Dr. Raphael Pazo - Highland Bagpiper

Review for Raphael, Bagpiper and Officiant

It has taken me some time to write this review, as the reality of my dear friend’s passing, a Retired Air Force Command CMSgt, truly set in after the busy task of coordinating much of the funeral. Although delayed, I feel it is essential to share my heartfelt appreciation for Raphael’s contributions to the service.

Raphael’s professionalism and kindness went far beyond playing the bagpipes. At our late request, he graciously agreed to officiate the funeral service at both the church and graveside, seamlessly coordinating with the gentleman who officiated in Korean for the widow’s side of the family. His efforts ensured the service flowed beautifully and honored all involved.

The family was deeply thankful and impressed by Raphael’s personable, caring, and comforting presence. He conversed with us, sharing his remarkable stories, which brought solace during a difficult time. His bagpipe performance was absolutely flawless, both at the church and graveside. The unexpected and meaningful songs he chose brought pride to the veterans in attendance and honored my friend perfectly.

Raphael’s dedication and compassion made an indelible impact on everyone present. I am forever grateful for his efforts and cannot recommend his services highly enough. Thank you, Raphael, for helping us honor a great man with such dignity and respect.

Rafael was wonderful! When I need a bagpiper again he will for sure be the one I hire!

Such a wonderful experience from the start to a *very* big finish with Dr. Pazo! He made scheduling easy. Provided us ALL of the options for our music choices and his attire. So professional. And frankly, a delight of a person. His performance was THE HIGHLIGHT of our wedding ceremony.

Thank you Dr. Pazo! For those of you looking for a fabulous experience for your next event, this is the musician for you.

Raphael Pazo played at a Celebration of Life for my husband. His challenge was to play both outdoors and indoors in a church sanctuary. He managed both flawlessly. Indoors, the resonance of the exceptional instrument was very loud and powerful, but so perfectly controlled. He exceeded my most optimistic expectations. Raphael is a masterful musician, a personable and charming person, and he was notably sensitive to the circumstances and to the guests at the event. The music was exquisite and by the end, I felt he was a part of our congregation or a beloved friend who attended. Wish he could have stayed longer to speak to the group about his recent volunteer efforts in Israel. I highly recommend him without any reservations.

Professionalism at its very best. There was a very
apparent love of music and presentation with
Dr. Pazo. I could not have been more blessed by his selection of songs at our graveside service.

Dr Raphael Pazo is such an honorable and kind man. He an incredible musician. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. He did everything he could to please us on the memorial service. Everything was perfect.

Dr. Pazo was excellent and professional when we hired him for my mother's celebration of life. He went out of his way to show up a little early so he could be part of the service at the church. His talents exceeded expectations and really helped make the day something truly memorable that we all feel mom would have loved. Will absolutely hire him again.

Rafael played multiple songs at my Fathers memorial service, closing with Amazing Grace. His playing was beautiful. He was very comforting to our family and was very accommodating around the service times. I would recommend Rafael for any engagement. Thank you again, Rafael for helping to make this a special moment.

Dr. Raphael Pazo was wonderful. We hired him for my brother in law’s memorial service. He made the difficult time easier with his flexibility and ease of doing business. His music was amazing and the tribute heart felt at the service. Don’t hesitate to hire him.

Raphael has assisted the Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department Honor Guard for multiple occasions. From badge promotions to funerals. We have found him to be very professional, reliable and competent. Always a pleasure to work with him. Looking forward to working again in the future…

Raphael was the answer to my dad's lifelong desire to have "Amazing Grace" played by a Highland bagpiper at his funeral. We tried to find someone for a week to no avail, then just a few days before the services, I found gigsalad and subsequently was contacted by Raphael. I could not be more pleased than I am with his incredibly kind, clear, constant communication, but the true excellence was in his performance of "Amazing Grace," as well as other hymns before and after the service. I would absolutely recommend Raphael for his professionalism, talent, compassion, kindness, and overall wonderfulness!!!! He even selected regalia that was as close to our family's tartan as possible.
If I could give Raphael a million stars instead of 5, I would!!!

Thank you so much!!

