Aberdeen in America - November 2018
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New York
Choral Evensong
Ralph Vaughan Williams’ striking setting of George Herbert’s text soared into the vaulted ceiling of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral.
It was an evening of musical surprises.
The opera star Jessye Norman – one of Aberdeen’s distinguished honorary graduates – joined the congregation, friends and fellow alumni for the service.
Dr Norman spent time talking to the Choir's charismatic conductor Professor Paul Mealor and posing for a string of pictures with the Aberdeen students.
Then more than 60 invited guests attended a relaxed post Evensong gathering at Le Monde – a short walk from the Cathedral.
Liz Bowie, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, thanked the Aberdeen Alumni New York Chapter and everyone for supporting the Choir, before inviting them to wish Paul a very happy birthday with an simply stunning surprise performance of the most recognised song in the world.
You can find a few pictures from the event here. A short video from the performance can be viewed on our Twitter page.
Invitational St Andrew's Day Reception
But on Monday (Nov 26) it was the turn of the University of Aberdeen Chapel Choir to add their names to the ‘guest book’ and bring a little bit of Scotland – not mention Aberdeen – to Manhattan to celebrate St Andrew’s Day.
Over 70 guests, including Aberdeen alumni, donors and friends of Scotland in New York, enjoyed a thoughtfully produced programme of Scottish and American music from a rich arrangement of The Selkirk Grace to the spiritual Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Dougie MacLean’s Caledonia.
Antony Phillipson, British Consul General in New York, paid tribute to Andrew Carnegie – a Lord Rector at Aberdeen and honorary graduate - as a leading light in the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York well over a century ago.
Joni Smith, Head of the Scottish Affairs Office for the Scottish Government in Washington DC, spoke about the #MakesSomeonesDay campaign to celebrate Scotland on as a compassionate nation.
It was the power of philanthropy that brought the Choir to New York. And as they headed out into the darkness of a rainy November night, the lyrics of the hit Beatles song they had performed as the evening’s encore only a couple of hours earlier said it all: “Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song … I get by with a little help from my friends.”
You can view a few pictures from the event here.
UNICEF Snowflake Ball
It also provides an opportunity to honour the contributions made to humanitarian causes by notable public figures and in 2018 the George Harrison Humanitarian Award was presented to Sir Ringo Starr. In tribute, the Choir joined with Sheryl Crow for a special rendition of The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun.
You can watch a video of the Choir performing with Sheryl Crow here and view some pictures from the evening here. Professional photographs can also be found on the Getty Images website.
Washington, DC
1918-2018: A Century of International (Dis)Order? The Past, Present and Future of American and European Values
You can now listen to the discussion from the event here.
Imagining The Capitol: The Enlightened Life of Dr William Thornton
In the evening guests enjoyed tours of some of Thornton's other D.C. buildings, the Octagon House and the Dower House, where there was a reception with refreshments and a traditional dram of Scotch whisky!
You can view some photographs from throughout the day here.