The public relations company for Piping Live festival have sent this….
The 16th year of Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival kicked off today (Monday 12thAugust) with a piping hot performance from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Novice Juvenile Pipe Band, featuring 11 year-old tenor drummer Emily Gormley, the youngest member of the band (above).
The band launched this year’s event with a rousing performance at the steps of Buchanan Galleries before joining the Piping Live! Big Band – this year led by Lord Provost Eva Bolander of Glasgow City Council, and Chieftain of Piping Live! 2019 festival.
Lord Provost Bolander performed Highland Cathedral in front of the City Chambers in George Square, after parading through Glasgow’s City Centre to celebrate the launch of this year’s festival.
The Lord Provost said: ‘I’m looking forward to Piping Live! and the Worlds. They’re marvellous celebrations of bagpipe music and bring people, from around the world, together. I’m delighted to be able to join in and have been practising furiously after a long break. It’s great fun and a wonderful sight to behold pipers sporting tartan from every corner of the globe.’
[wds id=”2″]
Comprised of 143 pipers from all over the world including Canada and New Zealand, the Piping Live! Big Band marched from Blythswood Square along West George Street to George Square. Upon arrival in George Square, the Big Band saluted Lord Provost Bolander before she picked up her own pipes and joined in. This year’s parade is aid of the Heart of Scotland Appeal from Heart Research UK.
This year’s programme features performances by the very best international acts from countries including New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada and Scotland, and sees the return of the fiercely-contested Masters Solo, International Quartet and Pipe Idol competitions. In addition, there will be daily performances, family fun and the hugely popular Street Café will return to The National Piping Centre for the festival.
Michael Clark, Pipe Major of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Novice Juvenile Pipe Band, said: ‘We are thrilled to be playing at Piping Live! this year, our third year in a row. The band work hard all year round, so it’s a real honour to get this year’s festival off to a start.’
[wds id=”8″]
