Bagpiper

Alistair Mackay

Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
(5.0)Read all 12 reviews
Watch
Booking protection
Secure online payments
Free 48hr cancellations
Support available Mon-Sun
Like Alistair?
Watch & Listen
Watch
Listen

About Alistair

Highland piper with 30 years of professional piping experience playing as a military and civilian piper all over the world.
Alistair Mackay's profile picture
Bagpiper
Northolt
Verified profile

I learnt my piping from my father and then my main tutor another Highlander from Lochaber and a former Scots Guards' piper who was British Army Pipe Major qualified. Both my father and tutor were Gaelic speakers and steeped in the Highland piping tradition. I have been therefore very lucky to have experienced a traditional way of learning Highland piping. There have been pipers in my family going back for centuries and some of these were Seaforth Highlanders. I have also been a member of an army pipe band and have played for many army ceremonies and events including the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, military parades, Remembrance Sunday ceremonies, Mess Dinners, roll calls etc. I have also played for members of the Royal family, British Prime Ministers and other VIPs both as a military and civilian piper. I have played at events throughout the world for British Ambassadors and the expat community and other events all over Britain. My experience also includes live television and radio broadcasts as well as pre-record programming.

Encore badges
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
10 gigs
Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
Musicianship
Genres:
Ceilidh, Traditional Scottish folk, Traditional Irish folk, Folk, Military, Scottish music
See all genres
Instruments:
See all instruments
Event types:
New Year's Eve, 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, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, Virtual event
See all event types
Other skills:
Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Actor, Composer
See all skills
Alistair
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5
12 verified reviews
Satisfaction
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0
Professionalism
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0
Communication
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0
Punctuality
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0

Alistair's Reviews

From Encore customers:

NL
NEIL L
1 month ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Perfect. Book him for same routine 25th January 2025. Deal now directly with Jon Flavell at St. George’s Hill G C. Neil

JD
Joe D
2 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Excellent piper. Would definitely hire again. A1.

DO
David O
2 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Alistair was great to work with. He arrived early to set up and his level of piping was excellent. He was able to play all of the melodies that we requested to a very high standard. Alistair stayed for our whole event and the guests were congratulating him afterwards. Would definitely book Alistair again for another event.

Reply from Alistair
2 months ago

Many thanks David. It was a pleasure to meet you all! Thanks for having me and looking after me so well. All the best, Alistair

LB
Liz B
1 year ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Alistair with his bagpipes add meaning to the nationalism of the family, proud for their Scottishness in this beautiful and honorable occasion. My late husband would have been so very proud. Thanks for playing for all of us Alistair.

Read all 12 reviews