Piper’s new tune in honour of Eilidh

A new bagpipe tune has been composed to help support the work of a charity set up in honour of Manchester Arena victim Eilidh MacLeod.

The 14-year-old was one of 22 people killed in the terror attack on May 22 2017, with Eilidh’s Trust set up in her name.

Music student Fergus Bryce has composed the piece, which will be given a special debut at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow on Friday March 13.

The 20-year-old, originally from Evanton in the Highlands, said he is “really happy” with how the tune has turned out so far.

He said: “The music is specifically written to be optimistic and looking to the future – something that ties in perfectly with the ethos of Eilidh’s Trust.

“I hope the listeners will enjoy the tune as much as we have in composing and performing it, and that it adds to Eilidh’s legacy in supporting music education for other young musicians.

“Having been drumming and involved in music since I was eight, I have benefited from music education.

“Therefore, Eilidh’s Trust’s ambition for young musicians is something that resonates a lot with me.

“This is why I was very keen to support their work and my studies have proved to be the ideal opportunity to do this.”

The tune is different from a song released in 2018 to help the trust raise funds for a memorial to Eilidh, the design of which was unveiled last year.

Suzanne White, founder and trustee of Eilidh’s Trust, said: “We were thrilled when Fergus approached us with his proposal to support the trust in this way.

“What he has composed is a really beautiful piece of music, which captures the true positivity of youth and ambition for the future – things the trust strives to support.”

Eilidh died in May 2017.