A Loss to the Scots Community
SNIM is grieved to learn that Mary Hill, wife of Peter, both of whom have been involved in the Scots community in Minnesota, has passed away. Mary and Peter were at the Ramble and were looking forward to the Fair in May. Our condolences to the family and friends..
Volunteers Needed!!
We need helpers for the Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games on Saturday 9th May, 2009 from as early as 7am to 6pm in the Tea Room and from 9am to 5:30pm in the Family Tent helping the kiddies with a craft and monitoring outdoor games.
We will need minimum of 5 people serving in the Tea Room and 4 people in the Family Tent throughout the day. Sign up as an individual, a couple or a family.
You can sign up to help out for as little as one hour or all day if you like!! We are able to offer you free admission to the Fair for a 4 hour commitment.
It’s a lot of fun helping out. It’s a great way to meet lots of people and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you contributed to a great Scottish event.
If you are interested in either station please email Jennifer with your preference and desired time at GlasgowGirl@q.com
We will need minimum of 5 people serving in the Tea Room and 4 people in the Family Tent throughout the day. Sign up as an individual, a couple or a family.
You can sign up to help out for as little as one hour or all day if you like!! We are able to offer you free admission to the Fair for a 4 hour commitment.
It’s a lot of fun helping out. It’s a great way to meet lots of people and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you contributed to a great Scottish event.
If you are interested in either station please email Jennifer with your preference and desired time at GlasgowGirl@q.com
HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT
HIGHLAND HEARTBEAT
Centuries-old Tradition Meets Modern Music to Capture the Heart and Soul of Scotland in Song in New TV Special Starring Fiona Kennedy
Airs Thursday, May 14 at 8:30pm on tptLife
(Repeats on Friday, May 15 at 2:30am)
Preview video and more at wliw.org/highlandheartbeat
Singer/actress Fiona Kennedy, a member of Scotland’s leading theatrical family and well-known in North America as the host of “Tartan TV,” leads a group of singers brought together from a country-wide audition to represent a range of musical styles. Singers Jim Malcolm, Jillian Isbister, Maureen McMullan, Daisy Chute and Darren Maclean perform at the historic Theatre Royal in Glasgow backed by the Scottish Festival Orchestra. The men wear the traditional Scottish kilt, and the women wear modern designs that riff on traditional Scottish themes. Emmy Award-winning Scottish actor Brian Cox (“The Bourne Supremacy”) reads the works of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, with stunning footage of Scotland interspersed between songs. The concert was shot in high definition in August 2008.
HARP Competition
On May 9, 2009, the Scottish Harp Society of America (SHSA) will present the first annual Scottish harp competition at Minnesota Scottish Fair. Ann Heymann, master harper and SHSA ‘Distinguished Judge’, will judge the competition.
The goals of the Minnesota competition are to foster confidence in harp students and players of all levels, from early beginners to masters, in a friendly environment, as well as to encourage harpers to include Scottish music in their repertoire.
Every competitor will receive judge’s comments and a certificate of participation. We also plan to provide some awards for the winners. In order to encourage participation in the competition by as many harpers as possible, registration for the competition is free. This means we are completely dependent on sponsors for prizes and awards.
We would very much appreciate your support in this endeavor through your sponsorship or donation. Would your Clan be able to contribute an award for the first place winner in one of the competition categories? SHSA competitions offer five graded solo harp categories by skill level: Beginner, Novice, Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master; as well as five graded special categories: Early Scottish Music, Harp & Vocal, Harp & Spoken Word, Harp in Ensemble, and Emerging Forms. For more information on the requirements for these categories, please see the SHSA website.
Other, more general, awards are also possible. For example, one local clan has arranged to present a prize for Most Promising Harper. Other possibilities for general awards include Harper of the Day, or even Never Before Played the Harp!
We have arranged with one of the Fair vendors, Cindy Stephens, to design and create handmade framed awards for the first-place winners in the SHSA regular categories, at a cost of $50 each. If your Clan could sponsor the prize for an entire category, or even a portion of a prize, we would much appreciate it.
We hope to make the SHSA Scottish Harp Competition an annual feature of the Minnesota Scottish Fair, so this year, there is a unique opportunity to establish such a prize as an annual gift from your Clan, if you wish. As a sponsor, you will be recognized at the awards presentation for your generous contribution. In addition, a representative of your Clan will be invited to present the award at the awards ceremony.
If you are able to support the efforts of our competitors, please contact me by Wednesday, April 22 to make arrangements for your donation. Thank you!
Best regards,
Cindy Schaufenbuel, Chair
SHSA Harp Competition at Minnesota Scottish Fair 2009
18320 Cascade Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
(952) 693-3755
HAGGIS – IT’S NOT JUST FOR JANUARY!
I can’t claim to be an authority on haggis. But for three years while we lived in the Highlands, Barb and I enjoyed haggis almost every week; and not just any haggis, but Cockburn of Dingwall’s All-Scotland Champion Haggis. So last week, when we spotted “fresh haggis” in the meat case at the new Seward Co-Op at Franklin and Riverside in Minneapolis, well – we had to give it a go.
That first batch of haggis out of the Co-Op was pretty good, It was made with the right parts, but they used beef instead of lamb, and rolled oats, too, and it was packed like bratwurst in natural sausage casing. After Barb and I tried it, we consulted with Bill, the Seward Sausagemaster, and made a few modest suggestions. Bill is now making his haggis with lamb and steel-cut oats, and searching for a more appropriate casing. And – having sampled it on this lovely April evening – we can attest that the Seward Co-Op haggis is as close to Cockburn’s classic as we’ve had this side of the water.
We also brought home a nice small rutabaga from the Co-Op’s produce section. Diced, boiled and served with butter, salt and pepper, the rutabaga made a credible imitation of the ‘neeps we always enjoyed with tatties and haggis. Being tradition-bound, I was forced to have a wee dram with the meal as well, along with a nice pint of ale. All we lacked to complete the Highland scene was gale force winds and slashing rain.
So here’s a tip for those poor souls whose exposure to Scotland’s national dish has been limited to that obligatory dollop from parts unknown (literally) appearing on the plate at a Burns Night Supper: haggis is not just for January. And it deserves to be more than an ethnic icon, a Celtic equivalent of Norway’s notorious lutefisk. Well made, haggis is a tasty dish deserving of Robert Burns’ lavish praise and delicious at any time of the year. Now that we have a source for good, fresh haggis, it will be gracing our table often. With a wee dram, of course!
—– Jack Maloney
Scottish Fair & Highland Games
May 9
9:00 am – 5:30 pm (Gates open at 8:00 am)
Ceilidh 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the McCracken Pub
Dakota County Fair Grounds
4008 220th Street West, Farmington MN 55024
General admission tickets $15
Seniors 65+ $10
Children 6 – 15 $5
Children 5 & under FREE
On site parking is FREE
Posted by scottishnewsinminnesota 