Our Program

The Pipes of Christmas affords a rare opportunity to honor the Sacred and celebrate the holiday season in a reverent, joyful style that found its genesis among our Celtic ancestors.

Now celebrating its 26th year, the Pipes of Christmas brings together musicians, soloists, and performers from across America and the UK for a stirring celebration of the Christmas season and the Celtic spirit. The concert is hosted by the Learned Kindred of Currie, a non-profit cultural and educational organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting Celtic heritage and the arts. 

Each performance includes two Acts, with a 15-minute intermission. Much of the program features traditional music, including long-forgotten Scottish, Irish, and Welsh carols, stories and poems told and sung in English, Gaelic, and old Scots. In addition to the much-loved classics of our heritage, the Pipes of Christmas also commissions and presents new works to celebrate more recent contributions to our cultural legacy.

Boston

December 12, 2024 – 7:30pm

Old South Church,  645 Boylston Street

The Pipes of Christmas is proud to announce its first-ever performance in Boston, marking a major milestone in the concert’s 26-year history.

The Boston concert will be held in loving memory of Brian O’Donovan, who hosted the beloved Christmas performance “A Celtic Sojourn” for Boston audiences for more than 20 years. 

Boston has long celebrated its Irish and Scottish roots through music, culture, and community, and Brian was a veritable institution in this endeavor. While we can never replace the ‘Celtic Sojourn’ experience, we honor Brian’s legacy and love of Celtic traditions through our Boston performance. We are thrilled to join this vibrant tradition by bringing the Pipes of Christmas’ unique blend of music and storytelling to the city.

We are honored to have the support and assistance of Brian’s widow, Lindsay O‘Donovan, in making this performance. Ms. O’Donovan serves as the Honorary Chair for the Boston concert.

Brady Brim-DeForest 

Founding Patron of the Boston Production

Brady Brim-DeForest of Balvaird Castle, FRGS, FRSA is an author, historian, heraldist, antiquarian and patron of the heraldic arts. He is founder of Palfrey Press, a boutique publishing house specialising in oft overlooked corners of the histories and arts. He was recently named Patron of the 36th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences, to be held in Boston in 2024.

He holds the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh and the Freedom of the City of London. He is a Life Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Life Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

He is a Life Member of the Society of Court Studies, a Life Member of the Society of Archer Antiquaries, a member of the American Institute of Archaeology, and a member of the World Archaeology Congress. His career includes roles as chief executive of several notable technology and media companies.

As the Boston production’s Founding Patron, Brady’s enthusiastic support made it possible to bring the Pipes of Christmas to Boston for the first time. We thank him for his generosity and patronage!

"I am a long-time supporter of Pipes of Christmas. It is one of the grand events of the holiday season and Christmas would not be the same without it. Thank you Robert for all your efforts."

- John Odin, GoFundMe 2023

"A Holiday Feast for the Ears"

- Times Square Chronicles

"The Pipes of Christmas is the very definition of Christmas for me. It stirs the heart and the soul, and that feeling lasts the whole year afterwards."

- Jeffrey Banks, GoFundMe 2023

"I had the great pleasure of witnessing the Pipes of Christmas for the first time last night in Summit. Thanks to yourself and Steve Gibb for such a wonderful and prayerful and resounding introduction to the Christmas week. The show was full of gems. Thanks to all who entertained us so well."

- Arthur Hynes, 2023

"Thank you so much for making the concert available through Eventbrite! So beautiful! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."

- Mary Perry, Facebook

New York City & Summit

December 14 & 15, 2024

The birthplace of the Pipes of Christmas

The New York metropolitan area has been home to The Pipes of Christmas since its inaugural performance in 1999. Founded by the Learned Kindred of Currie, the concert was conceived as a way to celebrate Celtic Christmas traditions while supporting cultural preservation and education in the Scottish arts. In addition to presenting traditional Christmas carols, the organizers commission new works as a way of supporting the artistic community and continuing a vibrant musical heritage. It has a long tradition of showcasing Celtic performers from across the US and UK, many of whom return each year.