Dr. Pazo was a wonderful performer and shared extensive knowledge about the bagpipe and his history. He was exactly on time for the event and play flawlessly. We would have him again

I recommend highly Dr. Rafael Pazo. He was professional, accommodating and easy to work with. Everyone at our father’s 100th birthday party enjoyed the music and sang along with some of his songs. We would hire him again if the opportunity arose.

Dr Pazo is THE best bagpiper that you could possibly hire! His skills are simply the best. He is kind, intuitive, thoughtful. He played as we spread my mother’s ashes. It was beyond words. Everyone there was moved by the beauty of his music. Unbelievably good!

Our bagpiper was absolutely amazing. He explained everything he was playing. He also did research on our family name and played songs related to our heritage.

Raphael graced us with his wonderful bagpiper music at our mother’s funeral. He is extremely talented and an exceptional musician. Even before we met him in person, his kindness, compassion and understanding of what we were looking for was such a comfort to us in our mourning over the loss of our mother. His professionalism, presence and confidence in playing was the highlight of our mother’s gravesite service. Our family is forever grateful to Raphael — we will never forget him and recommend him highly to anyone wanting to have the most absolute beauty of bagpipe music for any event. Thank you Rafael from the bottom of our hearts!

Dr. Raphael Pazo was a joy to have at my friend’s memorial service. He is very easy to work with and professional in every way. Communication was good and his playing was excellent! He played both bagpipes and violin for this service. I would highly recommend him.

Dr. Raphael Pazo recently performed during a memorial service for my uncle who was a member of Clan MacGregor. It was very important to family to have bagpipes played during his memorial service. Dr. Pazo was incredibly professional and prompt during our initial phone call and throughout all subsequent communication. He arrived to the service early and was able to beautifully perform all of the songs we requested in addition to a prelude and postlude he curated for us. Dr. Pazo's personality is very friendly, warm, and professional. His time and talent are worth every dollar. Thank you!

Raphael was very thorough and a true professional. Not only was he very easy to coordinate with, but he creatively added a few selections that greatly improved the presentation of our special event. His knowledge of instrument and sound was significant to the venue enhancing everyone's experience. I would have no problems hiring Raphael again or referring him to anyone I know who is planning a special event!

The bagpipes were very special to my father and we hired Raphael to play at my father’s burial and celebration of Life. We could not have been more pleased and my Dad would have loved it!!! Raphael played beautifully and was very easy to communicate and coordinate with on the front end, as well as day-of. He was open to our ideas and requests but also happy to take the lead at times. His experience is apparent. He is a master musician, but also very kind and humble. It was an absolute pleasure working with Raphael.

His piping was so appreciated by us and all of our friends and family at both services. Countless guests stopped by to compliment his music and mention how much Raphael added to this special day.

If I ever need to hire a bagpiper again, I would look no further than Dr. Raphael Pazo!

Dr. Raphael Pazo, played at the memorial service for my friend and colleague. everyone loved it, and it was a very nice tribute. Thank you for playing so beautifully.

All went well- thank you Dr. Raphael!

I have always believed in what is meant to be will be. My experience with Raphael falls under this thought. It was shared by him that I called within one minute of a prior event being canceled and we booked last minute as a surprise gift for a wedding. One of the bride’s family is from Scotland - some in attendance while recently others have passed. In honor of her lost loved ones who were unable to attend, I felt this would be the ultimate gift for the wedding. She had already requested a bagpipe version of O’ Flower of Scotland to be played during the evening. At the end of the ceremony when it explained that there was a special gift for her…the song began. Once she realized it was a live performance, the reaction of her and the guests were the highlight of the evening. But what I really want to share in this review was Raphael was easy to work with, made personal contact for details, and followed the plan seamlessly. He went above and beyond to give a unique experience for all guests. I recommend him to anyone who wants a bagpiper at any event!

