A FORMER Vale of Leven Academy student wowed audiences at the launch of City of Glasgow College's newest campus.

Olivia Haggarty, 18, originally from Croftamie, along with fellow students, performed at the gala evening for the new campus, one of the largest in Europe. They provided music and entertainment for the many guests at the gala including deputy first minister John Swinney.

The Acting and Performance student, who is enrolled in an HNC at the new city campus, was a star at Balmaha’s Braw Weekend earlier this month and was not fazed by the prospect of taking to the stage at the VIP reception.

She said: “It was a little different to the other gigs I’ve played, and I was excited because I’m trying to gain more experience playing in front of larger crowds. I performed some pop and country songs in an acoustic style and I think people enjoyed it.

“I have played guitar for five years and I was always singing from an early age. I started getting more bold and people began to enjoy what I did. I started out in choirs and vocal groups at school and have performed in charity fundraisers and in other wee gigs.

“I enrolled at City of Glasgow College because I wanted to try a year and get experience in acting. I would like to become known and for people to come and see me perform. I love performing on stage and would like people to love the kind of music I produce.”

High-profile figures from the worlds of education and politics were among hundreds of guests from all around the world who attended the event at the new city centre facility. The ten-storey learning centre forms part of a £228m twin-site supercampus, which also features the award-winning Riverside Campus on the banks of the River Clyde.

In total there were eleven acts showcased on the night, each selected by a panel including college principal and chief executive Paul Little after auditions in an inclusive staff and student initiative called City’s Got Talent.

City of Glasgow College Principal and CEO Paul Little welcomed around 500 guests to the landmark occasion and was proud to do so, saying: “Olivia and her fellow City’s Got Talent winners did a fantastic job of providing a live soundtrack for the celebrations. It was great to be able to call upon our talented staff and students to provide the entertainment for such an important night for City of Glasgow College.

“This is truly an amazing supercampus to rival the very best, anywhere in the world. City of Glasgow College has worked extremely hard since our successful pioneering merger six years ago to redefine an exciting new era of college education, and this state-of-the-art campus is testament to that."