NEWS – July 21, 2009
“Pipes” Proceeds Establish New Scottish Harp Scholarship
The Clan Currie Society, based in Summit, New Jersey, has launched an annual clarsach scholarship in the name of the Society’s late founder Colonel 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.
Stage and screen star Alan Cumming, who was recently appointed president of the Academy’s American Foundation, had high praise for the Clan. He said: “I am delighted Clan Currie has given what I hope is the first of many gifts from the US to benefit the Academy and its students.
Alan Cumming OBE
“And how appropriate in this year of the Homecoming for the Clan Currie to ensure that the future of Scottish culture is safer with this generous scholarship.”
Academy Principal Professor John Wallace said: “More and more of our young students travel to Scotland from America to study with us and I am delighted the Clan Currie Society has chosen to set up this significant scholarship in memory of its founder member.”
The Society is marking its 50th anniversary this year.
Richard Findlay, chairman of the RSAMD Foundation said he hoped the scholarship would encourage more musicians to consider the Academy’s degree course.