I was thrilled to be surprised by my friends at my wedding to have a bagpiper show up. As a first generation American from Scottish decent, hearing the bagpipes being played mean the world to me. Having only arrived back in America from a visit to Scotland to scatter my fathers ashes in his homeland, the honor of having Dr. Raphael Pazo play was the highlight of the night. My friends knew that I had some bagpipe songs on my playlist for the wedding reception and knew that I wanted my favorite song played, Dr. Pazo made a surprise entrance playing O Flower of Scotland. There was not a dry eye in the house. Dr. Pazo played a variety of pieces and his selections were perfectly matched to the event. Dr. Pazo was professional, his skills were excellent, his appearance and performance were fantastic.

Dr Raphael Pazo is everything you could possibly want in a Bagpipe player Gifted,Professional and Best dressed Bagpipe player anywhere without a doubt!!!!! Definite Five Star ⭐️

This accomplished bagpiper played at my mother’s graveside service on Friday. We can not say enough about his professionalism and kindness. His ability to play such soulful music at our most sorrowful time was amazing. My mother had requested a piper play at her service, and I was charged with finding one. Having looked on the internet and reviewed pipers in the area, I decided to call Raphael Pazo. I knew at once he was our piper. He is the most warm and kind gentleman, knowledgeable and accomplished. He was acutely aware of his times to play and when no specific songs were requested, he played songs that were very heartfelt. When the service was over, while talking with him, he mentioned he had been feeling a little under the weather, that did not stop him, he did not cancel at the last minute, he showed up! I am forever grateful. In the future, when we talk about mom’s service, we will remember Raphael Pazo.

Dr. Pazo is a gifted musician, a responsive and consummate professional in his work. Our funeral home director connected us with Dr. Pazo as I requested a bagpipe player at the graveside portion of my mother's funeral this August. Mom (and I) have Scottish heritage and she grew up with her Scottish Dad singing Highland songs to her and in turn sang them to me. So it would be an understatement to say this music was a very important component of Mom's funeral service. Dr. Pazo phoned me beforehand to get a sense of what the service would be like and what our musical requests were. He was compassionate, kind, and efficient at a time when I was in shock from my mom's death but needed to call on my executive functioning skills for funeral planning. Definitely a challenging time but I was so relieved that the bagpipes would be played at my mom's funeral.

When the day arrived it was an incredibly moving and powerful experience to arrive at the graveside and see Dr. Pazo in his full regalia and hear the haunting sound of the resonant bagpipes which filled the air. The bagpipes and the beautiful songs Dr. Pazo played gave a weight and power, a somber honor to my mother's life that I and my family will always remember. We grateful for Dr. Pazo's artistry, empathy, and power as he played the bagpipes.

Some time after mom's funeral I watched Queen Elizabeth's funeral. When I heard and saw the bagpipe procession, I said, "I think we had a better bagpipe player at mom's funeral." That's how great Dr. Pazo is!

The list of songs played:
Prelude: On Eirin's Green Shores, My Home, O Flower of Scotland, My Bonnie Lass, Skye Boat Song, The Isle of Innisfere, You Raise Me Up, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Processional : O Danny Boy
Commital Song: Auld Lang Syne
Potslude: Abide With Me, Going Home

The bag pipe was wonderful. Our father was smiling down from Heaven

Dr. Pazo is super talented as a bagpiper, along with being professional, poised, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. He made our celebration of life event extra special and memorable. He is worth every penny! You will be so glad you booked him!

He really helped our 9/11 ceremony become something truly beautiful and meaningful. I called him the day prior to the ceremony due to the ceremony being planned last minute and he was willing to help in anyway possible. He played “amazing grace” and “flowers of the forest”. It truly was a meaningful ceremony due to his fantastic playing and his help. Highly recommend!

My mother always loved the bagpipes, so it was very special and meaningful that Raphael was able to play at her celebration of life service. He did a fabulous job.

I hired Raphael due to his prompt response and kind demeanor. He provided a link to his previous work and I was impressed. He was very professional and worked with me on how to best showcase his performance in honor of my son who had passed. Raphael played as friends and family gathered around lighting sparklers. It was a perfect send off! I would highly recommend Raphael for any event a bagpiper would be desired.

Dr. Raphael Pazo is just awesome. He is very talented with the bagpipe and spent a decent amount of time educating us about the bagpipe. All around, the event was entertaining and educational. From a logistics standpoint, Dr. Raphael was super communicative and organized. I cannot recommend him enough.

