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Special Guests Announced for 5th Annual "Pipes of Christmas” Concert
The Pipes of Christmas, Clan Currie’s popular holiday concert returns to Summit on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003 at Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, NJ. Given the extraordinary demand for tickets, performances will be held at 2:00 and 8:00 PM. Once again, this program is made possible through the generous support of The Classic Malts of Scotland. The program will feature the music of Christmas accompanied by a selection of readings taken from Celtic literature and Scripture. Featured performers include Metropolitan Opera star Mark Delavan, Celtic fiddler Paul Woodiel, the R.P. Blandford & Son Pipe Band, and the Solid Brass ensemble. Also returning will be Jeff Rickard and Susie Petrov on organ and piano and Readers, Susan Currie, Fred Clark, and Evan Thompson Cattanach. According to Society president Robert Currie, “The concert, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2003, is our most ambitious production to date. To help us celebrate our anniversary, we’ve added a number of special guest performers that, when combined together with the beautiful setting at Central Presbyterian Church, will make this year’s concert the premiere instrumental and choral event of the season.” Joining Clan Currie’s regular company of outstanding performers will be the renowned New Jersey Youth Chorus, under the direction of Trish Joyce. Also joining the company in 2003 will be Irish tenor Tom Roche of the Boheme Opera Company of Trenton, uilleann piper Christopher Layer of the Trinity Irish Dance Company of Chicago, and Celtic harpist Jennifer Port direct from Scotland. Since making its debut in 1999, The Pipes of Christmas has played to standing room only audiences. Given the popularity of the program, a second concert was added in 2001 to accommodate the high-demand for tickets.
That same year, Clan Currie began an award-winning partnership with TV-36, Communities On Cable, by broadcasting concert highlights on Christmas Eve. The last two productions were both recipients of the prestigious Telly Award for production excellence. The concert has provided audiences with a stirring and reverent celebration of the Christmas season and the Celtic spirit. Audience-goers return year after year to experience the program, many reporting that the Pipes of Christmas has become part of their family’s annual Christmas tradition. For that reason, the concert is kept fresh each year with new selections and performances. While steeped in Christmas tradition, the program also strives to remain relevant to the world around us. The 2001 edition was dedicated to the memory of all who perished in the attacks on September 11. A new pipe selection, “Lament for the Lost” was composed and performed especially for the concert. The 2002 concert was designated an official Golden Jubilee event by Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s Accession to the Throne. That same year, Pipe Major Blandford also premiered a pipe solo commissioned by Clan Currie in memory of the late Queen Mother who had died earlier that year. In a letter to the Clan Currie Society, U.S. Congressman Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) commented, “This organization has shown the ability to truly touch the world.”
Over the last five years, The Pipes of Christmas has also received critical acclaim. In his review for Classical New Jersey, a magazine produced for the classical music community of New Jersey, critic Paul Somers wrote, “The whole evening was constructed to introduce gem after gem and still have a finale which raised the roof. In short, it was like a well constructed fireworks show on the Glorious Fourth. David Palladino, music editor of The Westfield Leader described the concert as “a unique sound of power and glory nowhere else to be found.” 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 $25.00 ($20.00 if purchased before November 15, 2003). To purchase tickets, send payment (specifying matinee or evening performance) and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to The Clan Currie Society, P.O. Box 541, Summit, NJ 07902-0541. Tickets may also be purchased in downtown Summit at specialty menswear retailer, John Hyatt, located at 334 Springfield Avenue. Tickets are also now available for Clan Currie’s third annual Burns Supper. The dinner dance, commemorating the life and contributions of Scotland’s immortal bard, will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at the Grand Summit Hotel. For further information on these events, call (908) 273-3509 or e-mail the Society at clancurrie@mail.com.
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