News – Nov. 15, 2010
Jessica Burton Receives the 2010 Col. William McMurdo Currie Memorial Scholarship for the Clarsach
Jessica Burton, a student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow has been selected to receive the annual Col. William McMurdo Currie Memorial Scholarship for the Clarsach.
Jessica Burton is the 2010 recipient of Clan Currie’s clarsach scholarship.
The scholarship, sponsored by the Clan Currie Society, was launched in 2009 as part of Scotland’s Homecoming initiative at a public reception at the Glasgow City Chambers. The scholarship is named for the founder of the Clan Currie Society (est’d 1959). Col. William McMurdo Currie.
The clarsach is a small harp and all students studying it as part of the Glasgow-based Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama’s Scottish traditional music degree program will be eligible to apply.
About Jessica Burton
Jessica Burton started playing the clarsach at the age of 11 and was taught for several years by harp maker Mark Shiner as well as attending the Edinburgh Harp Festival and receiving tuition from Isobel Mieras, Patsy Seddon and Corrina Hewat among others. Whilst at school she was a member of school fiddle group Hadhirgaan which is led by Douglas Montgomery, a huge inspiration, and the group played at many notable events including The Scots Trad Music Awards, Celtic Connections, Fiddle 2006 and has also toured Canada.
RSAMD’s new album – The Future of Our Past
She received a place on the Scottish Music Course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2008 where she continues her studies of the clarsach under the tuition of Wendy Stewart and Hannah Phillips. Jessica has performed along with her year group for HRH Prince Charles, at Celtic Connections, and alongside The Finlay MacDonald Band.
Jessica can also be heard on the Scottish Music course’s recent album release “The Future of Our Past”. The album is a mixture of music and songs by students on the Scottish Music courses of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
About Col. William McMurdo Currie (1916 – 1992)
The son of John Currie of Balilone and Helen Currie [nee McMurdo], Col. William McMurdo Currie led an illustrious life, highlighted by a distinguished military service during the Second World War and a lifelong commitment to sharing his extensive knowledge of the Clan Currie, anciently the Clan MacMhuirich.
Col. William McMurdo Currie – Founder of the Clan Currie Society
He was raised in Glasgow and attended the Royal College of Science and Technology, as well as the Glasgow Art School. In 1939 he joined the British Special Services. Cited for numerous acts of bravery, Sir William was recipient of a host of military honors including among others the Tunisian Order of Glory [1943], the Polish Virtuti Militari [1944] and the Croix de Guerre de Allies [1945].
In 1959, a Bond of Manrent (Bond of Allegiance), signed by over 400 West Highland members of Clan Currie, was presented to Col. Currie. This action combined with his formation of the first Clan Currie Society in Glasgow also in 1959, were the first steps towards igniting an interest in reconnecting the far flung members of the worldwide Clan Currie.
Col. William McMurdo Currie
An avid historian, author, and genealogist, he was a Fellow of the Royal Celtic Society and the Society of Antiquitaries of Scotland. His publications included A History of the Curries of Cowal [1973], With Sword and Harp – The History of the Clan Currie [1977], and An Historical Description of Loch Lomond and District [1979].
The Clan Currie Society announces their new clarsach scholarship
Clan Currie Society president Robert Currie (left) is joined by the Rt. Hon. Bob Winter, Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow, to announce the establishment of the Col. William McMurdo Currie Memorial Scholarship for the Clarsach in July 2009.