Dr. Raphael performed at our wedding. It was such a pleasure to work with him to choose the songs for the ceremony. He also had many suggestions for the 30 minutes he would be playing before the ceremony. We also learned a thing or two about bagpipes!

Our guests truly enjoyed the special touch he added to our special day.

Dr Pazo played for us for my dad's memorial service. His playing transformed the event from a memorial into a celebration. The music chosen and the timing was just beautiful. His playing brought tears to many eyes. We hope to have Raphael play for us at future events. Perhaps for a wedding or birthday.
Thank you!

Raphael piped at our son’s wedding in our home. He was very communicative & helpful leading up to the event. On the day he was wonderful - a very talented piper and professional. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking for the best!!

Rafael was a wonderful bagpiper. He was very communicative prior to the event and very flexible in changing things up as the event unfolded. He was dressed to the nines in his Scottish tartan, looking crisp and professional.

Dr. Pazo was a perfect choice for our backyard memorial service. Responsive and communicative every step of the way. Arrived early and played perfectly, moving my family to tears.

Dr. Raphael Pazo is a very skilled bagpiper. His professionalism was outstanding. We hired him for our wedding. He communicated with us, asked for our input on dress and songs. Our guests adored him and as I mentioned before his skill level is outstanding. Thank you Raphael! You help make our wedding magical.

I contact Raphael while looking for a Bagpiper for my brother funeral. I went online and searched for Bagpiper in the Bay Area. Raphael had great reviews so I sent him a message. Within in minutes he reached out to me. Come to find out, this was the same Bagpiper my brother had hired to play at his place of work for St. Patricks day. What are the odds??? He showed up early and played so beautifully. All of our guest and family where so pleased with him. If anyone needs an amazing, professional Bagpiper Raphael is your person. Thank you for being part of our difficult day, you made things a little better.

Raphael was wonderful. We hired him for a funeral. He communicated very well before hand and was such a great experience at the ceremony. I strongly recommend Raphael for any bagpiping you need.

Dr. Raphael Pazo was the perfect touch to our wedding. He is the most amazing piper with a full range of music to choose from. He was very accommodating and easy to work with. Everyone at the wedding commented at how perfect he was for our special day.
Chris and Cathy Dennis

Dr Pazo was a dream to work with. He arrived early, took in the whole plan (a Palm Sunday procession) and played beautifully.

Raphael is a very talented man and genuine person. We were fortunate to have him play for the celebration of life. It was a last minute booking and he responded right away. Excellent communicator, very professional and fit right in with our family dynamics. He made the event special. Highly recommend Raphael!
A very caring & passionate person.

He was educated and very professional. Enjoyed learning history of bag pipe!

I was so pleased with Raphael performance. The songs were perfect and he was so professional.
I would give him a 10 out 10.

Not only I but all were very impressed with the spiritual sound of music

Rapheal went beyond our expectations!
He was professional, personable, respectful.
He was familiar with LDS hymns & played each one beautifully. My favorites were Oh, My Father, Come Come Ye Saints. He was able to fulfill my brothers last wish, playing Amazing Grace.

Dr. Pazo played for a small memorial service for my USMC/LE husband. He went above and beyond to accommodate my preference for attire (Blackwatch instead of Stewart) and played a version of Hyfrodol that I sent him on YouTube. Everyone in attendance told me they had chills as he played. The service was in a Lutheran Church, and the Pastor requested only hymns for the service, but other beloved tunes like Danny Boy, The Gael, Highland Cathedral and others were played outside the church. What a blessing to have closure and music my husband would have loved. Dr. Pazo is a very kind man who keeps in regular contact with you as well, to make sure your event is as perfect as it can be. I'll recommend him to anyone in my circle of family and friends who wants the most professional bagpiper around.

Raphael was very empathy, professional, flexible, easy to contact and quick to reply back through phone calls or text messages when I had questions and/or requests. My mother’s funeral committal service was elegant with the bagpipes songs.

Went above and beyond. He played and everybody loved it. My father in law would have been so happy

What a wonderful man, so kind and caring and flexible and patient. Thank you so much for playing at my husbands celebration of life.

