Back in April, I had the opportunity to perform on stage at Wembley Arena accompanying the André Rieu Orchestra.
About a year and a half ago, by a weird twist of fate, I stumbled upon a band practice of the Reading Scottish Pipe Band and, having learnt both the flute and the recorder for many years, I decided that I would give the bagpipes a try. I appreciate that’s not a typical progression, but I have been practising and having lessons since then and in March, I went for my first practice with the senior band. I’d like to say that I handled it extremely professionally but to be honest I was terrified. I had to play an instrument I was relatively new to, in front of about 30 pipers all of whom have probably been playing for at least 40 years and that I’d never met. Then, on that same first rehearsal, I was asked if I would be happy to play with the band the next month in front of 12,000 people and one of the most famous musicians alive. I was certainly thrown in the deep end and spent the next month memorising the pieces we would be performing and brushing up on my technique. Little did I know that was only half the battle.
Despite the musical challenge, I also had to learn how to march and play, walk upstairs playing and, more difficult than all, I had to work out how to wear the uniform of the band! I am lucky that the band uses the money from its engagements to pay for all the equipment and instruments of its members. The uniform that I was wearing, which is called No. 1 Uniform, is worth about £1000 for each piper – not an outfit you want to spill your dinner down. As well as being extremely delicate, the uniform takes about a quarter of an hour to put on and it’s a two person job (something I discovered fairly quickly!)
There were a lot of nerves in the lead-up to the performance but when I arrived at Wembley I was too in awe of it all to get very worried. We played a medley of crowd-pleasers: Scotland the Brave, Amazing Grace, Muss I Denn and Highland Cathedral. André Rieu greeted us all and provided excellent snacks, drinks and an after-party. It was the most amazing experience to play in front of so many people and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it!
Lily Lower VI
