scotland. Phelps has played with the Trumbull and District Pipe Band of Connecticut, The Gaelic College Pipe Band of Nova Scotia, the Saint Andrews College Pipe Band of North Carolina, the Tulach Ard Pipe Band of Massachusetts, and the Halifax Regional Police Pipes & Drums of Nova Scotia. He was also a member of the Pipes & Drums of the 78th Highlanders when he worked as a re-enactor at the Citadel National Historic Site in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Additional booking notes
Visit (link hidden) to hear sound samples and to read from other clients' testimonials.
Services offered
Upcoming booked events
October 2026
24
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Halifax, NS
Past booked events
August 2026
23
Sunday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 12:00pm
•
Chester, NS
15
Saturday
Wedding Reception
4:00pm - 5:30pm
•
Truro, NS
10
Monday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 1:30pm
•
Halifax, NS
04
Tuesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:30pm - 2:30pm
•
Wentworth, NS
May 2026
19
Tuesday
Birthday Party
5:30pm - 5:45pm
•
Chester, NS
April 2026
17
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 11:00am
•
Halifax, NS
August 2025
29
Friday
Grand Opening
8:00am - 8:15am
•
Elmsdale, NS
23
Saturday
Surprise
4:00pm - 4:15pm
•
Dartmouth, NS
October 2024
16
Wednesday
Funeral/Memorial Service
2:30pm - 3:00pm
•
Fall River, NS
November 2023
24
Friday
Graduation
12:00pm - 12:15pm
•
Halifax, NS
October 2023
11
Wednesday
Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:15pm
•
Hantsport, NS
May 2017
27
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Storrs Mansfield, CT
March 2017
18
Saturday
Cultural Event
6:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Boston, MA
17
Friday
School Assembly
1:30pm - 1:45pm
•
Brookline, MA
December 2016
09
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
9:30am - 11:00am
•
Weymouth, MA
October 2016
15
Saturday
Wedding Cocktail Hour
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Rumford, RI
August 2016
06
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
9:30am - 12:00pm
•
North Adams, MA
June 2016
04
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Hudson, NH
March 2016
07
Monday
Birthday (Adult)
2:30pm - 3:00pm
•
Cambridge, MA
September 2015
18
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
11:00am - 3:00pm
•
Bedford, NH
August 2015
29
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
7:30pm - 10:30pm
•
Newport, RI
July 2015
24
Friday
Funeral/Memorial Service
10:00am - 12:30pm
•
Norfolk, MA
03
Friday
Birthday (Adult)
9:00am - 9:15am
•
Eastham, MA
May 2015
09
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
1:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Manchester, NH
June 2014
28
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 4:30pm
•
West Warren, MA
May 2014
11
Sunday
Funeral Service
11:00am - 11:45am
•
Wilton, NH
January 2014
12
Sunday
Birthday Party
11:00am - 2:30pm
•
Manchester, NH
August 2013
24
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
5:30pm - 6:00pm
•
Amherst, MA
Set list
I play most traditional tunes that people know and if I don't I can learn them with little notice.
Setup requirements
n/a
Report Matthew Phelps
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