The Beginning.

I’m regularly asked ‘how or why’ I took up the Bagpipes. Starting any instrument at 39 apparently isn’t normal, but…

In other words, I’ve always had a desire to learn a musical instrument, the difficulty being, which?  Assuming that if you’re going to give 100% to the effort, it needs to be the right instrument.  My story started In November 1999 with a Bagpiper revisiting his whole repertoire.  He was preparing over 3 nights for the Millennium New Year.

Therefore, on night two, I started to think about how, one NYE I could surprise my Glaswegian born father with a blast of Auld Lang Syne.  Anticipating him coughing & spluttered his ‘wee dram’ in utter shock.

Alas with a borrowed practice chanter and basic scales, I returned a few nights later to the group’s weekly practice.

With the progress I was making in 3 months, the piper offered to sell me his spare set of Bagpipes.  Members of a band also asked us all to join them with a view to competing.  6 Bagpipers are needed to enter competitions.

Outings to the competitions to listen to upper grade bands and their incredible powerful sound, had me hooked.

A few years in a competing band, with 2 of the 5 major championship events won in the same year.  (The Scottish & European Championships). I came away with a far better idea of what highly ‘tuned’ Bagpipes should sound like.  The natural progression & aspiration was to compete in solo events.

In less than 1 year, I had acquired my first overall win and came joint 1st at the Grade 3 World Amateur Solo Piping Championships in 2009.

At the 2011/12 League season end, I had acquired the most overall points at Grade 3 to win the overall league title for that year. This led to promotion to Grade 2 with a fare degree of success since.

Since 2011, I have been a registered ‘business’ as ‘Bagpiper in South Wales & Adjacent Counties‘.  I have successfully gained membership of the Guild.   Therefore, enhancing the trust in which clients give their Wedding Bagpiper & other suppliers.

My base is the Vale of Glamorgan.

Our services extend to many other areas namely Funerals, of which many Directors call in advance of a family meeting to check & secure availability.  Other events include Burns Suppers, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Corporate Events & many with surprise elements.

With assistance of my partner Louise (TeamBagpipesWales), our business has grown year on year. Trust in our Bagpiping Services & the testimonials given via my Freeindex page has now listed Bagpiper John Campbell as 1st in the country & ‘outstanding’ as we approach 190 5* Reviews.

Slanj au Var ?

Bagpiper in South Wales & Adjacent Counties – John Campbell