Your list is empty.
Save musicians, entertainers, speakers, and services, and they’ll appear here.
Seattle's Bagpiper Neil Hubbard
- Seattle, WA
- Bagpiper
- Travels up to 130 miles
- $200 and up
Overview
UPDATE: Now available for virtual Internet performances for weddings, funerals, graduations, birthday parties, and any other type of event.
Over 30 years of excellent performances and satisfied customers. Best value for your money!
Neil is the only full-time professional piper referred by Gigsalad for the Seattle area. All the others do it part-time around their other jobs. So he's available for you!
Neil will enhance your wedding, bring a high level of traditional honor to funerals & memorials, and add pomp and ceremony to any other event.
Neil has been the Resident Bagpiper at the Golf Club At Newcastle since 2004 and is proud to teach four local police and firefighter pipe bands.
54 Reviews
Neil is a true professional, I’d reccomend him to anybody
Bagpiper
You made our wedding very enjoyable, thank you!
Bagpiper
Neil was absolutely perfect. Very professional and accommodating. Couldn’t have asked for anything more! Highly recommend.
Funeral Music, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
His participation absolutely turned our little event into a surreal & magical experience!!
Neil was awesome!!
Bagpiper
Honoring my fathers wishes for bagpipes at our final gathering for him, I did some research as I knew nothing about how to find a piper. After tossing out my request on the internet I received many e-mails from different pipers, finally choosing to contact Neil. During our conversation he asked many questions and honestly his calm voice and caring energy told me I had the perfect person. We settled on what he would play and when. He called me a few days prior to touch base and make sure all the information he had was correct. Neil's piping talent is extraordinary and his humor had all 45 of my guests totally enthralled. It was SO perfect and exactly what my dad had envisioned for his send off!!!
Bagpiper
Neil's selection of music and his timing to kick off our wedding celebration was perfect.
Bagpiper
Neil did was a perfect addition to our event scattering my father’s ashes. He had suggestions, was sensitive to the flow of the event and played beautifully. We will always keep him in mind for future events!
Bagpiper
Neil Hubbard is the best. Great to work with.
Bagpiper
He performed at my grandmothers funereal and it was all I could have asked for the music was beautiful he was so professional and respectful and although the circumstances were not great he was a pleasure to work with and would absolutely hire again need be
Bagpiper
Neil Hubbard was amazing i got ahold of him with very short notice and he was able to preform for my father's military service.
America the beautiful our national anthem and going home he added that special touch to my dad's service im grateful for his performance. Thank you so much Neil from the Whalen family!
Bagpiper
Wow pretty much sums it up. We were blown away by Neils professionalism throughout the planning and execution of the surprise birthday party for my mom's 80th birthday. He coordinated with both my sister and I before the party to ensure he had all the info he needed and that we were both comfortable with the plan. He showed up on time and delivered an amazing performance! My mother could not stop talking to me about how impressed she was with Neil. He took requests, answered questions and explained how the bagpipes work. We would recommend him to anyone looking for a piper to perform at their event. THANK YOU Neil for making my mom's day so special!
Bagpiper
Neil was awesome! Great communication, very sociable and kind hearted person.
Neil was simple fantastic. Every step of the way he was great. Follow up pre and post performance and his bag pipe music was an incredible compliment to my fathers memorial at Tahoma National Cemetary. Highly recommend him.
Bagpiper
Neil came to our home to play bagpipes for our son's celebration of life party. Our son had glioblastoma which is an aggressive non-curable type of brain cancer. He loved the bagpipes and Neil's performance was one of the biggest highlights of his night. Our son passed away since the performance but the memories we have are very special. We highly recommend Neil if you are looking for a bagpipe player. He made a such a difference in our son's final days and we will always be grateful.
Bagpiper
We were delighted to find Neil for our outdoor event.
From a hosts point of view Neil is the perfect performer. He is an excellent musician, quick to access cvent needs and then just gets the job done.
We would happily invite him again in the future.
Special thanks and Cheers.
