Houston, Texas musicians are a wonderful way to personalize an event and set the tone for the festivities. From weddings to intimate dinner parties, musicians of all genres create a specific mood while also entertaining your guests. You can find talented many singers and musicians close to Houston, Texas who would be perfect for your party.
Have something specific in mind for your Houston musi...Read moreHouston, Texas musicians are a wonderful way to personalize an event and set the tone for the festivities. From weddings to intimate dinner parties, musicians of all genres create a specific mood while also entertaining your guests. You can find talented many singers and musicians close to Houston, Texas who would be perfect for your party.
Have something specific in mind for your Houston musicians? Maybe you have a favorite classical song that you want to walk down the aisle to? Hire a violin soloist or a string quartet to create an elegant ambiance. A jazz pianist provides an upbeat setting for a corporate dinner and gospel singers will have your guests standing at their seats.
A vocalist in Houston can serenade a couple with their favorite song for an anniversary party, while bluegrass musicians add southern flair to a casual event. A guitarist makes a soothing addition to any party and they often use less equipment than bands and DJs requiring only an instrument and a microphone.
Hiring local musicians from Houston is an excellent way to support talent in the area, while also creating a memorable and entertaining event.
Nicholas Hudson is a professional, conservatory-trained bagpipe musician and instructor based in the Houston area. He is the third ever graduate of the Bagpipe Performance degree at Carnegie-Mellon Uni...Read moreNicholas Hudson is a professional, conservatory-trained bagpipe musician and instructor based in the Houston area. He is the third ever graduate of the Bagpipe Performance degree at Carnegie-Mellon University. An experienced performer, Nick is well versed in both traditional and contemporary piping and, as a Professional grade bagpiper, has won many prizes in solo competition. He also holds the Graduate Certificate from the Institute of Piping, the highest certification possible for bagpipe performance. Performances have taken him to Scotland, France, Canada and across the US. In addition to highland piping, Nick is an active performer of border/smallpipes and whistles. Whilst pursuing his performance degree, Nick was also in the Music Education Certification program at Carnegie-Mellon and is currently Instructor of Bagpipes at St Thomas Episcopal School in Houston and also maintains a private bagpipe lesson studio.
BIO__________________________________________
Nick Hudson teaches piping full-time at St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston, TX. He received a BFA in Music Performance under Alasdair Gillies and Jimmy McIntosh from Carnegie-Mellon University. Performance highlights include winning the Braemar Gold Medal (2016), Piobaireachd Society Canadian Gold Medal (2015), Overall A Grade Winner at the SPSL Contest in London (2016), Overall EUSPBA Professional award (2015, 2016), The Livingstone Invitational winner (2016), the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban (2016), and the B MSR at the Northern Meeting in Inverness (2016), . He has played in multiple Grade 1 bands, most recently with the Toronto Police Pipe Band. Nick is a member of both the EUSPBA Judges Panel and the Music Board.
Prior to accepting his teaching position at St. Thomas, Nick was the Instructor of Bagpiping and Supervisor of the Bagpipe Band at The College of Wooster, in Ohio, one of the few universities in the world to offer a Bagpipe Performance music degree.
Other performance highlights include piping in concerts with such celebrated acts as the Grammy-winning Chieftains, award-winning Bonnie Rideout, Grammy-nominated John Doyle, and Jerry O’Sullivan. Nick has also piped for famous dignitaries such as in the White House for President Obama and Mrs. Obama, the Prime Minister of Ireland, and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and has performed on field for three NFL games, many performances in in the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland as well as at the prestigious MacCrimmon competition at France's Festival Interceltique de Lorient,the largest Celtic festival in the world.
Nick has been featured as a bagpiper on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and nationwide appearances on NBC (The Today Show) and CBS (Evening News).
WEDDINGS________________________________________
As a bagpiper for hire, I can pipe during any part of your wedding that you would like. I understand that I am being hired to add something special to a very important day in your life, so I will come to rehearsals to make sure that everything is to your liking. The price will vary depending on how much you want me to play. I have a large repertoire of appropriate music for the occasion and can also compose a piece of music for the occasion if you would like. Contact me and we can discuss the details and any requests or concerns you may have. In addition to playing highland bagpipes, I can also provide the quieter sounds of the Scottish smallpipes, border pipes, and Irish whistle. If the location is far from Houston, there will be a small travel fee.
FUNERALS_________________________________________
I am available to pipe during the ceremony/mass and/or at graveside. I can play many popular hymns, such as Amazing Grace, Be Still My Soul, and many other Scottish/Irish airs and laments. Because of the urgency of the situation, I can be lenient in regard to my prices. If it is a child who has died, I will play for no charge.
OTHER EVENTS______________________________________
I am available to play for any imaginable event. Bagpipers add a very special and memorable touch to any event. I have performed at all types of parties. From retirements, to birthday parties (I can play The Happy Birthday Song), to anniversaries, to holiday parties (for which I can play many Christmas songs), to sporting events, or any other imaginable event; I can do it all. I also put on concerts and recitals upon request. I will pipe for an hour and a half if necessary. Pricing varies according to the time involved.