Dr. Raphael Pazo played the highland bagpipes for my father’s memorial service. I was able to choose three songs from his extensive repertoire. Very professional, sensitive and courteous. Would recommend him for venue that would highlite the bagpipes.

Thank you Raphael

We certainly appreciated the bagpipe music that was provided by Rafael Pazo in tribute to our brother John O'Brien. We had a couple of songs that we wanted to have played in honor of our brother and Mr. Pazo went above and beyond to provide a play list of additional songs to include in tribute. We found Rafael to be so very personable, caring, and respectful not only to the family but to our lost loved one. He reached out to those in charge of the services to coordinate his playing. He made what was a difficult time a bit more manageable. We would highly recommend him to anyone in search of a Bagpiper, he is truly a gifted musician. I'm a long-time bagpipe music fan and hearing him play I feel he gave it his all, as if he were playing for his own family member.
In the future, and when the time is right, I would love to hire Rafael to play for an uplifting event such as a block party.

My 90 year old Mother Audrey O. Meyers had requested a few Wishes for her Celebration of Life and Gravesite Service. Her Final wish was to have a Bagpiper Play. Our Pastor gave me 3 reccomendations for Bagpipers. I contacted all of them. Rapheal Pazo is the only one who took the time to give me a call. The others just responed with an email quote. Prior to my phone converstation with Raphael I looked at the web links he sent, those video's are impressive. After speaking with Rapheal I felt an immediate and very personal connection. His Bagpiping experience is extensive and his Kind, Caring Nature was Sincere. He arrived on time in Full Authentic Dress. Just listening to Raphael Tune up the Pipes, I knew we were in for a Treat. He played all the songs Mom had on her List and a couple more that were appropriate for her service. If you are looking for a Quality Bagpiper, Raphael Pazo is The Real Deal. Thank you Sir for Fufilling Mom's Last Wish. Sincerly, Don Meyers

Raphael went above and beyond with us when planning and performing at our mothers memorial. When discussing what I wanted with the memorial, Raphael listened and offered his expertise from past memorials he had done. We incorporated ideas together to come up with best plans for the memorial. Performance went off without a hitch and slight changes the day of the event made it even more nice. He staying longer than planned as was very professional.

Planning a memorial for someone you love is never easy, the music portion of the service was very important to us, we wanted a traditional bagpipe experience with a ceremonial look and sound. Raphael is not only a talented musician but was a thoughtful person throughout the entire process. The moment we inquired he immediately contacted us by phone to discuss what we were looking for. He recommended songs, sent us music samples, and made suggestions about when best to have him play throughout the event. More importantly he listened to our requests and worked them into his process. The day of the service he was on-time and prepared, he was everything we hoped for. His experience and dedication shined through and of curse to hear the music performed live during the service was incredibly moving and memorable for all of us. He was approachable and friendly to those that approached him once the service was over, his music made a wonderful impression on not only on us but our guests. He didn’t mind taking a few extra moments with people, he clearly took a lot of pride in his work. When I first started my search for a bagpipe player I was told there are many players but not many who really capture the traditional look and sound with expertise. Raphael shared with us an authentic and beautiful experience that we’ll always cherish. Personally, as an event photographer in New York, I understand how important it is to find a vendor that is not only good at their craft but also a pleasure to work with and a professional throughout the process. We thank Raphael for his talent, kindness and for making our process a bit more bearable. When my Mom first hear him warming up prior to the start of the service she had chills, it simply filled her with emotion and set our hearts at ease. We thank him and cannot recommend him enough.

Could not have been more pleased with Raphael’s dress, performance, and conduct. Even though I presented Raphael with some songs and hymns that he was not familiar with, he learned them with very short notice (2 days) and his playing was superb. Raphael was very easy to work with and adapted without effort to last minute changes in event scheduling and timing.

An experience with Heart and Soul blended with the music. A touching time that will always be unforgettable.

