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,