Hire Alex Skinner | Bagpiper in Banchory

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From£225

1 hour

Like Alex?

Watch & Listen

1-3 of 3 videos

Flowers of the Forest lament, Banchory remembrance parade

Celebratum

Barren Rocks of Aden

About Alex

Alex is an Aberdeenshire based bagpiper and pipe major of the Banchory Pipe Band, available for all events and willing to travel anywhere

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Bagpiper

Banchory

Public liability insurance of £10 million

Since taking up the pipes just 4 years ago, piping has become my obsession and I have progressed quickly to pipe major of the Banchory Pipe Band (helped by a strong background in music having previously reached grade 8 on the fiddle and grade 7 on piano). Solo performances have included weddings, funerals and sporting events, and most notably, I recently performed in Trafalgar Square for International Day of Peace, including a personal performance for the Japanese Ambassador. I've performed with bands in England, Scotland and New Zealand, and piped yacht racer Pip Hare out of the harbour when she departed to race around the world in 2024. Recently cycled the length of New Zealand carrying my bagpipes and busking along the way! Good repertoire of tunes and willing to learn specific requests including popular songs and film soundtracks as long as they work on bagpipes (not every song does, due to the bagpipes' limited range of notes) My choices of tarten are Burnett (red) or Leslie (green/blue). Please note that currently I am only able to wear No.2 uniform

Alex

5 out of 5

2 verified reviews

Alex's Reviews

5 out of 5

Hearing the sound of bagpipes as I approached the half marathon finish line was absolutely brilliant. That epic, rousing music was the perfect surge of energy and emotion I needed for those final steps. He turned an exhausting moment into a truly powerful and unforgettable victory.

5 out of 5

In June this year Alex played the bagpipes at the departure from Horta on my sailing boat. It was truly magnificent, very fitting in with the maritime surroundings and made all heads turn when leaving the marina. What a great way to start my transatlantic crossing!

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Alex's Song list

** Traditional Favourites **

Amazing Grace

Highland Cathedral

Skye Boat Song

Flower of Scotland

Scotland the Brave

Auld Lang Syne

Caledonia

Loch Lomond

** Marches **

Green Hills of Tyrol

When the Battle's O'er

Lochanside

Wings

Flett from Flotta

Rowan Tree

My Land

Craigmillar Castle

Scheihallion

Teribus

High Road to Gairloch

Corriechoillie's 43rd Welcome to the Northern Meeting

The Barren Rocks of Aden

Brown Haired Maiden

Mairi's Wedding

Cock o the North

Glendaruel Highlanders

Athol Highlanders

Bloody Fields of Flanders

Dunkirk Boatmen

Castle Dangerous

Cockney Jocks

Heights of Dargai

Battle of the Somme

Hundred Pipers

I see Mull

Balmoral

Bonnie Galloway

Cullen Bay

We're No Awa Tae Bide Awa

Old Rustic Bridge

PM Donald MacLean of Lewis

Angus MacKinnon

Tug Argan Gap

10th HLI Crossing the Rhine

** Slower Tunes **

Flowers of the Forest

Ae Fond Kiss

Mingulay Boat Song

Dark Island

Pipe Major JK Cairns

Suo Gan

The Water is Wide (aka When the Pipers Play, or Waly, Waly)

Going Home

Morag of Dunvegan

Mull of Kintryre

Mist Covered Mountains

Till This Day is Done

** Faster Tunes **

Sandy's New Chanter

Banjo Breakdown

Crossing the Minch

Rebel Piper

Orange and Blue

High Road to Linton

Paddy's Leather Breeches

Cork Hill

Itchy Fingers

Molly Connell

Jolly Beggerman

** Popular songs and soundtracks **

Lord of the Rings

Star Wars

Pirates of the Caribbean

Can You Feel The Love Tonight

I am Sailing - Rod Stewart

Country Roads - John Denver

Merlin (BBC series)

Touch the Sky - Julie Fowlis (From 'Brave')

A Million Dreams (From 'The Greatest Showman')

Chariots of Fire

Drunken Sailor

Happy Birthday

For He/She's a Jolly Good Fellow

** Christmas **

Fairytale of New York

Jingle Bells

Little Drummer Boy

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

O Come All Ye Faithful

Good King Wenceslas

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

** And many others...

Alex's Prices

Last updated: 2025

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Duration	Price
Short performance (up to 15 min)	£175
Up to 1 hour	£225
Up to 2 hours	£275
Up to 3 hours	£325

Customer questions

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

No problem, I'm very happy to be flexible wherever possible, just get in touch and I'll see what I can do

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

I don't currently offer DJ services

How much time do you need to set up?

15 minutes for tuning, ideally in a separate room. For surprises I may be able to arrive already tuned depending on the location. For weddings or other larger events I like to arrive an hour beforehand to see the venue but will still only need 15 minutes for tuning.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Absolutely, and ask about any tunes not on the list too, if I don't already know it I am very happy to learn it given at least a week's notice and provided it works on bagpipes.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, I don't require any additional equipment.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes, I am very happy to learn specific tunes if I don't already know them, given at least a week's notice and provided it works on bagpipes. Not every song is possible due to the bagpipes limited range of notes.

Musicianship

Genres:

Traditional Scottish folk, Christmas, Film / TV music, Folk, Ceilidh, Scottish music

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Instruments:

Bagpipes

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Event types:

Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Burns night, Birthday party, Cruise, Christmas party, New Year's Eve

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Other skills:

Instrumental teaching, Fluent sight-reader

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