A Piper and a Gentleman

[creagdhubh]

Greetings,

Recently, I was made aware of the following article published at the "Pipes and Drums" website on September 7, 2013. The article is about my good mate and professional piper, Matt Pantaleoni of St. Louis, Missouri (my hometown). I have know Matt ("Matty" as his friends kindly refer to him as) for many years and the details discussed in the article simply exemplify his honourable character all the more. Matty's actions fully demonstrate the fact that personal integrity, honour and doing the right thing (especially when nobody is looking) is always the best course of action. Even though Matty has always been very humble and a true gentleman as long as I've know him, I'm now even more proud to call him one of my good friends.

Matty is a top-notch, seriously disciplined and committed piper, and piping instructor in St. Louis. Every year, he competes throughout the professional, solo-piping circuit in Scotland, to include very famous competitions such as the Argyllshire Gathering/Oban Games and the Northern Meeting in Inverness. He has also competed at the Bratach Gorm, hosted by the Scottish Piping Society of London, as well as all over America and Canada. Matty and I first met at a Scottish related event (go figure) when he was then the Pipe Major of a local, Grade III pipe band, and with me being a keen supporter and long-admirer of the pipes (as well as drams and pints!), it was quite easy to form a friendship with him. He is one of the best pipers I know, and I have been fortunate to see him compete at several events in Scotland to include the Newtonmore Highland Games in Inverness-shire, back in 2007. We had a blast in Newtonmore that year and it was definitely a great day out for a couple of born and bred, St. Louis lads. I always enjoy listening to Matty play the pipes, especially when I press him to be my "personal piper" and play a proper, Clan Macpherson Piobaireachd, haha! He's a fine chap indeed and I couldn't be more proud of him.

Link to the article:

http://www.pipesdrums.com/ViewObject...ref_map=%5B%5D

Professional Piper Matt Pantaleoni's website:

http://pipingstl.com/

Several photos of Matty and I thought the years:













Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

I met Matt when I was VP of The Scottish Piping Society of London and ran the Bratach Gorm ( yes that is why I have bratach as my xmarks the scot name, as we are not allowed to use our business name ). He was over to compete at the Hampton Court venue when we first met circa 2000 -2001? Great weekend, great times, great music and a very long night with certain ex Scots Guards, RHF and Black Watch pipers.

Anyway 100% agree with your story and good to see Matt again after all these years. Buy him a drink from me when you next see him Kyle. I will pay you back next time you are over here.

Tim

Thanks, Tim! And I certainly will buy him a drink for you when I see him at the St. Louis Highland Games in a couple of weeks.

Best wishes,

[creagdhubh]

Why isn't there more ayes on this forum?

Cheers Kyle, have a great weekend at the games.

Hahaha! Precisely! Thanks, Tim.

Best wishes,

[Highlander31]

Thanks for posting this, Kyle. In today's world, it's not often one hears of someone doing the right thing.

[Liam]

Good for him. It is men like him who restore one's faith in humanity....

Kyle....Buy him a pint next time you see him.....

Cheers...Bill

[Ordway]

As an interested observer and a fan of the professional piping scene, I believe that Mr. Pantaeoloni's honourable actions in this instance were more usual than not. In this "me first" world, stories abound of pipers who have assisted their fellow competitors to victory by loaning pipes, reeds etc., etc. Makes one think that there may yet be hope for mankind.

[Nile]

What a wonderful story; thank you for sharing it with us Kyle. Matty is a real champion, even if the points were not all there.

and with me being a keen supporter and long-admirer of the pipes (as well as drams and pints!),

I'll drink to that!!!

Nile

[Jack Daw]

Paying (tribute to) a great piper (and human being) bears good luck. Good on you, Kyle!

[cessna152towser]

Great story Kyle, thanks for sharing.
Your friend is truly an honourable man.

[creagdhubh]

Cheers, gents! Thank you for the kind words, I know Matty would certianly appreciate them - even though he would more than likely change the subject rather quickly, since he is extremely humble and doesn't care much for praise. In any rate, I shall pass on your kindest regards and I certainly will be buying him a pint of Magner's cider (his favourite), in about two weeks when I see him.

Thanks again!