The Pipes of Christmas will celebrate its 24th joyous season with performances in New Jersey and New York this December. The holiday favorite opens on Saturday, December 17 at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, located at 921 Madison Avenue (at 73rd Street) for two performances at 2 and 7PM. The concert moves across the Hudson River on Sunday, December 18 to Central Presbyterian Church located at 70 Maple Street in Summit, NJ, also with performances at 2 and 7PM.
For those weary of the ceaseless stream of secular seasonal music from department stores to TV, the Pipes of Christmas offers a spiritual and traditional take on the season that connects concertgoers to the holiday in a fresh, meaningful way. The show features tunes such as, “Highland Cathedral,” “Joy to the World”, and “Amazing Grace”, all performed live on pipes and drums, harp and fiddle, organ, brass, and more. Not only does the performance define Christmas cheer, but also it inspires those of Celtic descent to retrace and reconnect to their ancestry.
According to producer Robert Currie, “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing our concert back to full force after two devastating years of weathering the Covid pandemic. Supporting our GoFundMe campaign will continue to make these concerts possible.”
The 2022 production marks the NYC solo debut of soprano Sharon Lyons, originally from Dublin, Ireland.
The concert presents the music of Christmas accompanied by readings taken from the Celtic literature of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. In addition to Ms. Lyons, featured performers include James Robinson from the film “Braveheart,” New England fiddle champion Paul Woodiel, champion harpist Rachel Clemente, and the Pipe Major Kevin Ray Blandford Memorial Pipe Band from Redlands, CA among many more.
Proceeds Support Scholarships and More
Proceeds from the concert support an extensive music scholarship program, which include annual gifts to the National Piping Centre and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (both located in Glasgow, Scotland), the Gaelic College of Nova Scotia, and the Carol Hassert Memorial Fine Arts Scholarship at Summit (NJ) High School.
Proceeds also support the annual Tartan Day on Ellis Island celebration, as well as the Society’s sponsorship of the US National Scottish Harp Championship, the Gaelic Literature Competition at Scotland’s Royal National Mod, and an academic research prize at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic college on the Isle of Skye.
Each year, concert highlights are webcast in hi-definition over the Christmas holiday to a global audience in cooperation with HomeTowne Television. In addition to winning multiple Telly Awards for broadcast production excellence, the 2020 virtual concert was a finalist for the coveted MG Alba Trad Music Award presented annually in Scotland.
Corporate sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available. Corporate sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available. These visibility offerings help offset production expenses and fund our scholarship program.
Tickets Available Now
Tickets are now available! To purchase, visit the Pipes of Christmas website and select the date and time of your choosing. Reserved patron seats are available at both venues.
About “The Pipes of Christmas”
Since making its debut in 1999, The Pipes of Christmas has played to standing-room-only audiences. Now a cherished holiday event, the concert provides audiences with a stirring and reverent celebration of the Christmas season and the Celtic spirit. 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.
The concert has been lavished with critical acclaim. In his review for Classical New Jersey Magazine, Paul Somers wrote, “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 Leader described the concert as “a unique sound of power and glory nowhere else to be found.”
Contact:
Bob Currie
[email protected]
(908) 858-6357