New pipe tune of hope to support Eilidh’s Trust
A musical tribute to Eilidh MacLeod is to be premiered in Glasgow this month.
Fergus Bryce, a music student and award-winning pipe band drummer from Evanton in the Highlands, composed A Tune for a Trust as a tribute to Eilidh, the 14-year-old piper from the Isle of Barra who was tragically killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
The piece will be performed at Glasgow’s National Piping Centre on Friday March 13 at 7.30pm and all proceeds from the event will go to Eilidh’s Trust.
Fergus set out to compose a piece of music which embodied hope for the future, positivity of youth and love of traditional music. All of these were attributes that represented Eilidh’s life. He and a group of musician friends decided to produce the piece under his guidance before it was recorded.
Fergus, a BA Commercial Music student at the University of the West of Scotland, said: ‘I am really happy with how A Tune for the Trust has turned out and how it sounds. 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.’
The Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust was set up in 2018 to support music education for young people, in memory of Eilidh’s musical talent and enjoyment playing in the Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band.
Fergus has performed since he was eight years old and has played in a range of pipe bands, even making it to the World Championships. He won the the World Champion of Champions drumming trophy at the age of 19.
When tasked with producing a piece of music for a university assignment, it was Fergus’s love of music that led him to do something for the trust. He said: ‘Having been drumming and involved in music since I was eight, I have benefited from music education.
‘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.
‘I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me in this project, including my fellow musicians and the National Piping Centre for being so accommodating for my event.’
Suzanne White, founder and trustee of Eilidh’s Trust, praised Fergus and the piece of music he had produced.
She said: ‘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.
‘We look forward to the music event that will not only premiere this composition but will showcase a wide range of young musical talent. This is what the trust is all about.
‘We cannot thank Fergus enough for his support of other young musicians by boosting our work.’