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Powerhouse Slate of Performers Set for Fifth Annual Burns Night Celebration Caledon and Local Hero to Headline
New Jersey will again join a long list of global destinations that will host celebratory dinners in tribute to the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns. While all will honor Burns, few of these destinations will be able to compete with Clan Currie’s stellar list of entertainers, led by Caledon (Scotland’s three celebrated tenors) and Local Hero (one of America’s premiere Scottish country dance trios). Hosted by the Clan Currie Society, the traditional Burns Supper will be held on Saturday evening, January 28, 2006 at the Grand Summit Hotel in Summit. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 7 PM followed by dinner, dancing and entertainment at 8:00 PM. Celebrated annually on, or about, the Bard's birthday, Burns Suppers traditionally adhere to a time-honored format, which includes the eating of a traditional Scottish meal, the drinking of Scotch whisky, and the recitation of works by, about, and in the spirit of the Bard. According to event chair Robert Currie, “We are absolutely delighted to be hosting our fifth annual dinner with the most stellar collection of entertainers and personalities in our history. I can’t think of a better way to liven up the otherwise gloomy month of January than with a rousing evening of food, drink, music and dance, all presented in the wonderful Scots tradition of a Burns Supper. ”
Direct from Scotland – Caledon Caledon - Scotland’s outstanding trio of tenors – is comprised of Alan Beck, Jamie MacDougall, and Ivan Sharpe. When joined with Musical Director Michael Barnett, there’s always a party. Caledon is equally at home whether inspiring the 55,000 soccer crowd at Scotland’s Hampden Park Arena with a stirring new version of “Flower of Scotland,” or on the stage of the world-famous Sydney Opera House, singing to a packed auditorium of music lovers. Scottish First Minister, The Right Honorable Jack McConnell MSP said of the group, "Caledon have brought our traditional music into the 21st century, and their unique vocal style and modern interpretation of Scots classics have brought them fans from across the globe. They are great ambassadors for modern Scotland." Having recently completed sell-out tours of North America, Australia and New Zealand, Scotland's “three divine voices” (Edinburgh Evening News) returned home last summer to perform at the Edinburgh Festival. Accompanied by the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, "On a Beautiful Scottish Evening" was filmed beneath the magnificent backdrop of a floodlit Edinburgh Castle. The recording, containing Caledon's wonderful arrangements of great Scottish classics like Loch Lomond; My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose; and Auld Lang Syne, has recently been released on DVD, Video and CD. In addition, “Scottish Evening” is currently airing on US Public Television (PBS) television stations to great acclaim. The program made its broadcast debut in October 2005 to over 7,000,000 viewers and is now scheduled to appear on an additional 150 PBS stations. A second PBS special is now in the planning and initial meetings with the network have proved very productive. "The Power and the Passion," Caledon's exciting new album of powerfully emotive Scots Song, recorded with a full symphony orchestra was released last October from R.E.L. Records. To learn more about this dynamic musical force, visit www.caledonmusic.com.
Local Hero Makes a Triumphant Return Favorites from the “Pipes of Christmas” and making their Burns Night debut in 2005, Local Hero features fiddler Paul Woodiel, pianist Susie Petrov, and flutist/piper, Christopher Layer. All three possess impressive musical credits. Leonard Bernstein described Paul Woodiel as "a first-class performer, one who combines spirituality with intellect". A versatile purveyor of a wide array of styles associated with his instrument, he is a three-time champion of the New England Fiddle Contest who is taking time off from his duties as Concert Master for the Broadway musical, “The Color Purple” to play for Burns Night. Currently, Paul is featured extensively on Private Astronomy, a new album of Bix Beiderbecke's music conceived by Geoff Muldaur, and available on Deutsche Grammophon, scheduled for touring performances in Europe the spring of 2006. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Christopher Layer plays the Irish ‘Uilleann’ Pipes, Simple System Wood Flutes, Pennywhistle, Scottish Highland Bagpipes and Scottish Small Pipes, Bassoon, Electric and String Basses. Layer’s authentic grasp of traditional music comes from his childhood experiences in his home where music making and was a family affair. His classical skills where honed at The Hargreaves School of Music at Ball State University, Muncie Indiana, and the prestigious Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington. His orchestral appearances include: The National Symphony (Kennedy Center), The Pittsburgh Symphony, The St. Louis Symphony, and The Baltimore Symphony, among many others. Since 1996 he has been the principal pipe soloist and flautist for the Trinity Irish Dance Company of “Riverdance” fame. He has appeared at the Moab Music Festival, the Aspen Summer Music Festival, the Bard Chamber Music Festival, The Bard Music Festival at Lincoln Center, the Indiana Fiddler’s Gathering, and the New World Festival and numerous dance and music festivals in Asia, Europe, and North America.
