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Clan Currie Readies Seventh Annual Burns Night Celebration "Pipes" Favorites Local Hero to Perform Whisky "Legend" Evan Cattanach to Present the Classic Malts of Scotland As a poet of the people, Robert Burns would have enjoyed that his life is remembered annually with good poetry, good drink and good company. Clan Currie certainly plans to have all three in abundance at their seventh annual Burns Night celebration. The Society's annual observance of the Burns' birthday will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at the Grand Summit Hotel in Summit, NJ. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 7 PM followed by dinner and entertainment at 8:00 PM. According to event chair Robert Currie, "We are absolutely delighted to be hosting our seventh annual dinner with such a terrific array of performers. 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." Celebrated annually on, or about, Burns's birthday on January 25th, 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.
Whisky Legend Evan Cattanach to Lead the Scotch Tasting Evan Thomson Cattanach, one of the great men of the Scotch Whisky trade will deliver Burns' "Address to the Haggis" and guide guests through the Classic Malts of Scotland whisky tastings. A native of Kingussie, Scotland, Cattanach began his career with single malt whisky in 1961. 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. Evan is also one of the featured Readers at the Pipes of Christmas concerts. The five Classic Malts to be sampled and enjoyed are - Talisker (10-Year-Old), Clynelish (14-Year-Old), Caol Ila (12-Year-Old), Cragganmore (12-Year-Old), and Dalwhinnie (15-Year-Old).
Local Hero Makes a Triumphant Return 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. 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. 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. 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.
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, Dr. James Currie, 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 the area'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, haggis, and an entrée choice of Roast Beef or Salmon and Walkers Shortbread and Scotch Trifle for dessert. Complimentary tastings of Dewar's 12 scotch whisky will be served during the cocktail hour.
Reserve Your Table Today The cost for the Burns Supper is $100 per person, which includes a five-course meal, whisky tasting featuring the Classic Malts of Scotland, and Scottish entertainment. A Silent Auction, featuring an array of Scots-themed items, will help support the Society's new Scholarship Program. Click here to get a sneak preview at some of the many auction items available. Dinner reservations may 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. Download Reservation form The Grand Summit Hotel has also set aside a block of rooms for Burns Supper guests at the reduced rate of $125 single or double occupancy. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel at (908) 273-3000 and requesting the Clan Currie Burns Supper special rate.
Click here for a Photo Gallery of the 2007 Dinner
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