Bagpiper

Tony Hurst The Piper for All Occasions

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(5.0)Read all 107 reviews
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About Tony

Traditional Highland Piper for all Occasions. with over 20 years experience, Full Public Liability Insurance to 10 M and a Member of the MU
Bagpiper
Wiltshire
Public liability insurance of £10 million
Verified profile

Tony is an accomplished piper and has been playing the Great Highland Bagpipes for 20 plus years. On discharge from the Armed Forces, after 22 years. he attended the piper’s course at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, Inchdrewer, House Edinburgh. He went on to be tutored further under the watchful eye of an Ex Scots Guards Pipe Major, prior to launching his professional career. Tony is predominately a solo piper however also manages The Home Counties Pipes & Drums whom are available for larger corporate events including, carnivals and fetes and can therefore supply the number of Pipers, Drummers, and Highland Dancers to your specific requirements. He has had the honour of playing at Royal attendances, National TV and Radio and has played at many weddings both traditional and themed. He will also play at family funerals, large corporate events, as well as other family celebrations such as birthdays. He has played throughout the United Kingdom and overseas including Poland, India, Germany, Holland and the Caribbean to name a few, and has recently completed the latest United Kingdom Stadium Tour with Sir Rod Stewart via Encore. He will tailor the day to your specific requirements and can advise where needed, on the formal parts of your Event and the best way to utilize your piper, to make it an occasion you, your family, and your friends will remember as one of the highlights Tony has two tartans Royal Stuart and Black Watch,his family tartans, and can attend in Formal Ceremonial dress, Day or Evening dress subject to your preference.

Tony
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5 out of 5
105 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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4.9
Punctuality
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5.0

Tony's Reviews

From Encore customers:

EG
Ellie G
4 months ago
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5 out of 5

Had such a wonderful experience with Tony! He was really accommodating to what we wanted for our wedding and it made such a lovely surprise for my new husband when we arrived at the venue! Although he couldn't make it himself, he arranged two other amazing pipers in his place which all the guests loved. Thank you so much!!

Reply from Tony
4 months ago

Thank you Ellie for your kind words and understanding on this your special day and glad you were happy with the service we provided

AP
Amy P
5 months ago
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5 out of 5

Tony was incredible on our wedding day! He was professional and so good at what he does! It was a lovely nod to my dad, who was overwhelmed by us surprising our guests with Tony being there!

Reply from Tony
5 months ago

Thank you Amy for your kind words all the best for your future together

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Amy V
5 months ago
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5 out of 5

Tony was brilliant… a wonderful addition to the start of our wedding as our guests arrived. Also super lovely and took the time to speak to our guests and pose for photos. Highly recommend

Reply from Tony
5 months ago

Thank you Amy for the review and thank you for having me as your Piper all the best for your future together Kindest Regards T

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Margaret M
7 months ago
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4.8 out of 5

Brilliant! Tony couldn't manage our revised time schedule, but he arranged for Colin to play for us. My husband was thrilled when Tony walked through the function room and out into the garden, where he played while guests took photos. He was charming and I have had nothing but praise from everybody. Thank you so much.

Reply from Tony
7 months ago

Thank you Margharet glad we could assist on this benchmark birthday

Read all 103 reviews

From other customers:

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David G
5 years ago, for a Funeral / Memorial service in Somerset
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5 out of 5

My family and I would like to express our sincere thanks to Tony Hurst who played the pipes and Dads funeral on 6th March 2019. Dad was a side drummer in a pipe band during his service with the RAF during WW2 and beyond and it meant a great deal to the family to honour our father in this way. As such, I would have no hesitation in recommending Tony's services to others who require a piper for any occasion. Sincerely David Graham

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Laura P
5 years ago, for a Corporate event in Bristol
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5 out of 5

I hired Tony to play the bagpipes at a corporate event, a Burns Night Supper, and I was absolutely delighted with every aspect of the service I received. During the planning stages Tony was easy to contact and always responded to my calls and emails quickly - which I really appreciated. I had never planned a Burns Night event before and Tony was helpful and knowledgeable and shared his experience so I could get it right. On the evening itself Tony arrived early, arrived prepared and was incredibly professional, also Tony is incredibly talented, the playing was exquisite and we drew quite the crowd of onlookers from outside the venue and the guests were incredibly impressed. The service I received was beyond any that I could have anticipated I cannot recommend this piper enough, I will absolutely be going to him if we ever need a piper again, without hesitation. Thank you Tony.

