The four students, who are all from Innerleithen, were selected to play with the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.

On Saturday, they and the rest of the band will perform at the Usher Hall at one of the biggest concerts of its kind in Scotland this year. There is always fierce competition between the best up-and-coming young pipers and drummers from across Scotland for places in the band, so there was great delight when pipers Ross Brown and Tom Hamilton, together with snare drummers Darren Barber and Robbie Stoddart, were successful.

Ross is the first member of his family to be involved with Scotland’s national instrument, having started learning when he was in primary four.

Now aged 15, he says he and his three fellow musicians – who all played with the Tweedvale Pipe Band – are honoured to be performing with the national youth band.

“We were selected about a year ago after some really tough auditions. Since then we have been rehearsing with the band and have performed at some smaller concerts.

“But this concert in Edinburgh on Saturday is by far the biggest and we are really looking forward to it.”

As the only Borders representatives who got through the auditions, Ross says he and his three friends aim to do the region proud on Saturday.

“It is a great honour to be playing with the band. Playing the pipes was just something I always wanted to do, ever since I was a wee boy.

“So playing with bands like this and concerts in front of large audiences like that at the Usher Hall is just fantastic.”