Royal honour for Perth College UHI student of the year

An exceptionally gifted student who has excelled during his studies, was doubly honoured for his hard work by meeting Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh - as well as being named as Perth College UHI student of the year.

Mark MacSporran, from Tayinloan Argyll, achieved straight A-grades throughout his degree and honours year of study on the Popular Music course.  He will graduate this summer with a First Class Honours, before going on to study Leeds College of Music’s prestigious Masters degree in Jazz.

Composer of the piece of music commissioned specifically for the Royal visit to the college campus on Friday 6 July, performed by Perth Symphony Orchestra’s String Ensemble, Mark also presented a commemorative book to The Duke of Edinburgh.

Lecturer, Dr Marlisa Ross explained: “Mark is the most diligent, committed, enthusiastic and talented individual whom I have ever had the pleasure to work with. He has an extremely good work ethic, and it is rare to find a student who is so committed to achieving excellence in every aspect of their work. Throughout his four years at Perth, he has demonstrated a determination to be the best he can be at all times, and he never gives anything less than 100% to every task that is asked of him.”

During the course of his study, Mark regularly obtained external placements, performing with professional musicians, in the orchestra pit of Centrestage Music Theatre in Kilmarnock, where he performed in a wide range of musicals including Les Miserables, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast and Mamma Mia.

Mark has also represented Perth College and University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) at several external events including Music For Youth Performance, Glastonbury Festival and an exchange trip to the University of Evora in Portugal. President of the Samba group Rhythm Wave, Mark is an exceptionally positive ambassador for UHI, and has given up his free time on many occasions in order to contribute to the life of the music department.

In his Honours year, Mark became a real role model for students in other year groups due to his involvement in assisting running support classes in theory, analysis and composition.  Many of these students attributed the successful completion of their courses to his assistance and commitment to helping them.

Mark will be presented with his award at the Perth College UHI graduation in October. He will also go forward as a candidate for the overall University of the Highlands and Islands student of the year award.

Perth College UHI media contact

Lisa Stewart
01738 877209/ 07976 049881
lisa.stewart@perth.uhi.ac.uk