An Aberdeen teenager went from playing the bagpipes at other people’s graduation ceremonies to stepping into the spotlight himself yesterday, as he left North East Scotland College with a HMD in music.
Euan Doyle, from the Kingswells area, began studying at the college after his fifth year at Bucksburn Academy.
At the age of nine, whilst on a family trip to Braemar, the 19-year-old had his first experience with pipe music – and his dad bought him his first set shortly after.
Ever since then, Mr Doyle has been blowing people away with his skills on the traditional Scottish instrument.
He said: “This HMD gives me the credentials I need to take my music further as I now look to tutoring others.”
Yesterday, he took a break from playing the pipes at other people’s graduations to attend his own, with best friend Jamie Tough stepping in to perform the music in his stead.
Mr Doyle has decided to further his studies at RGU with a cyber security course.
He added: “Music is my love but it’s possible to achieve multiple qualifications, which count towards various aspects of your life.”
Meanwhile, Peterhead man Peter Lovie graduated with an applied science HNC in chemistry and biology.
Mr Lovie was born in Romania but moved to Peterhead shortly after being adopted, and had to attend his graduation in Aberdeen yesterday rather than closer to home – after his scheduled ceremony in Fraserburgh was cancelled due to rain.
Mr Lovie, 30, has now been given a place at Aberdeen University to study embryology.
