BAGPIPER SOUTH WALES JOHN CAMPBELL John explains when his bagpiping dreams began, ”I’d had a desire to learn a musical instrument for as long as I could remember. In 1999 a bagpiper near me, was practising his whole repertoire in preparation for the Millennium New Year. Curious as to how to start, the bagpiper offered some advice on the basics which inspired the start of what then seemed an obvious choice of instrument, as my father originated from Glasgow, Scotland. “The reasons I play today have changed; the initial stages were to play tunes being part of a competing pipe-band – we won two of the ’major’ championships in the same year British and European; however, at the same time, I took every opportunity to attend a number of solo piping recitals by the world’s best, and realised this was where my interest really lay playing solo. ”In 2008 I joined an Amateur Solo Competing League based in Glasgow and administered through the National Piping Centre, where I had successes early on. The successes continued on promotion to other grades. These successes, great tuition and figuring out the tuning idiosyncrasies in different temperature conditions by myself, helped with the improvements. ”The rewards are numerous; I have a mentality that each of my clients are my competition, judge and jury. It’s very satisfying when during or after an event, I’ve had many positive comments and reviews about my playing, conduct and approach to the clients’ wishes. ”In 2011 I left my job in order to be available to play the bagpipes full time at a multitude of events: weddings, funerals, Burns suppers, corporate events, anniversaries, birthdays and so on. ”I’m now in my 14th year and attendances at events have grown year on year. Having a hobby that resulted in a new career has been the best reward.“ 07985 917 590 https://bagpipersouthwales.co.uk @BagpiperInSouthWales @bagpiperinsouthwales CLAIR DE LUNE – LIVE GUEST ILLUSTRATOR Imagine capturing the essence of your wedding day in a truly personalised and unforgettable way. With live event illustration, you can create a unique and cherished keepsake for your guests while adding a touch of artistic flair to your celebration. Watch as their faces come to life on paper, capturing the joy and excitement of the day. These personalised sketches will be treasured for years to come, serving as a beautiful reminder of your special occasion. So, if you’re looking for a truly memorable and personalised touch to your wedding, consider live event illustration. It’s a fantastic way to create lasting memories for you and your guests. Clair says, ”With more than 15 years’ experience as a fashion and graphic designer, I can offer the following services to couples: “Live guest illustrations: I sketch you and your guests live on the wedding day and hand out a sweet little picture at the end of the day, entertainment and wedding favour all rolled in to one! ”Place cards/favours: Send me photos ahead of the wedding and I create cute, illustrated name cards, for when your guests sit down for the wedding breakfast. For favours, instead of traditional wedding favours, why not offer your guests a one-of-a-kind portrait – a quick pose for a photo, so no modelling or standing around I will sketch and watercolour your guests as they enjoy the festivities. ”Commissions: I paint anything from an engagement photo, guest books, personalised greeting cards, venue illustrations – all of which can be utilised for various elements of your wedding day.“ https://clairdeluneillustrate.co.uk @clairdeluneillustrate FLOWERS 45 ENTERTAINMENT
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