Piper Zavier - from recycled instrument to Edinburgh Tattoo

THE PIPES ARE CALLING: Masterton's Zavier Boyles, 15, was thrilled to play for the Foundation New Zealand Youth Pipe Band at the famed Royal Edinburgh Military tattoo.

When six-year-old Zavier Boyles announced he wanted to learn the bagpipes, his parents were convinced he was "going through a phase".

Little did they know that nine years later, Zavier would be playing the pipes in one of the world's most celebrated festivals.

The Wairarapa College student performed with the Foundation New Zealand Youth Pipe Band at the 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, held from February 18 to 21 at Westpac Stadium.

The Tattoo, which featured 1200 performers from New Zealand and overseas, has been billed as "the greatest show on earth" for its pipe and drums ensembles, Highland dance displays, and shows of military precision.

To be included in such a spectacle was a thrill for 15-year-old Zavier, who described the experience as "hardcore, but so much fun."

Not a bad effort for a lad who, at Kauri Park Primary School in Auckland, made his first ever bagpipes from recyclable materials -- including plastic bags stuffed with newspaper and a broken recorder.

"After that, he said he wanted to play the bagpipes -- and we thought, 'this is something he's going to grow out of", proud Mum Kathryn Boyles said.

"But he stuck with it, he's worked so hard, and this was the reward -- to be part of something so huge."

"It was his bucket list item to play in the Tattoo in Scotland, and this is a step towards that.

"I'm so crazy proud."

Zavier first started learning the bagpipes at nine, under the tutelage of Wairarapa Fern and Thistle senior piper John Frater, starting out learning on a practice chanter.

"It's harder than most instruments," Zavier said.

"Between all the finger work and breathing, it's a whole lot of multitasking, and you have to be fit."

Zavier eventually began playing in the Fern and Thistle pipe band, and later joined the Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band's youth development squad.

Each year, he takes part in nine large-scale competitions, and regularly attends a summer school for young pipers in Christchurch.

"The competitions are crazy, with heaps of bagpipes going at once.

"At each summer school, they give you 52 tunes each year -- so I've got about seven folders of music.

"It's kind of snowballed".

Zavier was invited to perform at the Tattoo by the Manawatu band's musical director -- and said he "cried a bit" when he received the email.

Over summer, he received a steady stream of songs to learn, and devoted at least two hours a day to practice.

At the summer camp, he met some of the youth band members, and they were allowed 45 minutes to practice -- the only time they were able to play together before the week of the show.

Zavier said the week's lead up to the Tattoo was intense -- with pipers having to be available between 7am and midnight for drills.

"There were people in military uniform taking the practices, and they were pretty hardcore.

"In between practices, we'd sleep in our dressing rooms."

He said he enjoyed performing at the stadium, despite initial nerves, and having to stand still for long stretches during the finale.

"I didn't know how to feel when I stepped out and the thousands of people -- but I just got on and played.

"I think Mum got a bit teary-eyed watching."

Zavier is now preparing for the 2016 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in Feilding this month.

He plans to carry on piping once he leaves school, and still dreams of playing in Scotland.

"And I have no doubt he will," Kathryn said.