Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band to take on the Big Apple

20 November 2017

Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band is fundraising to perform in New York at the 20th Anniversary Tartan Week.

The event - which celebrates Scottish heritage and pride - provides the band to showcase Hebridean and Gaelic culture with a huge international audience through their pipe music and dance.

They will also perform for specific Gaelic audiences and groups in the city.

The 24 pupils in the band - including dancers - at the Uist and Benbecula secondary school are practicing hard for for the chance to march along Sixth Avenue.

A spokesperson said: “The opportunity for us to travel internationally with the school is rare and often too expensive.

“Some of us have never travelled abroad before, so imagine how exciting it will be to get on a plane to New York.

“We have set our sights and ambitions on this amazing goal. We know that it will be hard work, we will have to practise and pull together as one to make this trip of a lifetime happen.

“Doing so will give us a great sense of ambition, team-work and achievement.”

The band hope to raise £40,000 towards flights, accommodation and other travel expenses for the pupils and adult supervisors. Some funding may be required for tuition, new equipment and uniforms.

Band members are already fundraising hard on the island with various events such as bingos and concerts etc. Each pupil travelling will personally contribute £500 towards the costs.

A funding raising web page has been set up at www.crowdfunder.co.uk.