Celtic Music, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
My husband served 22 years in the Air Force, but like so many others, his life was not immediately memorialized because of the pandemic. Our family had lost a dozen people in 2020-21, only one to covid19, the rest largely to galloping old age. So, with a family reunion being planned in August, I arranged for my husband to receive his military honors at the family gathering, and for the others to be remembered in a lament. Neil was our piper for the event, coordinating his part with that of the American Legion Honor Guard. The setting was a piece of lake property belonging to my brother's family. (My brother also passed in 2020.) So, with the mist draping the hilltops, the pipes began (with "Going Home") followed by the 21 gun salute, and taps, and bagpipes again ("Amazing Grace") for the lament, and a medley of favorites we love but can't necessarily name. It was a memorable occasion, and one everyone sharing our multiple losses could remember with satisfaction. The passing of our loved ones had not gone unnoticed. Neil was superb.
Bagpiper
I recently had Neil Hubbard play for my Cousin's Funeral. He provided excellent music and was well appreciated by those who attended
Bagpiper
Neil was very accommodating and did a wonderful performance.
Bagpiper
We hired Neil for my Father’s funeral. He was very professional and empathetic to our needs and wants. You will not be disappointed!
Bagpiper
Neil had handed the job over to Gordon MacDonald and he was very efficient on keeping in touch with us before the wedding. He did a wonderful job and played wonderfully!! He is a friendly gentleman and everyone thought he did awesome!! Thank you Gordon for making our day special!!
Neil did a terrific job with a retirement surprise for a long-standing administrator at our university. The event gave everyone a lot of joy, and our honoree was very moved. All aspects of interacting with Neil were five stars.
Bagpiper
Can't say enough good things about our experience. Mr. Hubbard is personable, warm and engages the audience in the performance. We were celebrating my mother's (Scottish heritage) 98th birthday at her senior
living facility and he made it extra special for her and everyone there. Highly recommend him!!
Bagpiper
Having Neil Hubbard play the bagpipes at my father's funeral 3/5/21 and the song amazing grace made it so very special for us. We are honored that he got to be apart of this special day honoring my father Stephen C.M. Vodegel who went to be with the Lord. Thank you Neil!
Bagpiper
Neil played traditional Scottish music on his bagpipe, complete with brief explanation of song origin. The event took place outside the classroom in which my wife was teaching. It was for her 50th birthday as a small compensation for our delayed trip to Scotland due limited travel this year. Neil was very warm and enthusiastic in his play. I would highly recommend Neil for any celebrations or events in which the sounds of a bagpipe would enhance.
Neil was perfect for my father-in-law's funeral. He was responsive to our needs and willing to accommodate our requests. One of my father-in-law's only requests for his funeral was to have Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes. Due to Neil's experience and professionalism, he offered more to our service than we anticipated. His music and performance elevated this somber day to a powerfully reverent day that honored the memory of my father-in-law. Neil was thoughtful in his song selection and he performed with excellence. We will not soon forget this day, and are eternally grateful to Neil for his part in it.
It was the best surprise for my mom’s birthday.
Bagpiper
We asked Neil to play at my parents home for my Dad, who was under hospice care, and for our immediate family and a few close friends. Dad was an avid bagpipe enthusiast so he requested a few specific tunes. Neil fleshed out the 30-min performance with additional tunes, all exquisitely well chosen and played. After the performance, a neighbor who had listened from afar wrote in a card, "That was the most beautiful, magnificent, and sad time ever,” and further into the note, of “the dignified, compelling beauty of a piper, his music, and the most beautiful day ever." These words speak volumes about Neil's playing, but also he deserves to be acknowledged for the thoughtful, sensitive, and respectful manner with which he honored my late father.
Bagpiper
Neil played as a surprise present for my Dad’s 85th birthday. He responded very quickly to my inquiry and is a true professional. He took time to ask questions and confirm again the day before. He plays so beautifully and was very gracious with my elderly parents. Thank you for creating a special memory will always share!
Bagpiper
Excellent performance from Neil Hubbard. We were happy to have found such a talented bagpiper in short notice.
Bagpiper
Neil gave an exceptional bagpipe performance and was very easy to work with. The guests appreciated his talent.
Bagpiper
Working with Neil was smooth and easy from the first contact. He had great ideas on how to incorporate bagpipes into our wedding and played beautifully.
