September 15, 2002

Blandford Pipe Band To Make Debut At Pipes Of Christmas

SUMMIT, NJ – A holiday favorite, The Pipes of Christmas, returns to Central New Jersey this year by popular demand. Produced by Summit’s Clan Currie Society, through the generous support of The Classic Malts of Scotland, the popular Celtic Christmas concert will be held on Saturday December 21 at Central Presbyterian Church in Summit. Two concerts will be performed at 2:00 and 8:00 PM. The program will feature Scottish and Irish bagpipers and other guest musicians performing everyone’s favorite holiday selections accompanied by a selection of readings taken from Celtic literature and Scripture.

New for 2002 will be a performance by the R.P. Blandford and Sons Pipe Band under the direction of Pipe Major Kevin Blandford. Formed in 1986, the band was originally sponsored by the R.P. Blandford & Son Scottish Import business in Redlands, California. Starting out as a small group of twelve, the Band now has two competitive bands competing in Grades 4 and 5 of the Western United States Pipe Band Association.

The Band has competed or performed throughout the Western United States and Canada to great acclaim winning four Championships. In 2000, the band competed for the first time in the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow, Scotland placing second in their category. Earlier this year, the Band returned to Scotland and the World Championship placing first in the category of Dress and Deportment.

The Band performs under the leadership of Pipe Major Kevin Blandford, who has been a featured soloist at past “Pipes of Christmas” concerts over the past three years. The Band draws its members from throughout the “Inland Empire” region of Southern California and from as far away as San Diego to the South and San Francisco to the North. The Band is outfitted in the Canadian Provincial Tartan of British Columbia.

The R.P. Blandford & Sons Pipe Band joins an already stellar company of performers including New York City and Metropolitan Opera star, Mark Delavan, Irish Uilleann piper Brian Holleran, three-time New England fiddle champion Paul Woodiel, composer/pianist Jeffrey H. Rickard, and the Solid Brass ensemble.

Seating is limited and tickets will only be sold in advance of the concert. No tickets will be sold at the door. All seats are priced at $20.

To purchase tickets, send payment, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to The Clan Currie Society, P.O. Box 541, Summit, NJ 07902-0541. Specify matinee or evening performance. For further information call (908) 273-3509 or e-mail the Society at clancurrie@mail.com.

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Founded in 1992, the Clan Currie Society is a non-profit organization, which promotes awareness and understanding of the history and contributions of the Clan Currie and Scottish history and culture.

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clancurrie@mail.com
P.O. Box 541, Summit, NJ 07902-0541
(phone) 908- 273-3509, (fax) 908-273-4342