Piping

More of Olivia playing  her Scottish Smallpipes and Great Highland Bagpipes can be found on The Scottish Tattoo YouTube Site

Olivia's first love was the bagpipes...aged 4

Her first visit to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and a small fidgeting child is asked to sit still and wait for the start - "The Massed Pipes and Drums will come out through the castle gates.  You will like that." Olivia had no clue what that meant!

Moments later Olivia gasped as she witnessed the massed spectacle and powerful combination of pipes and tartan. "Mum, Dad - look at that - I want to do that."

Living in the South of England does not present many opportunities and in any case, she would soon forget!  She never did.  A chance meeting with a busking piper, Roy Parker, led to Olivia joining Ringwood Pipe Band.  Roy taught her aged ten and by eleven, she had mastered, the chanter, the pipes and knew all the band tunes.  Her first marching engagement was her one and only "dummying" experience.  The Pipe Major was never again allowed to block her pipes - and never tried!

A quality piper and leading member of England's champion pipe band, Olivia has performed several bagpipe solo's at the Royal Albert Hall and other major UK venues. Olivia is adept at both the Great Highland Bagpipes and also Scottish Smallpipes, which can be performed solo or as part of an ensemble.

One major attribute that Olivia can add to your concert is that being a true musician, she understands the orchestra/band requirements as well as the piping needs.  Many solo pipers asked to play at such occasions can often only resort to "well that's the way I play it".  That can be very important!

Olivia loves her Scottish Smallpipes and includes Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as a venue for one of her solo performances and also accompanying Scottish singer/guitarist Stuart Barbour during his performance.

Hogmanay - Olivia has two memories that stand out from the normal Hogmanay booking.

In 1998 She was asked to perform the midnight piping spot in Birmingham's Centenary Square,  A 50,000 strong crowd looking up at her did not daunt her at all and the next day she appeared on the local radio station to talk about her experience.

Her midnight Millennium memory was to play her pipes and be broadcast on two radio stations across Wiltshire and Dorset to bring in the new Millennium. She can be forever known as Salisbury's Millennium Piper!

A few years ago, Olivia was asked to record Auld Lang Syne and Amazing Grace for a well known holiday camp group.  If you ever see a camp entertainer around midnight on Hogmaney looking to play the pipes badly but sounding excellent...you know the musician!

More recently, Olivia was asked to take part in a television experiment for the National Geographic Channel.  She had to fill her pipe bag with helium and try to play the bagpipes. She also had to fill her own lungs with helium and try and play by blowing up the bag herself.  Neither experiment was successful!  Nothing quite like carbon dioxide for a great sound!

General Engagements

Olivia has played for many private "surprise" parties for special birthdays, anniversaries etc and can be discreet if you wish to keep the surprise from your spouse or close relative.

Olivia playing for and socialising with 'Scots in London'

Weddings/Funerals etc can be made very special with the number one military uniform and feather bonnet or Glengarry. 

Olivia and the Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP at a Burns Night

Burns Nights/Hogmanay/St Andrew's Day or other Scottish Events.

No social occasion will daunt Olivia she has played her pipes for MPs and friends alike.

Dont wait or seek an unknown friend of a friend - you want a special occasion - contact a special piper.

Already in 2009, Olivia has performed at the District Council's Annual Chairman's Reception in Salisbury Guildhall.

Guests included the Lord Lt of Wiltshire, the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Chairman  & Chief Executives of Wiltshire County Council and numerous, Chairmen, Mayors and Councillors from Wiltshire and Dorset.  Local media and Voluntary Sector leaders were also guests at a very well attended Scottish Evening, which celebrated Robert Burns 250th birthday.

Olivia 01322 558562 or 01722 332233

Mobile: 07772 866275

Click to Email: LivMcLennan@yahoo.com