Testimonials

I am really thankful for the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust funding which I got the offer earlier this year. I have been studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow for the traditional music piping degree course.

The fund from the Trust allowed me to do some extra travelling for competitions and also I went to a piobaireachd workshop in Brittany which is called “Pibroch by the Sea” in Cancale. It was a great opportunity because one of my piobaireachd heroes Jimmy McIntosh came from the US to teach that weekend, he is 93 years old and I got to hear him playing two full piobs on the pipes live too, a great experience!

This December, I and 3 friends have formed a piping quartet to compete at the quartet contest in Kemper. We were very pleased with the performance and happy to get 3rd place out of 9 groups. The trips to Brittany for me have been fantastic. It made me wanting to learn much more about traditional Breton music which Gordon also loved.

Thank you so much once again.

Thank you so much for your email, it was a great way to start our day and your support is so very, very appreciated.  We are at the start of a very long journey and getting off the ground is the hardest part.  I’m so happy that the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust is supporting us at this crucial stage.  Your fantastic contribution will go towards the cost of books and allow us to deliver what we intend to be an amazing programme.  I assure you that all our students as they progress through the learning journey will learn about Gordon and his music and I know it will be an inspiration to them as it has been to so many young pipers.

Thank you very very much! This is massive for me and will go a long way towards supporting my studies. I’m very grateful for this and can confirm I’ve received the payment.

On behalf of the children and Board of Management of Govan Schools Pipes & Drums Association I would like to thank you and the Trustees of the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust most sincerely for your extremely generous donation which I confirm receipt of into the GSPDA bank account on 25th August.

This money will be put to the most practical of uses of providing free bagpipe and drum tuition to approximately 100 disadvantaged children in Govan Schools each month. GSPDA remains very busy during the summer months having played at the Ibrox Fun Run, the Govan Fair, the Govan Gaelic Choir Recital Evening, the Scottish Kilt Walk, the Elder Park Fun Day and for the second year, competing in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow. The new 2017/2018 academic year started last week and the Tutors are excited about a number of new recruits who have signed up from the schools to receive tuition.

We try to keep our “followers” up to date with developments and progress at GSPDA by updating the news items on the website https://gspda.co/govan-schools-pipes-and-drums-association/news/ so do hope you will be able to keep in touch with GSPDA through this medium.

Again, I would like to record a huge thank you to you for this second and very significant donation. If you have no objection I will update the GSPDA website with The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust as a supporter.

I don’t think I can put into words how thankful I am for your generosity. This opportunity is one I have been dreaming about for a long time and I can promise you both and everyone at the GDMT that I will not waste a single moment of it. I will of course keep you all up-to-date on my experiences there and will be keeping a blog noting my musical adventures on Cape Breton Island. A million and many thanks.

A follow up: I am going to struggle condensing my time on Cape Breton Island into a couple of sentences as there was just so much wonderful music and moments, but I’ll try my best. Being immersed in the island’s music and culture was such an incredible way to experience how strong an influence Scottish music has had across the Atlantic. Attending several square dances, sessions, and Gaelic language events across the island really helped to improve not only my piping but musicianship as a whole. It has also helped me to establish strong relationships and friendships with musicians/folklore enthusiasts across the province which will be very important for my future studies.

I am so thankful to the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust for helping me make the most of this opportunity – and with the amount of Gordon’s tunes that were common repertoire across the island his legacy helped me make a simple transition and integrate amongst the local musicians.