Dingwall Academy teacher praises lads’ ‘excellent’ performance with National Youth Pipe Band
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Dingwall Academy lads gave an “excellent” performance with the prestigious National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland (NYPBS) after many months of hard work.
For the last three months, Dingwall Academy pupils Ruaraidh Drennan (S6) and Dan Mackinnon (S5) have been travelling back and forth to Glasgow to perfect their piping skills ahead of NYPBS’s Imbrechd concert on April 14.
The NYPBS is a non-competing performance pipe band, for youngsters with a deep passion for music aged 10-25.
Dingwall Academy’s principal teacher of music, Ross Brindle, shared what it’s been like to see the two lads develop and thrive in the school and pipe band scene.
Mr Brindle said: “Both of them were really pleased with how it went. There’s been a lot of rehearsing, which has been quite difficult for them travelling up and down the road from Glasgow over the last three months -– I think they’ve been down about seven times in the last few months. I think they were the only two from this area involved this time as well.
“So after all that work, I think they really enjoyed seeing it all come together – especially playing with some top musicians in the folk scene too.
“I am very proud. I’m so pleased they are able to represent the school at such a prestigious level. I always love watching our kids perform - its why we do what we do as teachers. Sometimes these bigger events are harder to get to when they are far away – it was a very late journey home! – but it was well worth it to go and see them.
“They were both excellent.”
The two Dingwall Academy pupils have been passionate about music “since they were wee”, coming from musical families, and having gone through Gaelic medium education which is known to encourage love for trad music.
According to their teacher, they also contribute a lot to both the school and local community, and are both “very hard working”.
Dan and Ruaraidh said their favourite piece was the last set, titled In Praise of Home. It was written by Steven Black, the NYPBS director.
“The band is great because its slightly different to your traditional pipe band.” Mr Brindle added. “As well as trad music, they work with new composers, which meant there was a full band and a brass section there as well as bagpipes.”
Ruaraidh, who has been playing with the NYPBS for three years, is about to start studying aero mechanic engineering at Strathclyde University. Alongside other musicians from his class, Ruaraidh has plans to set up a wee ceilidh band, with hopes to put on gigs in Glasgow and earn some money while studying.
Mr Brindle continued: “Ruraidh is about to go to Strathclyde, and Dan I think is planning to study medicine – but I know they will both keep playing music on the side. Ruaraidh’s ceilidh band have already had a couple of wee local gigs too which is great.
“Both lads are going to be receiving music trophies at the school’s prize giving in June.”
