Superior Quality Sound! Will Thayer has been playing and performing since he was a kid. Will is currently ranked third in Ceol Mor in the Western United States Pipe Band Association (WUSPBA), and 1st place in Arizona. He has performed at many venues, and performed before thousands of people... Including performing for the Legendary Band "The Chieftains" in 2018. He also has a solo Album titled "New Traditions" with over 1,000 copies sold in under 10 months. Whether you are looking for Traditional or more of a contemporary sound, it's covered! Check out his audio and videos to get a feel for the passion Will has for the music! Listen and compare to see for yourself!
Loved working with William. He had great suggestions, was so accommodating and the selection of music was perfect.
Will is an old pro - very professional and talented. His performance at our daughter's wedding was lovely; we strongly recommend him for any event.
Played for my husband’s Celebration of Life.
He was excellent.
Will provided his service at my brother’s memorial at the VFW. His professionalism and beautiful bagpipes received MANY compliments.
William was easy to communicate with. Was upbeat and accommodating. He was amazing to listen to. Thank you for such an awesome experience!
Prompt and played beautifully. Thank you!
Response from William Thayer:
Thank you for letting me spend such precious moments with your family and friends.
Will played at my spouses Church Memorial Service. Will was very accommodating and even played outside in the heat as the guests arrived. Will recommended several tunes which fit right into the service. His playing of "Amazing Grace" had everyone teary eyed. Fantastic job Will. Next time I need a piper I will be calling.
I strongly recommend him if you're looking for a Piper.
Will was very professional and accommodating. You definitely get what you pay for and he’s worth every penny. I will use him again!
Photos from this event
An incredibly talented young man. Mr. Thayer was able to help us with song suggestions appropriate for my father's funeral. He was polite, respectful, and sympathetic to the situation. He was able to work with the rules of the church and showed up neatly kitted out and ready to play. The music was beautiful and I had many of the people that attended the funeral compliment the beauty and professionalism of Mr. Thayer's performance. My family couldn't be more pleased. I highly recommend him to anyone!
We hired Will to play at our wedding. I'm Middle Eastern and my husband is Irish. We wanted to combine the two cultures so we hired Will to play the pipes and another person to play a large middle eastern drum. It was incredible! EVERY guest LOVED it! My family who originally doubted the idea, LOVED it! I think there are more videos floating around social media of Will than of my husband and I at our wedding!!! :)
Will was so easy to work with! Very professional! Very responsive! I can't say enough good things about him other than you should book him and then sit back to be amazed!!!
Response from William Thayer:
Thank you so much for your review! It truly was an amazing experience, and fun, too!
Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 10 - 80 minutes
Languages: English, Spanish
Depending on the event, this can vary. Will is very flexible to meet your needs though.
Graveside Service-
Will arrives early, and plays while the attendees arrive. He continues to play until the Casket is carried in. During the services, while the casket is being lowered, Will usually plays "Amazing Grace", but it's really up to the family. After the service Concludes, Will plays more until the attendees disburse.
Weddings-
Weddings are usually more involved and require more coordination. Depending on what the couple wants, Will sometimes plays before the ceremony starts, Most of the time he will play for the bride, and sometimes for the groom. It really depends on whose side of the family carries that kind of tradition. In most cases, Will plays after the couple is pronounced husband and wife. Will also plays through "cocktail hour" while additional photos are taken of the couple/wedding party.
Parties-
Anything is possible! It's really anything that you want!
*Will does charge a flat fee for an hour of playing, so whether it be a few tunes that takes about 15 minutes, or a full hour, the rate is the same.
Will has over 15 years of experience with the Highland Bagpipes. He is currently the Arizona Renaissance Festival's most Tenured piper, and has been performing and travelling the United Sates the Band "Tartanic" of over 8 years now. Will has performed at countless venues, including Phoenix Fashion Week, PGA Golf events, Graduation Ceremonies for Arizona State University, and countless Weddings and Funeral Services. Although he travels from time to time, Arizona is his home.