Neil is professional, knowledgeable, and talented! He put on a lovely show for the residents of our retirement community. Thank you!
Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Neil Hubbard was a perfect hire for this event.
Bagpiper
Arrived at the agreed time and immediately engaged in the party both musically and in conversation about our upcoming trip to Scotland and some Highland Games events.
Celtic Music, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Mr. Hubbard was a true professional and talented musician. He was ultra organized sand exceptionally polite. We would hire Neil again and again.
I hired Neil to be the bagpiper at my dads 90th birthday . He walked in playing the bagpipes , everyone stopped what they were doing to listen . It was really special
Bagpiper
Neil played for our Father’s Celebration of Life Memorial and was excellent. He was professional and warm and is flexibility and willingness to accommodate was very appreciated. We will definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a bagpiper. Thank you so much!
Bagpiper
Neil was awesome, my family really loved the music. It was the perfect addition to Dad’s memorial. We will definitely be calling again.
Bagpiper
We were so happy with Mr. Hubbards performance! I feel like it made the whole party great! His music selection was perfect and there was not a dry eye in the room as the music touched us deeply! I would highly recommend Mr. Hubbard for any Scottish celebration!!!
Celtic Music, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Many thanks to Neil Hubbard for traveling so far to be a part of my Mother's Celebration of Life. The Music was excellent as was the professional response and communication for the Event. I would highly recommend Neil for any event.
Bagpiper
I would get him again and people st was at the memorial was impressed with him
Bagpiper
Neil was on time, ready to start when our group showed up to say goodbye to our grandma. He was professional, friendly and we were very pleased with his talent.
Bagpiper
When the idea of having a bagpipe performer at our wedding ceremony arose, I knew that I couldn't hire just anyone.
Immediately after corresponding with Neil Hubbard, I knew he was the right choice as someone to hire for our special day.
He was prompt, (getting back to my original inquiry for quotes in the same hour) professional, accommodating, talented, and kind.
Neil looked very sharp on the day of the event and was a surprise to our audience. Many of the guests were so impressed they were brought to tears.
Looking back and watching our wedding video, my husband and I know that it would not have been the same without that special performance.
Thanks Neil, we would definitely hire you again for events in the future!
-Thomas and Meaghan Solenberger
Irish / Scottish Entertainment, World Music, Bagpiper
If you are looking for a bagpiper for your wedding or special event, we would totally recommend Neil Hubbard. Neil truly made our wedding complete. He is an expert at special events and had great suggestions to help us put the music together for our marriage ceremony. He played exactly what we asked and was the perfect fit for what we had in mind for our celtic wedding. He was professional, on time, and even went along with staying hidden to surprise our families. My family was especially moved by the bagpipes and we are grateful for Neil taking the time to make our event unique and special.
Bagpiper
We hired Neil to play bagpipes at our wedding and it was a wonderful experience. From the beginning of working together over email, Neil was very attentive, timely and professional. My mother in law had quite a few songs we wanted played and Neil wove them together seamlessly. It was a fantastic experience, very moving during our wedding and we got so many compliments from our guests. His performance really added a lot and I would highly recommend him to other couples who would like traditional bagpipes at their wedding.
Irish / Scottish Entertainment
Neil provided just what was requested for our cousin's memorial service. His performance added a touch of uniqueness and quality. He surveyed the venue and customized his performance to our needs.
Neil was very easy to work with and professional in every respect..
Thank you Neil.
Bagpiper
From the moment we contacted Neil over the phone, he was warm and respectful of our needs for our Celebration of Life ceremony. When we had questions about the big bagpipe sound versus the smaller bagpipe sound he offered to come to our house to demonstrate. Neil has excellent character and did a wonderful job for us playing during prelude, precession, mid ceremony, and at the end. He is quite accomplished and everyone enjoyed him.
Celtic Music, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
We hired Neil to play Fairytale of New York on bagpipes during our processional walk (due to my family's irish background). During the lead up to the event, he was very flexible with the larger band to quickly learn the song to play with them. Everyone remarked how impressive it was and made our day very special!