We were not expecting the attention to details that we received from Mr. Pazo. He came all the way from California to play at our event in Florida. From the time we spoke, he made sure to pay attention to all our requests and delivered them all and so much more. We spoke about the venue, the guests, our guest of honor, the event itself… This was a celebration for my husband’s retirement who proudly served in the US Army for 26 years. We were awestruck as Mr. Pazo played Amazing Grace. There was not a dry eye at the ceremony. Not only did he play beautifully, but his attire was impecable. The experience for us was a once in a lifetime. We would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a solo artist.

Raphael‘s Bagpipe brought the solemn elegance to the ceremony that my friend deserved. I received many comments on how beautiful the service was, especially from Don’s wife. That portion of the ceremony brought tears to the eyes of many, Including me. I can’t thank you enough and look forward to working with you in the future.

Raphael's talent at playing bagpipes is only surpassed by his warm and friendly personality. I would highly recommend him.

First off I'd like to start off by saying On October 4, 2021 I lost the greatest Man That I will have ever known.... My father an Honorary man. Lost in all the chaos and a dark world I didn't even know where to begin other than.... Knowing I needed to start with my Father's love For The Sound of the bagpipes and His Wish to have Amazing Grace played at his his funeral. I Found DR. RAPHAEL while searching the Internet Looking for "THE BEST".

And let me tell you I DID find the Best!!! He IMMEDIATELY Calmed all of my worries.....He "Understood the pain & sorrows my Heart was feeling and that these were my Fathers Final Wishes. He went ABOVE & BEYOND and even was in touch with the Funeral Home Director To go over When to play. He is Most Definately an ANGEL IN DISGUISE & I will FOREVER be Grateful for Dr. Raphael & The BEAUTIFUL GIFT of PEACE that he left in each and everyone of our Hearts...

God Bless You Sir!!!
POLIT FAMILY

We could not have asked for a better experience with Dr. Pazo.
He was prompt, professional and most importantly, played beautifully for our fathers funeral service. He was very empathetic and kind knowing how upset we were at the loss of our father.
Thank you and best regards to you, Raphael!

We were pleased Dr. Pazo performed for our lovely small gathering of family and friends with his enthusiastic and soulful renditions of the classics. He surpassed our expectations by encouraging our curiosity. He answered every question we tossed over to him about the history of the bagpipe; how its made; its music; and the cultures and people that have embraced its legacy and kept its music alive through the generations. It was a joy to have him join with us to celebrate our special occasion by sharing his expertise, professionalism, enthusiasm, warmth, understanding, and smile. In a world where many of us are experiencing events, situations, or relationships that are difficult to navigate with an open heart, Dr. Pazo's beautiful bagpipe music, his combined sense of care and wonder, and his stellar performance helped us appreciate and be grateful for the times we are able to be together in peace and love to enjoy the music that keeps us together in the spirit of beauty, hope, faith, and love.

Dr. Raphael Pazo went above and beyond. We requested his services for our father’s burial and he was extremely professional in his communication, what to expect on his end, and was already familiar with the policies/protocol for Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. Those who attended were appreciative of being present with his performances. On behalf of the Vind family - we thank you!

Raphael was a magical addition to my mother’s 80th birthday celebration! My mom loves the Scottish Games, and the bagpipes, so we decided to surprise her with a live performance. Raphael walked into the party playing the bagpipes and everyone was thrilled, surprised, and some had tears in their eyes! It was a magical moment that we will never forget.

Working with Raphael was seamless, as he is a wonderful communicator. He brought the party to life with beautifully played songs, some that he selected and some requests, he shared fascinating stories about his bagpipes, and helped to make this special day unforgettable!

Thank you, Raphael! I hope we meet again!

We were so happy with our Birthday Party & having Raphael playing the bagpipes.
Raphael was so professional, entertaining, personable, outgoing & so much more. I felt so blessed to have him join us! Everyone at the party had an amazing day with an amazing bagpiper! Words can’t describe how great our day was with Dr. Raphael Pazo.

I was honored and humbled to have Dr. Raphael Pazo - Highland Bagpiper play at my husband's Celebration of Life this past weekend. He was so collaborative with both my family and the US Honor Guard, and as a veteran himself, worked beautifully with the military as they all honored my husband's service to our country. Guests were stunned when he walked onto the venue playing Amazing Grace. I have had many, many guests tell me that they will never forget "the bagpiper." I never write a review unless I feel like I can save someone from a BAD experience, however Dr Pazo is so deserving. His music was absolutely emotional and beautiful and I am grateful.

