Pipe Major Matthew Phelps

Matthew Phelps began piping at the age of eight under the instruction of Pipe Major Thomas Shearer, a graduate of the pipe major's course at Edinburgh Castle taught by the legendary Willie Ross. He later attended the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. There he studied under Ed Neigh, Bob Worrall, Bruce Gandy, John Walsh, Fred Morrison, and R. S. Macdonald among other influential pipers of our time. Matthew attended Saint Andrews Presbyterian College on scholarship for piping and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.

Matthew has competed throughout the Eastern United States as well as in Canada and Scotland. In 1998 he placed first in the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association rankings for grade 1 and was promoted to open or professional competitive status in 1999. Phelps has played with the Trumbull and District Pipe Band of Connecticut, The Gaelic College Pipe Band of Nova Scotia, the Saint Andrews College Pipe Band of North Carolina, the Tulach Ard Pipe Band of Massachusetts, and the Halifax Regional Police Pipes & Drums of Nova Scotia. He was also a member of the Pipes & Drums of the 78th Highlanders when he worked as a re-enactor at the Citadel National Historic Site in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Phelps has played at hundreds of events including weddings, funerals, birthday parties, trade shows, Burns Suppers, bachelor parties, summer camp festivities, clam bakes, graduations, grand openings, and political campaign marches. He has opened concerts for Niamh Parsons, John Whelan, J. P. Cormier, and the Norwalk Youth Symphony. He has played in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and at Brunnenburg Castle in Italy. Phelps has taught students to play the pipes in New England, North Carolina, Alaska, and in Canada. Phelps currently works as a full time piping instructor and performer. Besides working with the Stuart Highlanders, Phelps also instructs the Boston Police Pipe Band.

Visit Matt's Web Site, www.baystatepipers.com.