About
Callum Watson Bagpipes is a bagpiper for hire in Melbourne, VIC.
A champion piper who's as comfortable in front of an orchestra as at a graveside. Callum Watson has won Victorian piping titles as a soloist and in bands, studied music at Monash University on a full scholarship, performed in national broadcasts on ABC and Nine radio, and worked with some of Australia's biggest advertisers and sporting codes. At events he wears traditional dress uniform and plays either the Scottish standards, Amazing Grace, Scotland the Brave, Loch Lomond, or his own arrangements of pop songs. Bagpipes carry anywhere, so beaches, parks, churches and stadiums all work. He covers weddings, funerals and festivals alike, and composes and arranges tunes for bands internationally.
Watch
The show
A piper walking in changes the mood of a room, or a garden, in about four bars. Callum plays either the traditional Scottish repertoire, the tunes people expect and get emotional about, or his own arrangements of pop songs where something less formal suits better. Traditional dress uniform is worn, and it looks the part in every setting. How long he plays is entirely your call. Bagpipes need no amplification, so the location list is unusually open: beaches, parks, gardens, a church, a concert hall, a stadium.
On the day
He arrives 30 to 60 minutes before he's due to play, which is less about equipment and more about knowing exactly where he's walking from and when the cue comes. Worth using that window if you're running a ceremony, because a piper who has walked the route once won't be guessing on the day.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured
Working with Children Check
Song list
9 songs
Ode to Joy
Amazing Grace
Highland Wedding
Scotland the Brave
Loch Lomond
Flower of Scotland
Mairi's Wedding
Green Hills of Tyrol
We can cater to any tune if it fits on bagpipes.
