Yet 17-year-old St Kevin's College pupil Nick Parsons will fly to Glasgow with the South Canterbury Pipe Band in August for the World Pipe Band Championships.
The year 13 cultural prefect only began playing the pipes midway through 2009, but has been receiving lessons via Skype from Christchurch-based tutor Donald Gannaway, and will lead the Waitaki District Pipe Band to the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in Tauranga next week.
He cannot wait to join the band from South Canterbury on the trip after the possibility was first floated last year.
South Canterbury will be the only New Zealand band at the championships, and among more than 200 bands from a large number of countries.
The band, which travels to the event every three years, finished sixth out of 86 bands in its category in 2009.
The three-week trip will cost about $5000, and a horse trek will be run tomorrow to help raise funds. The ride through the McKenzie property at Danseys Pass has been organised by Ali Brenssell. Nick will man the barbecue.