Thanks for the moving performance yesterday at Dad's burial. As promised, you were there at the site as we arrived. You were dressed nattily and ready to go. It was the perfect send off for our Dad and we thank you for your professionalism.

Would give 11 stars but only allowed to give 5.

Thanks to Dr. Raphael Pazo, our sister had the most memorable birthday every. He is the most professional musician I have ever dealt with and after the performance he took the time to hang out and answer questions about his craft.

We could not have asked for a better Piper and person for this event.

Our experience with Raphael was perfect, seamless.
He was a great, thorough communicator throughout the process.
I liked that he had performed at this cemetery before and he was able to give us details about the service and the process that we otherwise would not have known.
And his playing was perfection - we asked for 1-2 songs and he did those and then other appropriate songs and at the appropriate times. He welcomed the family with a song when we got to the service area, and then played where appropriate, and then as we were walking out and then a song again at the gravesite.
I cannot say enough about Raphael - he is professional, personal, and incredibly talented!

Our family reunion was topped off with the performance by Raphael we couldn’t have been happier. He even came through on a record breaking heatwave - making such a gallant effort. Our family will remember this weekend for years to come.

There really are no words that can justify or provide enough praise for the individual that is Dr. Raphael Pazo. If he ever gets to read this please let him know we consider him always to be a new found member of our family and is always welcome to the table of the Grant Highlanders

Invited Raphael to come open our first, in-person District Council Meeting for the Kiwanis Clubs of Silicon Valley after a year of Covid Zoom Meetings. He showed up early, opened our meeting with Amazing Grace, later gave us a great presentation on the history of Bagpipes (who knew Bagpipes were 1,000's of years old, whose origin started in Mesopotamia) and then played several songs.

Raphael was an immense joy to work with and listen to. He's humble, inspirational, his equipment and uniform are on point....highly highly recommend.

We hired Dr. Raphael Pazo for our Burns Supper, and he was exceptional! He helped make our party unforgettable. He played the pipes so beautifully. He came prepared with songs, and took requests from guests too. And he is so knowledgeable - he provided interesting facts for some of the songs he played for us. He was so easy to work with and so flexible. We highly recommend him! Thank you Dr. Raphael Pazo for sharing your talent with us for the evening!!

Dr. Raphael Pazo Jr. came to perform at my father’s funeral service at Sacramento Valley Veterans Memorial yesterday, November 25. His performance was perfect! His knowledge of the ceremonies held there was a huge relief for me knowing that it would be done to perfection. He offered suggestions and any songs I requested. He is a professional! I can’t thank him enough for the beautiful job he did for us!
Leslie M

I'm a funeral director in Sacramento and I had asked Dr. Pazo to play for a memorial service for one of the families I was serving and the music was wonderful ! The family was well pleased and being a fan of bagpipes and Celtic music in general myself, I was quite impressed ! If you need a piper, I highly recommend Dr. Raphael Pazo !

Dr. Raphael's performance was everything I hoped it would be. It was set up to be the very special surprise of my Mother's memorial and he did not disappoint.

Dr. Pazo’ wonderful and moving music added beauty and serenity - and joy to my brother’s funeral Mass. my family still comments on the happiness the bagpipes brought to all is . Thank you, Doctor. Sincerely, Patrick O’Reilly

30 of my family members were gathered at my sister’s house for mine and our niece’s birthday - we were all in the backyard when from the distance we could hear a bagpipe playing , eventually the music was coming up her driveway and into the backyard - my husband hired Pazo to play his bagpipes for my birthday - what a great and memorable day and a start of our friendship! He plays the bagpipes with all his heart and we still talk about that day and how special he made it with his music and talent - he was patient and gracious when we took several pictures with him surrounded by family members . He will make your event one you won’t forget !