Bagpiper
Response from Seattle's Bagpiper Neil Hubbard:
Thank you so much, Julie! It was a pleasure to rehearse and play with the band Good Co. I was so happy to learn "Fairy Tale of New York" for you. It's a wonderful piece of music that I continue to play. I'm glad I could help make your day special.~Neil
We can't recommend Neil highly enough. He played as a surprise at my 40th birthday party and then again at a recent Burns' Supper. He made everyone's night on both occasions and so many of our guests commented on how special it was to hear and see him play. He is extremely personable, flexible and a lot of fun. He is also a wonderful bagpiper. Thank you, Neil! We look forward to having you come pipe for us again!!
Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Response from Seattle's Bagpiper Neil Hubbard:
Thank you so much, Eilidh. It was a pleasure to provide some authentic Scottish piping for your party! ~Neil
I have to say that Mr. Neil Hubbard was absolutely outstanding with his Bagpipes and his professionalism. Everyone at the service for my father were quite impressed. Thank you Mr. Hubbard for your time and service, and God bless you. If your looking to hire a Bagpiper, Mr. Neil Hubbard is highly recommended by the Jensen Family.
Bagpiper
I hired Neil to surprise my husband's family on our wedding day! Seeing as my husband's side of the family is from Scotland I saw that having a bagpiper was essential! I really love how he brought his personality to the event, even wore my family's tartan (!!), and was able to pick right up on a whole different song per my grand mother in law's request. I was very impressed, and I would hire him again if the opportunity presented itself! Thank you so much for the surprise Neil, I really enjoyed seeing my family hear you play, especially John's grandparents, that was the absolute best!
Celtic Music, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Response from Seattle's Bagpiper Neil Hubbard:
Thank you for your kind words, Brittany! It was fun sneaking around the courthouse to be a surprise! I'm glad everyone enjoyed it so much. It was a beautiful day! -Neil
Neil is a well schooled bagpiper and a very thoughtful gentleman. I would strongly recommend him for any event!
Bagpiper
Response from Seattle's Bagpiper Neil Hubbard:
Thank you so much for asking me to come and play, Paul! It was an honor to be able to play for a group of musicians, at your instrument rental shop and teaching studio. I appreciate your kind words.
Booking Info
Price Range: $200 and up
What to Expect
You can expect Neil to communicate promptly and clearly to help make your event easy to plan and set up. He is prompt, dependable, personable, and easy to work with. The quality of the music Neil will play is unsurpassed. His many years of experience as a performer at events he has been hired for, as well as more than 20 years experience in rigorous solo and band competition settings, have made him in to a confident, seasoned, professional performer you can count on.
About
You’re planning a special event and you want to have Scottish bagpipe music to add a unique touch that will make it more memorable. You want to be confident things will be handled by a reliable professional so everything goes well, without a worry. You want to be sure you get good value for your money. Contact Neil today and he will meet and surpass your expectations.
Proof of the consistently high quality that Neil delivers is proven by his many long-term customers, like the Golf Club at Newcastle, where he has been the Resident Piper since 2004. Being regularly referred by many third-party colleagues like funeral homes, wedding planners, and venues, verifies Neil’s dependability and commitment to excellence.
Seattle bagpiper Neil Hubbard has been providing high quality Scottish bagpipe performances since 1990. Neil has enhanced weddings, brought a high level of traditional honor to funerals and memorials, entertained at birthday parties, and added pomp and ceremony to many other events.
If Neil is not available to play your event, he will offer, at no charge, to source another quality piper from his network of trusted colleagues.
Additional Booking Notes
Neil is pretty self contained and needs no set up time or special staging. No amplification is needed. Easy breezy!
Services Offered
Set List
Neil has an extensive repertoire of Scottish, Irish and Celtic music to offer. Please contact him with any specific requests.
Influences & Inspiration
Neil's many influences on his piping career are the best players in the world. He has received inspiring instruction from Jack Lee, Alasdair Gillies, Jori Chisholm, Willie McCallum, Pipe Major Ian McLellan, Roddy MacLeod, and Cameron Wylie, among others.
Setup Requirements
No special setup needed.