A TALENTED young piper from Dumfries received a warm welcome on Thursday January 13th when he played in his first public performance as a member of the ScottishPower pipe band.
Nineteen year-old student, Oliver Rigg, from Moniaive performed with 13 of his fellow band mates to lead the Celtic Connections torchlight parade through Glasgow’s city centre.
The annual event marked the official launch of the country’s largest winter music festival.
Oliver, who studies Geology at the University of Glasgow, has been playing the pipes for eight years and joined the ScottishPower pipe band in September 2010. The gifted teenager has recently honed his skills and improved from a C grade to B grade on the instrument.
Celtic Connections celebrates its 18th anniversary this year.
Over the next 17 days approximately 1500 folk, roots, world, traditional, indie, bluegrass, jazz and classical musicians will perform in around 300 events taking place in 19 venues across Glasgow.
Oliver was thrilled with his first public performance with the band.
He said: “Performing at the Celtic Connections torchlight parade was a fantastic way to begin my career with the ScottishPower pipe band – it was a really exciting experience and I feel so lucky to have been a part of it.”
Heather McDonald, group sponsorship manager at ScottishPower, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that Oliver received such a warm welcome in Glasgow yesterday at the official launch of Celtic Connections.
“This is the fifth year that ScottishPower has sponsored the grassroots festival. We are proud to be associated with its efforts to promote and encourage active participation in traditional heritage music throughout Scotland.”
For further information on the band, visit www.scottishpowerpipeband.com.
For background on ScottishPower, log onto www.scottishpower.com
ENDS
Issued on behalf of ScottishPower by The BIG Partnership.
For further information on this release please contact Nicola Macnaughton on 0141 333 9585 or nicola.macnaughton@bigpartnership.co.uk
Notes for editors
- ScottishPower became the title sponsor of the band in 1989.
- The band is led Pipe Major Chris Armstrong and Drum Sergeant Barry Wilson. Barry lifted the title of World’s Leading Solo Drummer in 2007 and retained the title when he competed again in October 2008 and 2009.
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Contact: Nicola Macnaughton
Phone: 0141 3339585
Email: nicola.macnaughton@bigpartnership.co.uk
Website: http://www.bigpartnership.co.uk
