Female musicians from schools in the Falkirk area are set to make history during an international rugby match at Murrayfield as part of an all-girls pipe band.

Girls from Denny and Dunipace and Falkirk Schools pipe bands are among 30 of the country's most talented young musicians set to perform at the curtain raiser for Scotland v Australia Women's International on Saturday, September 26.

The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), launched the pioneering All-Girls Pipe Band initiative to showcase the growing number of women involved in piping and drumming.

The response was huge, with entrants coming forward from across the country. Following a rigorous selection process, 30 female musicians under the age of 21 were chosen to perform at the home of Scottish Rugby.

The band features pipers, snare drummers, tenor drummers and bass drummers, and is made up of musicians drawn from 18 school communities from across Scotland, reflecting the depth of talent uncovered by the initiative.

At the project’s heart are Pipe Major Eilidh MacDonald, Drum Major Morven Walker and Lead Drummer Chloe Taylor, whose leadership has set a new benchmark and helped empower the band.

Lindsay MacKenzie, chief executive of SSPDT, said: "The response to this project has been phenomenal. We knew there was incredible talent among young female pipers and drummers, but the number and quality of applications made selecting just 30 musicians incredibly difficult.

"This performance is about far more than playing at an international sporting event. It is about showcasing the talent, commitment and dedication of young women in our piping and drumming community and giving them a platform they thoroughly deserve."