Bede Patterson Music

About

Expanding the artistic and cultural reach of Scottish traditional music.

Bede Patterson is an Australian-born, Scotland-based bagpiper, composer, educator, and researcher whose work is dedicated to expanding the artistic and cultural reach of Scottish traditional music. Now based in Glasgow, Patterson has built an international profile through performance, academic inquiry, and creative collaboration, positioning himself at the forefront of a new generation of musicians redefining the possibilities of the Great Highland Bagpipe.

A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he earned a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Music degree in Traditional Music (Piping), Patterson combines technical mastery with a strong intellectual foundation. His academic work explores innovation within tradition, with particular focus on the evolution of bagpipe music.

As a performer, Patterson’s career spans some of the world’s most prestigious stages and festivals. In 2024, he appeared at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado with the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, collaborating across genres in both chamber and orchestral settings. The same year, he debuted his ensemble, The Nexus Project, at Glasgow’s Piping Live! Festival as part of its Ceol Nua programme, showcasing innovative approaches to new music for bagpipes. In 2025 he was invited to direct and participate in a performance of Julia Wolfe’s Lad for the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester and later that year appeared as a guest artist in William Barton’s solo concert at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Patterson is an accomplished competitive piper, having performed multiple times at the World Pipe Band Championships, with The Pipe Band Club Australia. His international touring experience includes appearances across Europe and the UK at major Celtic and traditional music festivals. Earlier in his career, Patterson performed extensively in Australia, including appearances at the Sydney Opera House and collaborations with major artists such as Jimmy Barnes. He has also contributed to commercial recordings, including ABC Classics releases and televised productions with The Wiggles and ABC’s Play School, demonstrating a broad appeal across audiences and formats.

Alongside his performance career, Patterson is a committed educator and mentor. He has taught in both Australia and Scotland, including at The Scots College in Sydney and through the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, where he delivers workshops, private tuition, and performances.

Patterson’s practice extends beyond performance into craftsmanship and consultancy. As an apprentice with Begg Bagpipes, he develops bespoke instruments using traditional and locally sourced materials, deepening his understanding of the instrument’s physical and acoustic properties. His expertise has also been sought in film, where he has provided historical consultancy on the accurate representation of 18th-century Scottish music.