Read all 4 reviews
Encore badges
Most booked musician of 2022!
2nd most booked musician of 2021!
3rd most booked musician of 2023!
100 gigs
Legendary: 100 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
Encore expert
Demonstrated expertise by completing the Encore Academy
Member of the Encore community forum

Tony's Song list

2/4 Marches
The Barren Rocks of Aden
The Brown Haired Maiden
Corriechollies Welcome
The Drunken Piper
The Earl of Mansfield
A Mans a Man
My love she's but a Lassie Yet
Teribus
The High Road to Gairloch
Highland Laddie
The Gay Gordon's
The Black Bear
Jenny's Bawbee
3/4 Marches
Green Hills of Tyrol
When the Battles O'er
I see Mull (Land of my Youth)
Lochanside
Castle Dangerous
My Land
Road to Passchendaele
Mull of Kintyre
4/4 Marches
The Music of Spey
Prince Edward Island
Wings
Scotland the Brave
The Old Rustic Bridge
The Cockney Jocks
Crags of Tumbledown Mountain
Mhari's Wedding
Bonnie Lass of Fyvie
6/8 Marches
Cock of the North
Atholl Highlanders
A Hundred Pipers
Dovecote Park
Glendaruel Highlanders
Leaving Port Askaig
The March of the Cameron Men
Queen Elizabeth's March
Steamboat
9/8 Marches
The Battle of the Somme
Heights of Dargai
The Children of Lambert
Sledgehead
Slow Marches/Airs
Flower of Scotland
Amazing Grace
Oft in the stilly Night
Highland Cathedral
The Skye Boat Song
Morag of Dunvagen
The fair maid of Barra
Farewell to Camraw
Song for the Smallpipes
She Moved through the Fair
Hector the Hero
The Bells of Dunblane

Tony's Prices

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

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£200
Up to 1 hour£225
Up to 2 hours£250
Up to 3 hours£275
Packages
Burns Suppers
Pipe Guests In Pipe Haggis In Pipe Haggis Out Medley between Main and Dessert
£225

Add-ons

Highland dancers
+£225
Customer questions

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

I always try and be flexible to the clients requirements and ensure things run as smoothly as possible However there are times when it may not be practical due to back to back events. Should an events timings change and i cannot adjust i will always ensure a piper is available to cover your revised timings, but only when absolutely when necessary

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

This is not practical as a Piper however sometimes it is requested i provide background tracks on CD which can be made available upon request.

How much time do you need to set up?

I normally come fully dressed in uniform and ready to perform However I do like to arrive 30 minutes prior to the official start time at no extra cost to the client to familiarise myself with the venue

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

Yes and in addition if you have your own preferred Pipe Tunes that if not know and i have time to learn them this is also not a problem my aim is to make your event specific to your personal requirements

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes absolutely I bring all my own pipes and have a wardrobe of kilts and highland wear.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

If a Tune is not included in my Tune list there may still be a chance we already know it. If there is a special song you'd like me to learn I am happy to do this for you as long as i can trace the sheet music and given appropriate time

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I think any potential client should take time to read the feedback i have received to date to answer this question as no one event is the same each client has different expectations for their event and i take pride in achieving this to the best of my ability

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I have mentioned most within my biography but have performed both nationally and Internationally

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

There are many Pipers and Drummers that I have worked with, given me support and guidance when required and this has made me the piper i am today. Within the piping world there is no one person that you can be influenced by, we learn and are influenced by each other.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

I have no one event i can say was high profile, as a very customer focused individual all my events are High profile However, two of my favorites have been accompanying The National Symphony Orchestra and playing at 8 of Sir Rod Stewart's 2019 UK Tour Via Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Military, Film / TV music, Medieval music, Marching, Scottish music, Folk
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Instruments:
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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, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Sound technician, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Music therapy
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