BETTER known to many in the pipe band world, Kilkeel man, Alan McBride will prove he has a few more strings to his bow when he performs at the Ardhowen Theatre on February 6.

But the five times World Champion Senior Drum Major will be keeping his drum kit at home for his concert in Enniskillen.

Accompanied by Scottish songstress, Sylvia Burnside, he will be demonstrating his other passion in life -- his singing.

Alan stole the show at The Belfast Tattoo in The Odyssey Arena, performing to an audience of more than 10,000.

But as he explains, singing has always been a family past-time.

“I have been singing since I was young. I got involved in school musicals in high school. That is what began my love of performing.

“I used to sing with my sister, Violet, too. We would sing at a lot of pipe band concerts or church concerts. But she is an international hockey player, she has competed for UK at Olympic level. So she couldn’t make the commitment to singing.

“My family were all involved in pipe bands. My parents were very supportive. Myself and my brother and sister all competed against one another but it was very healthy sibling rivalry! It brought us up with a sense that it is not the winning but the taking part that counts and stood us in good stead for future careers and aspirations.

“Everybody gets nerves from time to time but it is how you cope and real with those nerves that counts -- it’s a very true saying tha a game can be won and lost in the mind!” As a world champion Drum Major, Alan has travelled the world to do exhibitions, tutor and judge. His singing meanwhile, has so far provided him the opportunity to perform in the Opera House Belfast, Ulster Hall, Lyceum London, Helix Dublin, and in the Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin for former president Mary McAleese.

But his performance at the Belfast Tattoo has set a platform for new opportunities to follow.

“It’s funny how one thing can open the doors to other opportunities,” he says.

“I was to perform at the Belfast Tattoo as a world champion Drum Major. But when the organiser was told I was a singer as well, he asked me to do that too.” And it was through his performance at the Tattoo that he first met Sylvia Burnside.

“She is such a lovely girl,” says Alan, “A lovely, down to earth person. She is so easy to get along with. We just clicked.” Alan and Sylvia will perform solo pieces on February 6 as well as duetting.

Expect a range of popular favourites with songs from the shows, popular light Opera Arias, and some traditional tunes, from artists including Frank Sinatra, Kenny Rodgers, Michael Ball, Il Divo, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Simon & Garfunkel, The Drifters, Lionel Richie and Eric Clapton.

“We are lucky in that we will have a brilliant set of musicians for the Ardhowen concert,” says Alan, “I will be performing songs from a variety of different genres, from jazz to swing to classical.

Alan McBride’s concert will take place on Thursday, February 6 at 8pm.