A Celebration of Youth

Two groups of talented young performers added to the enjoyment of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of Glasgow 2007.

The National Youth Pipe Band staged an extraordinary performance of pipe and drum music, an exploration of the versatility of these traditional instruments supplemented by energetic and enthusiastic highland dance.

Formed in 2002 the National Youth Pipe Band are a non-competing performance-based band developed to nurture young pipers’ and drummers’ talents. Comprising 50 of the best young pipers and drummers from across Scotland, with ages ranging from 12 to 18, the band also features expert backing from bass, bouzouki and percussion as well as a troupe of highland dancers. They strive to bring together the sometimes disparate strands of highland piping and so appeal to the non-piping audience, and with many in their ranks having both solo piping and other musical backgrounds they explore musical genres and explode musical boundaries.

Darwen Vale Dance Clubs, who entertained delegates during the Closing Ceremony, work extremely hard. They are a dedicated group of pupils who give their time freely to rehearse at least once a week either before school starts, at lunchtime or after school. Nearer performance they are often required three or four times a week, which they all attend without question. Total commitment is the reason the pupils reach such high standards. 

At school they annually perform in the Christmas Cabarets, the school musical and the Summer Dance production. This year they have also performed at the Mayor’s Ball and the Borough’s Festival of Dance, both at King George’s Hall in Blackburn and both very prestigious events. There are currently over 100 members in the school dance clubs.