As Featured By: The Wall Street Journal, CBS, The New York Times, NBC, Houston Post-Gazette
Past Appearances: The White House, NFL Games, The World Pipe Band Championships, With The Chieftains, Piping Live, Festival Interceltique Lorient, College Magazine, La Telegramme, Steelers Games, WDVE.
INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP BAGPIPE LESSONS_________
In addition to performance, as a bagpipe tutor, I also teach extensively. I would love to teach you how to learn the bagpipes. I maintain a large private bagpipe lesson studio, with pipers ranging from practice chanter beginners to very advanced pipers, ages 8-73, so I am very confident with one-on-one bagpipe instruction across age and ability levels. Bagpipe lessons cover all aspects of music education (reading and notating music, theory, history) as well as bagpipe-related aspects (performance, technique, tuning, maintenance, repertoire). I have students across the all the grade-levels so am used to tailoring bagpipe lessons to suit your specific goals, pushing you to higher musical expertise and enjoyment, as well as passing down the tradition given to me. In addition to lessons on the highland bagpipe, I can also perform and teach the Scottish smallpipes, border pipes, and Irish whistle. Please contact me for rates.
ONLINE BAGPIPE LESSONS___________________________
For those not located in or aroundHouston, or who travel frequently, a convenient solution is bagpipe lessons over Skype. Audio, video, and sheet music files are sent through email or Dropbox, and payment is through PayPal. I have had many students who have used this easy and flexible option for learning the bagpipes, sometimes combined with an in-person lesson once a month.
WORKSHOPS________________________________________
In addition to regular bagpipe band instruction, I am an instructor with the Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming as well as the North American Academy of Piping & Drumming. I am available for weekend workshops of intensive bagpipe instruction in addition to regular, weekly bagpipe tuition. Cost is dependent on travel.
Rickey has performed with The Delfonics, Jennifer Holiday, Milton Berle, Kirk Whalum, Joe Sample, Barbara Johnson Tucker, Mavis Staple, Joe Sample, Conrad Johnson, Arnett Cobb, Johnny Taylor, and The T...Read moreRickey has performed with The Delfonics, Jennifer Holiday, Milton Berle, Kirk Whalum, Joe Sample, Barbara Johnson Tucker, Mavis Staple, Joe Sample, Conrad Johnson, Arnett Cobb, Johnny Taylor, and The Temptations, to name a few. He has also been on BET and has been written about in various newspapers and television around the country.
Rickey plays everything from classical to rock, to reggae, to funk, the blues, gospel, jazz, alternative, rock, zydeco/cajun, latin jazz, country and R&B. The audience is engendered to get up, shake a leg, and rejoice in the beauty of music.
Mr. Ford is available as a solo, with tracks, or with his R&B party band, "Greatness."
Liz Mendez is a pianist with 30 years experience who specializes in latin jazz and salsa.She has backed salsa artists: Milly Quezada,Ismael Miranda,Cano Estremero,and Gilberto Santa Rosa.She has also s...Read moreLiz Mendez is a pianist with 30 years experience who specializes in latin jazz and salsa.She has backed salsa artists: Milly Quezada,Ismael Miranda,Cano Estremero,and Gilberto Santa Rosa.She has also shared the stage with the 2 greats : Celia Cruz and Tito Puente.
Liz also opened for funk and soul band Tower of Power.
Liz also plays cocktail piano which includes Sinatra and Tony Bennett tunes as well as pop,show tunes,R&B,and Jazz.
Graduated from High School for the Performing and Visual Art 1976 (Hou.Tx.)
Graduated from University of St.Thomas (Hou.,Tx.) B.A. in Music
Houston, Texas musicians are a wonderful way to personalize an event and set the tone for the festivities. From weddings to intimate dinner parties, musicians of all genres create a specific mood while also entertaining your guests. You can find talented many singers and musicians close to Houston, Texas who would be perfect for your party.
Have something specific in mind for your Houston musi...Read moreHouston, Texas musicians are a wonderful way to personalize an event and set the tone for the festivities. From weddings to intimate dinner parties, musicians of all genres create a specific mood while also entertaining your guests. You can find talented many singers and musicians close to Houston, Texas who would be perfect for your party.
Have something specific in mind for your Houston musicians? Maybe you have a favorite classical song that you want to walk down the aisle to? Hire a violin soloist or a string quartet to create an elegant ambiance. A jazz pianist provides an upbeat setting for a corporate dinner and gospel singers will have your guests standing at their seats.
A vocalist in Houston can serenade a couple with their favorite song for an anniversary party, while bluegrass musicians add southern flair to a casual event. A guitarist makes a soothing addition to any party and they often use less equipment than bands and DJs requiring only an instrument and a microphone.
Hiring local musicians from Houston is an excellent way to support talent in the area, while also creating a memorable and entertaining event.