The bagpipe is an acoustic instrument, so there really is no way to adjust the volume. Will has two styles of dress. The first style is Formal with dress shirt, tie, and Vest. The second style is a more traditional style. Weddings and funerals are usually a formal setting, whereas parties are a traditional setting.
| February 10, 2024 • 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| March 17, 2023 • 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
| March 11, 2023 • 7:30pm - 8:00pm | Birthday Party |
| March 04, 2023 • 11:00am - 12:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| December 11, 2022 • 8:30am - 8:45am | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| November 19, 2022 • 5:30pm - 6:00pm | Wedding Reception |
| March 13, 2021 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Product Promotion |
| March 06, 2021 • 4:30pm - 4:45pm | Personal Occasion |
| February 13, 2021 • 8:00pm - 8:15pm | Birthday Party |
| November 01, 2019 • 10:30am - 11:30am | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| April 20, 2019 • 4:00pm - 5:00pm | Wedding- Camp Verde, Az |
| November 11, 2018 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Wedding- Chandler, AZ |
| November 10, 2018 • 12:00pm - 5:00pm | Wedding- Sedona, AZ |
| November 04, 2018 • 10:00am - 11:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| November 03, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 28, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 27, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 21, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 20, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 14, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 13, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 07, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| October 06, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| September 30, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| September 29, 2018 • 10:00am - 10:00pm | Texas Renaissance Festival- Houston, TX |
| September 13, 2018 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm | Corporate Event |
| August 25, 2018 • 5:00pm - 6:00pm | Memorial Service- Phoenix, AZ |
| August 05, 2018 • 9:00am - 5:00pm | Teaching at a Bagpipe Clinic |
| August 04, 2018 • 9:00am - 5:00pm | Teaching at a Bagpipe Clinic |
| July 07, 2018 • 9:30am - 11:00am | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| March 16, 2018 • 6:00pm - 6:45pm | Holiday Party |
| March 16, 2018 • 3:00pm - 3:45pm | Holiday Party |
| January 27, 2018 • 12:30pm - 1:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| January 12, 2018 • 9:30am - 11:00am | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| November 11, 2017 • 7:30pm - 8:15pm | Wedding Reception |
Slow airs/Hymns:
Amazing Grace
Auld Lang Syne
Danny Boy
Suo Gan
The Mingulay Boat Song
Traditional Marches:
42nd Highlanders
Scotland the Brave
Rowan Tree
Thistle of Scotland
Dawning of the day
Fast, Happy tunes:
The Bride's Jig
Lark in the Morning
Jenny Dang the Weaver
Silver Spear
Mrs. Macleod of Raasay
The Moving Cloud
Carousel Courtship
The Sound of Sleat
MSRs
93rd at Modder River/Ewe wi' the Crooked Horn/Broadford Bay
Colin Thompson/Dora MacLeod/Lt Colonel DJS Murray
Hornpipe/Jigs:
Lucy Cassidy/I laid a Herring in Salt
Crossing the Minch/Donald Cameron's Powderhorn
Queen of the Rushes/Biddy from Sligo
Mark Saul, Tartanic, Gordon Duncan, Donald MacLeod.
none required
Maricopa, AZ 
Bagpiper
107 Verified Bookings Kayellen S. said “Stephen was so easy to communicate with and was so kind and professional. Beautiful piping.”
San Bernardino, CA
Bagpiper
137 Verified Bookings Karen J. said “There was nothing like a bagpiper to compliment our annual Culture Day event at Valley Preparatory School. From the procession in, education about the…”
Golden, CO
DJ
246 Verified Bookings Sheryl M. said “Michael played in our wine bar as part of our First Friday Artwalk event. Our guests loved his music, which was a mix of guitar and vocals and a mix of…”
Palm Springs, CA
Bagpiper
115 Verified Bookings Marty R. B. said “Joel arrived early. Surveyed the venue and took control of the performance. It was the highlight of the event. I will use him again without hesitation.”
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