About Neil Hubbard
The majestic sound of the Great Highland Bagpipe has been used for centuries to inspire warriors, welcome royalty, mourn the dearly departed, celebrate weddings, and bring distinction to virtually any other event.
This awesome and powerful instrument adds emotional impact to any occasion, and a piper always provides a striking visual focal point.
A member of the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band since 1990, Neil has performed at many diverse celebrations including twice at Carnaval in Mazatlan, Mexico, Fourth of July in Ketchikan, Alaska, and the week-long 1000th Anniversary of Clan Keith in Inverurie, Scotland. Neil has been featured as a soloist in the Keith's annual Kirkland Performance Center shows since 1998. Neil has also had the thrill of competing with the Keith at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in 2006, 2002 and 2004, when the pipe section placed 1st out of 40 Grade 4B bands!
"He's simply awe-inspiring. His playing is something short of heaven." — Alexis Taylor, Seattle diner at the Calcutta Grill, quoted in the Newcastle News.
As a competitive solo piper, Neil has perfected his musical skills, and piping judges have consistently praised him for his "great sounding pipe," "excellent tone and tuning," and "lovely, expressive playing." Neil is a successful solo piping competitor, having played on the boards in Scotland, Canada, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
In 1998, Neil conceived and created the Masters Of Scottish Arts Concert. He was the Producer and Director of the annual concert from 1998 through 2007. The concerts took place in Seattle's Benaroya Hall and featured the very best pipers, drummers, dancers and fiddlers in the world. Under Neil's direction the concert became the best attended solo piping concert anywhere, including Scotland.
Neil is a current member in good standing of the American Federation of Musicians Local 76-493, the Washington Pipers Association (WPA) and the British Columbia Pipers Association (BCPA).