Susie Petrov stumbled upon Scottish music when she discovered Scottish Country dancing as a teenager. While working on her Bachelor's Degree in piano performance at the Peabody Conservatory, Susie began to research and play traditional Scottish tunes. Her work as a dance pianist has taken her across the USA and Canada and on to Scotland and Europe. In 1988, Susie released her solo recording, "Hold the Lass" and started her own ensemble Local Hero with Paul Woodiel. Christopher Layer joined them in the early 1990's. They have performed for concerts, dances and festivals in the eastern USA, Canada and in the north of Scotland. They released their debut recording "Peace and Plenty" in 1996. Susie's latest publication is a collection of Scottish music, which she researched while teaching at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Whisky Legend Evan Cattanach to Lead the Scotch Tasting Evan Thomson Cattanach, one of the great men of the whisky trade will guide guests through the tasting of two classic single malt scotches; Talisker and Cragganmore. A native of Kingussie, Scotland, Cattanach began his career with single malt whisky in 1961 with the Scottish Malt Distillers - the production arm of Johnnie Walker. He spent the next 33 years managing the production of single malt whisky. He worked in all four of Scotland's whisky-producing regions at 15 different distilleries. During his career, Evan has worked at some of the most revered distilleries in Scotland.
Today Evan is one of trade’s superstars, who regularly travels the globe as an ambassador for the industry. Evan was named a “Keeper of the Quaich” in 1993 by the whisky trade society of the same name. In recognition of his service to the industry, he was recently elevated to the position of “Master Keeper of the Quaich” in April of 2005 in a ceremony at Blair Castle in Scotland. One of the highlights of the evening will be Evan’s dramatic delivery of Burns’ “Address to a Haggis,” an integral part of every Burns Supper. Rounding out the already impressive list of performers and entertainers are Ronnie Stewart and Ken Hoare from Catskill, New York. A skilled fiddler and storyteller, Ronnie is a regular Clan Currie favorite at both the Burns Night and “Pipes of Christmas” programs. Pipe Major David Palladino will lead a corps of pipers and drummers from West Milford High School. A Centuries Old Tradition The history of the Burns Supper goes back to the poet’s birthplace of Alloway, Scotland where, five years after his death in 1796, nine of his friends gathered in a cottage to pay tribute to his memory. They continued to meet annually at various times of the year until Burn’s official biographer had established the correct date of his birth. It was not long before the practice of meeting on this date was being observed throughout Scotland. The basic format for the evening has remained unchanged since that time and begins when the host invites the company to receive the haggis, which is piped into the ballroom with great fanfare and then presented to the audience via the reading of Burns’ classic ode to Scotland’s native dish. The haggis will again be provided by one of New Jersey’s finest purveyors of Scots delicacies, Stewart’s of Kearny.
In addition to the haggis, which is accompanied by neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes), the evening’s menu, or Bill O’ Fare as it is better known, includes Cock-A-Leekie Soup, and an entrée choice of Roast Beef or Salmon. Dinner guests will also enjoy Walkers Shortbread and Scotch Trifle for dessert. The cost for the Burns Supper is $100 per person, which includes a five-course meal, whisky tasting, and Scottish entertainment. Clan Currie has also assembled a stunning array of Silent Auction and raffle prizes. A cash bar is available for beer, wine, or soda. Complimentary tastings of Dewar’s 12 scotch whisky will be served during the cocktail hour. The Grand Summit Hotel is also offering a block of rooms at a special discount rate for dinner guests, for further information contact The Grand Summit Hotel at 908-273-3000. Reservation forms can be downloaded at: <Ticket Order Form> Dinner reservations may also be made by mailing a check made payable to The Clan Currie Society, specifying the entrée selection of salmon or roast beef, along with a name, address, and phone number, to: The Clan Currie Society, P.O. Box 541, Summit, NJ 07902-0541. For further information, contact the Society at 908-273-3509 or visit their website at www.clancurrie.com. Click Here to Preview Silent Auction and Raffle Prizes
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