Dollar piper stars with national band

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 17 Mar 2010 11:14 0 Comments

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Piper Lucy Ferguson will perform with the National Youth Pipe Band for Scotland at a concert in Perth next month.

A TALENTED young Dollar piper who has played for royalty will take to the stage next month with the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.

Lucy Ferguson (12) is one of the youngest members of the National Youth Pipe Band and has quickly risen through the ranks of the development section to play alongside adults up to 25 years old in the senior band.

The Dollar Academy pupil first heard the pipes played by her nursery teacher's son and the sound stuck with her, so much so that she took up the chanter in primary four and by primary five she had moved on to the pipes themselves.

Lucy went on to receive tuition from an ex-pupil at Dollar Academy at the school and then she took some private lessons before joining the development band of the NYPB and moving on to the senior band at just 11-years-old.

She told the Advertiser, "I learned to play the chanter and it progressed quite quickly from there.

"At first it is a bit of a challenge remembering the tune and keeping the pressure steady.

"The first year was a bit difficult but after that I found it quite easy."

Whilst the NYPB is a non-competing performance pipe band Lucy also takes part in competitions across the country winning in Arbroath in the novice section several years ago and competing at the likes of George Watsons College and Fettes College where she picked up a junior title.

She also competes in the solo circuit and has travelled to Oban, Fort William and Campbelltown to take part in competitions against pipers from across the country.

And the 12-year-old has taken to the stage in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall several times, as well as Eden Court in Inverness and the Usher Hall in Edinburgh with the NYPB.

She went on, "I really enjoy both the performing and the competing although they are completely different. One of my most memorable moments has been playing for Prince Charles as part of a trio when he came to the Piping Centre in Glasgow, of which he is the founder.

"We were also really nervous that we would make a mistake or do something wrong but we didn't and it went really well. After Prince Charles came over to us and shook our hands and said it was really good."

Lucy has also played for Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond at a charity event organised by Dollar Academy and golfing star Colin Montgomery.

She isn't resting on her laurels either and has decided to expand her musical repertoire by taking up the trumpet.

"I have always been in to music and we have been learning about jazz music at school. I like the trumpet so I thought I would try and learn it," she said.

"I have got a lot out of learning the pipes. It is a good discipline and I have made a lot of friends who I will keep for life. You have to be committed and stick to it but it has definitely been worth the effort."

Lucy will next perform with the NYPB on 3 April in Perth Concert Hall in its exciting Dragon's Lair showcase which brings together a fusion of pipes and drums with electric guitar, keyboard synthesizer, stand up bass, fiddle and drum kit.

Tickets for the concert in Perth are available by calling 01738 621 031 or by visiting www.horsecross.co.uk

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