A state-of-the-art recording studio has been created in a Perthshire school thanks to a gift from two grateful parents.
Professor John Anderson and his wife Vicky donated a “modest” sum to Morrison’s Academy in Crieff, where their children have all been educated.
The music-loving family wanted the cash to benefit the musicians at the 153-year-old school and the newly-opened facility has been named the Anderson Suite in their honour.
The couple were moved to make the donation after seeing children Ross, Ellen and Jamie thrive at Morrison’s. Prof Anderson said the decision to donate to the school was an easy one.
He said: “As Morrison’s parents, Vicky and I have witnessed the impact that the school has had, and continues to have, on our children Ross, Ellen and Jamie and my parents, Ian and Moira, took great interest in the children’s education, openly crediting the school for their development.
“When we found ourselves, as a family, in the fortunate position to be able to make a modest charitable donation, the decision to give to Morrison’s Academy was an easy one and the question then became where to direct the use of this donation.
“Vicky suggested a focus on music as this most closely reflected the common interests of the Anderson family across the generations.”
He added: “As a music graduate and accomplished singer, Vicky was particularly pleased to see Ellen thrive in the chamber choir and in the musicals and I took great pride in Ross playing drums in the pipe band, having not taken up that opportunity when I was at school. Jamie peaked early, winning the Scots song competition in P1, but has since followed in my footsteps, being a consumer of music rather than a producer or performer.
“As a family we are delighted to have been able to contribute in a small way to the development of the school and I am sure that generations of Morrisonians will have the opportunity to develop their own varied musical interests using this fantastic new facility.”
The rector, Simon Pengelley, and the director of music, Sally Herbert, thanked the Anderson family for their generous support. Sally said: “Thanks to the generous donation from the Anderson family, we have been able to build a state-of the-art recording studio.
“With the equipment furnishing the new studio room, we have facilities to rival anything in London, Edinburgh or Glasgow. We also have a powerful portable system to link any venue, in or out of school, to the studio.”
She added that the suite featured the latest technology. “A high definition recording programme Protools 11 mixing desk, high-level audio convertor and enough microphones to suit any instrument are just some of the features of the system,” she said.
“We can now produce live recordings, band recordings, orchestral and choral recordings, studio recordings and do all the editing in house with pupils using the latest audio editing techniques.
“The facilities are already being used with S3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils and we hope to introduce younger pupils to the world of a sound engineer later in the session.
“We hope to enter some national music competitions by entering our ensembles via CD and several of our pupils have already written and recorded the first tracks for their first solo albums.”