Dr. Raphael Pazo performed at the April 2019 celebration of life of a relative. He was magnificent, both in his musical performance and in his appearance in full Scottish attire. He added a whole additional level to make the event even more memorable and special. Also, if you are lucky enough to get an opportunity to converse with him, he is a truly charming and remarkable person with an amazing life story. I am pleased to give him my strongest possible recommendation.

My father always loved the Highland Bagpipes, and with the help of Raphael, we were able to send him off at his Memorial Service in a way that he would have deeply appreciated. Services such as these are emotional and often impromptu, and Raphael rolled with it seamlessly. He had a playlist that we went over beforehand, but several times we asked him to play something without any warning. He did that extremely well. He's also a very engaging individual in his own right - I found myself chatting with him for the sheer enjoyment of it. I'd recommend him without reservation - a great piper and a very decent person in all respects!

Dr. Pazo performed at our father's funeral. He was amazing! So many of our friends and family commented that it was the most beautiful celebration of life they had ever attended. The music was superb as was Dr. Pazo's professionalism. We were incredibly touched by his care and concern. He attended our father's reception and took the time to answer the many questions of our guests. He then met us several days later to play for the committal service. We remarked later that we were sure those visiting the cemetery also enjoyed the lilting tones as they drifted across. He made beautiful what was a very difficult time.

Raphael as he asked to call him not only beautifully piped my father in and out of the church, but also came to the National Cemetery and piped for the internment with military honors. He was not only professional and courteous as would be expected, but compassionate and truly interested in his history and life. He also spent time with many family member giving condolences.

Dr. Raphael Pazo Jr. was extremely professional in his performance. He was willing to accommodate some last minute changes in the musical arrangements and willingly played an additional two hymns during our service. Dr. Rapael Pazo Jr. was cordial and friendly with the guests, was dignified in his performance, and was very distinguished in appearance at the service. I would highly recommend his services to any who need an accomplished bagpiper.

On behalf of the Roman Family, Frances (wife), children (spouses), grandchildren (spouses) and great-grandchildren. There are no words that express the deepest honor Dr. Raphael Pazo Jr. gave to the final committal of Frank J. Roman.
Frank always wanted bagpipes at his passing with the traditional military honors. His final moments before being laid to rest in Stockton California, were exactly what he wished.
Our mother, expresses the beauty that the ceremony had with tears that bream her eyes of pride and love.
Thank you Dr. Pazo Jr., for giving the Roman family the memories of such soulful music possible, from the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes.
With much honor and pride to have Dr. Raphael Pazo Jr. as part of our final memories of Frank J. Roman's time on earth.
Thank you Dr. Rafael Pazo Jr, with Scottish Great Highland Bagpipes, American Legion Carl Ross Post 16, Henry Adame Homer Guard, Patriot Guard Riders, assistant State Captain in California, John Silva, and Pipper, William "Steve" Matthew
The Roman Family

The professionalism we have received from Dr. Pazo is above and beyond. After submitting our request. I received a call within the first 5 minutes. He sent over la link for us to hear him play as well as pictures. After finding out what we actually needed he was gracious enough to donate his services. We here at the Stockton Fire Department can not thank him enough.

Dr. Pazo Jr., played for my husband's service. He played in the lobby of our church as guests were arriving. Then he opened the service with "Danny Boy". My husband Danny's favorite. He stayed for the entire service and closed us out with Amazing Grace. Beautiful, fitting tribute to my beloved. Raphael visited with guests after the service and was so warm and personable it seemed as if he were an old family friend. I highly recommend him for anyone for anything!

Dr. Pazo was the Royal Piper for our Winter's Feast. He was contracted to play prior to the Queen's arrival, and to escort her to the throne with festive ambiance. In this we were well pleased. Dr. Pazo not only performed for this element, but also was part of our Wassail Parade. I merely told him our intent, and he instantly came up with a suitable tune. He again surpassed my expectations with playing a funeral dirge for the death of a youth when one of our actors "ate" poisonous food sent from Queen Elizabeth I. Dr Pazo continued well past his contracted time to perform whenever it suited the Queen or the Master of Revels to have additional music. I would recommend Dr. Pazo for your bagpipe needs.
Sincerely,
Lord Wallace, Royal Secretary, Royal Scots Renaissance Guild