Conference at University of Richmond Will Celebrate Culture of Scottish Highlanders
October 23, 2003
Why did Scottish Highlanders come to North America? What music, literature and dance did they bring with them? What remains of this heritage today?
The University of Richmond and the Virginia Historical Society will examine these questions during a conference, "Highland Settlers: Scottish Highland Immigrants in North America," Nov. 6-8.
The conference, a celebration of the cultural, literary, musical and religious traditions of the Scottish Highlanders, will be the first ever of its kind to address the significance of Scottish Highland culture in North America.
It is timed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the book "Highland Settler" by Charles Dunn of the Harvard Celtic Department, who will be the keynote speaker at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Virginia Historical Society.
On Nov. 7, some of the foremost scholars and performers in the field will discuss and demonstrate the vitality of Highlanders' cultural, literary, musical and religious traditions in the many places they settled. The talks will take place in the Tyler Haynes Commons at the University of Richmond from 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Nov. 7, a concert, "The Highlands Transplanted: A Musical Celebration of Scottish Highland Tradition," will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Modlin Center for the Arts. It will feature Highland dance, step dance, bagpipe and fiddle music and stories of the Highland immigrants.
Featured performers will include Bridget Boswell and the Richmond Highlanders, Margaret Bennett, John Shaw, and Father Angus Morris.
More talks and panel discussions in Tyler Haynes Commons will take place from 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 8.
A complete schedule of events, ticket information and list of participants is available on-line at www.richmond.edu/~mnewton.