Music student overcame brain tumour to collect degree at Aberdeen

A YOUNG Scottish pianist who had to learn to play with just his left hand after a tumour paralysed his right side collected his degree at Aberdeen University yesterday.

During Paul Murray’s first year at university in 2007 he began to experience crippling headaches and when he 
returned to his home city of Glasgow for a hospital appointment he was quickly referred to a neurologist.

He was then told he was
 suffering from a massive brain tumour and would need 
immediate surgery. In total, he had four brain operations, followed by a long period of rehabilitation where he had to learn how to walk and talk again.

Mr Murray said graduating yesterday was “by far the happiest day of my life”.

“I’m over the moon to finally get my degree,” he said. “When I was outside the graduation hall I was just thinking about how much has happened to me over the last five years, all the things I’ve had to bounce back from.”

The 21-year-old has now secured a place on Aberdeen University’s masters course in composition where he will work closely with Professor Mealor, who shot to fame last year after his music featured at the Royal wedding and he wrote a number one hit for the Military Wives Choir.