The 2011 Edition of The Pipes of Christmas

The Pipes of Christmas will celebrate its thirteenth season with performances in New York and New Jersey this December. The holiday favorite, produced by the Clan Currie Society, opens on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 8PM at Central Presbyterian Church located at 70 Maple Street in Summit, NJ. The "Pipes" will also return to its New York City home at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, located at 921 Madison Avenue (at 73rd Street) on Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, 2011 at 2:00 PM.

The concert presents the music of Christmas accompanied by readings taken from the Celtic literature of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Featured performers include Andrew Weir from the film "Braveheart," fiddle champion Paul Woodiel, "Riverdance" piper Christopher Layer, Gaelic Mod champion harpist Jennifer Port of Golspie, Scotland, and the Pipe Major Kevin Ray Blandford Memorial Pipe Band of Redlands, CA.

Proceeds from the concerts support a growing music scholarship program which includes annual gifts to the National Piping Centre and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (both located in Glasgow,) the Gaelic College of Nova Scotia and Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas.

Named one of New York City's "Top Ten" holiday events, the 2011 concerts are made possible by generous gifts from Oban Single Malt Scotch Whisky -- part of the Classic Malts of Scotland, the Grand Summit Hotel, Rodney Strong Wines, Walkers Shortbread and the Hat Tavern Restaurant.

The "Pipes" concerts began -- and are still performed -- in Summit, NJ. Summit is a Wall Street commuter town that -- like many other such communities -- suffered far too many losses on 9/11. As Christmas approached that year, the producers struggled with how to remember that terrible day in a way that was both appropriate and respectful. Their decision was to commission a new pipe selection entitled, "Lament for the Lost" - a powerful piece of music made all the more poignant when performed on the bagpipes - the instrument played at so many post 9/11 funerals for fire, police and rescue workers.

For 2011, the concert will also feature a moment of remembrance for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. "Lament for the Lost" will be performed by Pipe Major Scott Larson. Immediately following, the concert will segue into another beautiful piece of Scottish music with strong 9/11 ties.

"Angels from the Ashes," composed by Blair Douglas, formerly of the popular Scottish band Runrig. Douglas wrote and recorded the piece as a fundraising vehicle for Glasgow -- The Caring City (GTCC) to help them raise funds to send care teams to work with the children of the NYC Fire Department and Port Authority Police officers who lost their lives on 9/11. In subsequent years, the continued success of this effort has meant that children and mothers of the departed have had the opportunity to enjoy holidays in Scotland as guests of GTCC.

Pipers from the New York Police, Fire and Port Authority pipe bands have been invited to perform with the company. A portion of the proceeds from the concerts will be donated to the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

Tickets Available Now

General admission tickets start at $50 and are available via mail order. A downloadable ticket order form can be found on the concert's website at www.pipesofchristmas.com. Tickets for the NY concert may also be purchased online at www.smarttix.com or by phone at (212) 868-4444. Premium VIP seats are available at both venues through membership in the "Friends of the Pipes of Christmas."

Category:

Entertainment

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• Pipes of Christmas
• Clan Currie
• Christmas
• Celtic
• Scottish
• Irish
• Welsh
• Scotland
• Ireland
• Wales
• kilt
• bagpipe
• Runrig
• September 11
• 9/11
• clarsach
• MacMhuirich
• fiddle
• uilleann
• Solid Brass
• Braveheart
• Christmas Pipes
• tartan
• Blandford
• Oban
• scholarship

[finnbarrhagan]

im an ulster scotts presbyterian covenanted highland piper, im stuck on the hills of exmore in probably the last outpost of the british empire, i play all the tunes and hymns you do, i wish i was with you there, it gets lonley here. your brother in christ, finnhagan, west of england christian militia, kings 42nd highlanders... maranatha...