Over twenty-six years, these performances have become a beloved event that plays to standing-room-only audiences in both New York City and Summit, New Jersey. The concert is an essential part of many families’ Christmas tradition, bringing them back year over year. As one concert-goer told us, “It’s not Christmas until I’ve heard the Pipes!”

The Company

The event also offers a platform to musicians and performers specializing in the Gaelic tradition. Past artists have included Braveheart actor James Robinson (London, UK); Gaelic Mod Champion harpist Jennifer Port (Golspie, Scotland); fiddle champion Paul Woodiel (Maplewood, NJ); the Solid Brass Ensemble (New York); guitarist and composer Steve Gibb (Inverness, Scotland); and the Kevin Ray Blandford Memorial Pipe Band (Redlands, CA), which was named in honor of the late co-founder of The Pipes of Christmas. 

Reader

Brady Brim-DeForest (Boston)
James Robinson

Narrator

Susan Porterfield Currie

Musicians

Rachel Clemente – harp
Steve Gibb – guitar
Sarah Hewitt-Roth – cello
Lauren Roberts (Boston) – cello
Madelyn Monaghan – vocal soloist
William Peek – organ
Chris Ranney – piano
Mark Verdino – bass
Caitlin Warbelow – fiddle
The B-Line Brass C.J. Waldrop, director (Boston)
The Solid Brass Ensemble – Doug Haislip, director

&
Commonwealth Pipes & Drums
Adam Holdaway, Pipe Major (Boston)
St. Columcille United Pipes & Drums – Cameron MacDougall, Pipe Major

Musical Director

Steve Gibb

Executive Producer
Robert Currie
Musical Director Emeritus
Jeff Rickard
Stage Manager
Pam McCaddin
House Managers

Matt Sinclair
Maureen Sinclair
John Worley
Michael Currie
Laura Sawyer Messing

Graphic & Web Designer
Melana Currie
Brand & Marketing Strategist
Kristen VanderHoek
Social Media Strategist
Andrea Lewis
Heard Strategy

Jake Messier

Reader

Brady Brim-DeForest (Boston)
James Robinson

Narrator

Susan Porterfield Currie

Musicians

Rachel Clemente – harp
Steve Gibb – guitar
Sarah Hewitt-Roth – cello
Lauren Roberts (Boston) – cello
Madelyn Monaghan – vocal soloist
William Peek – organ
Chris Ranney – piano
Mark Verdino – bass
Caitlin Warbelow – fiddle
The B-Line Brass C.J. Waldrop, director (Boston)
The Solid Brass Ensemble – Doug Haislip, director
&
Commonwealth Pipes & Drums Adam Holdaway, Pipe Major (Boston)
St. Columcille United Pipes & Drums – Cameron MacDougall, Pipe Major

Musical Director

Steve Gibb

Executive Producer
Robert Currie
Musical Director Emeritus
Jeff Rickard
Stage Manager
Pam McCaddin
House Managers

Matt Sinclair
Maureen Sinclair
John Worley
Michael Currie
Laura Sawyer Messing

Graphic & Web Designer
Melana Currie
Brand & Marketing Strategist
Kristen VanderHoek
Social Media Strategist
Andrea Lewis
Heard Strategy

Jake Messier

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Thank you to our sponsors:

And to all our supporters

Hosting the Pipes of Christmas each year is a massive undertaking that includes significant upfront production costs. Your support allows us to cover our costs and reinvest as much of the concert’s proceeds as possible into our programming and outreach.

All donors who give over $300 will also receive recognition by name as Pipes of Christmas Patrons on our email newsletters, digital programs, and global webcast.

Our Patrons

Glenorchy Campbell

Adrianne Simeone

Gene Schaefer

John Hover

Mary Ann Moore

John Odin

Richard & Joanna Hahn

A very special thank you to our Founding Patron of our Boston concert, Brady Brim-DeForest of Balvaird Castle, for his generous support!