NEWS – June 23, 2010
The Pipes of Christmas and HomeTowne Television Share
National Awards for Video Production Excellence
For the fifth time, the Clan Currie Society, producers of the Pipes of Christmas and Hometowne Television (HTTV) have demonstrated their broadcasting prominence by being named as recipients of two Telly Awards for television production excellence.
The program recognized was the televised highlights of the 2009 concert which aired over the Christmas holiday last December. The annual holiday program features Scottish and Irish Christmas carols and readings from Scripture and Celtic literature. Filmed at Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, NJ, the hour-long program was produced in cooperation with Summit’s HTTV.
Commenting on the award, Fred Honold, Board President of HTTV said, “We congratulate the Clan Currie Society on receiving the prestigious Telly Award for the 2009 performance of the Pipes of Christmas that was aired on your Neighborhood Network via Comcast TV-36 and Verizon 33. This special and unique program is a real treat for our viewers and we are very pleased that this programming has brought national recognition to our station.”
Another Telly Award win for the Clan Currie Society
Robert Currie, executive producer of the Pipes of Christmas, was thrilled by the news. “Televising the sold-out concert over HTTV has become a tradition in itself,” he said. “We think of the concert as our Christmas gift to the people of Summit and the surrounding communities, this recognition is a wonderful thank you.”
Currie continued, “The team at HomeTowne Television, led by director Jesse Patterson continues to create quality broadcasting and I’m so pleased that their efforts have been recognized by their peers. It’s almost impossible to capture on video the energy and emotion of the Pipes of Christmas, but the team’s work is inspired. Clan Currie is also grateful to all of our sponsors who help us with our holiday program. Our thanks in particular go to our long-standing sponsor, The Grand Summit Hotel for their generous support.”
From the bold sounds of the bagpipes and the harmonious blending of brass, strings and percussion, to the poetic and lyrical words that complement them, the Pipes of Christmas is a festival for the soul. Audience-goers return year after year to experience the program, many reporting that the Pipes of Christmas has become part of their family’s annual Christmas tradition.
Proceeds from the concerts support the Society’s music scholarship program which benefits students in the United States, Canada and Scotland. Commenting on Clan Currie’s scholarship program, Scots born stage and screen star and Honorary Chairman of the 2009 concert, Alan Cumming stated, “How appropriate that Clan Currie, with a strong and distinguished history of poets and musicians should ensure that the future of Scottish culture is safer with these generous scholarships.”
Over the years, the concert has received critical acclaim. Classical New Jersey Magazine said of the concert, “The whole evening was constructed to introduce gem after gem and still have a finale which raised the roof. In short, it was like a well constructed fireworks show on the Glorious Fourth.” The Westfield (NJ) Leader described the concert as “a unique sound of power and glory nowhere else to be found.”
Since debuting in 1999, The Pipes of Christmas has played to standing room only audiences. In 2006, the concert made its NYC debut at the beautiful Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church where it continues to enjoy sold out performances each year.
The Pipes of Christmas returns for its twelfth anniversary year on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Central Presbyterian Church in Summit and Sunday, December 19, 2010 at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Patron tickets will go on sale in late summer. General admission tickets sales will commence in the Fall. For further information call (908) 273-3509.
About the Telly Awards
Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and web commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. The Telly has become one of the most sought-after awards in the TV, commercial, and video industry.
This year over 10,000 videos were entered for the Telly Awards from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entries do not compete against each other. Rather, they compete against a standard of excellence. Judges are comprised of a panel of producers from network television, production companies, and corporate video departments.
A Brief History of HomeTowne Television
HTTV began its life as Communities on Cable, Inc., a non-profit corporation, in September 1980 as a public access channel with two black and white cameras and minimal other equipment. The fledging local access station served a five town area consisting of Berkeley Heights, New Providence, Millburn/Short Hills, Springfield and Summit. The station began using the name “TV-36” because it could be found on cable channel 36 on Suburban Cablevision.
TV-36 programming grew and evolved over time. Early programming included two local news “magazine” shows. Gradually, programming grew to encompass a variety of shows that appealed to a widely diverse audience in the five town area.
Suburban Cablevision eventually became Comcast Cablevision of New Jersey. In 2008 a second provider, Verizon, began wiring homes in the five town area. Shortly thereafter, HTTV was also airing in municipalities outside the original five towns.
Today, HomeTowne Television broadcasts via Comcast channel 36 to Summit, Millburn/Short Hills, Berkeley Heights, Springfield, and New Providence; and via Verizon channel 33 to the same five towns plus parts of Chatham, Cranford, Florham Park, Kenilworth, Maplewood, West Orange and Union. The total population of the towns now served by HTTV is substantial: Over a quarter million people living in almost 100,000 households.