ASF Events 2020
All events are open to both members and non-members of the ASF unless otherwise stated. All are encouraged to become members of the Foundation in order to receive special pricing for certain functions and notice of special events.
Click on banners to learn more about events and to purchase tickets.
ASF Virtual Events
For Current and past Sounds of Scotland click Here.
For past Sounds of Scotland concerts on Youtube click Here.
For past Sounds of Scotland concerts on Spotify click here.
ASF Upcoming Events
September/October 2020
October 7
England’s Forgotten Queen:
The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey
In July 1553, Tudor England was plunged into political and military crisis. Henry VIII’s 15-year-old son, Edward VI, died leaving no male heir. For the first time, a woman would wear the English crown, but who would it be: Edward’s Catholic half-sister Mary, or his Protestant cousin Jane Grey? On his deathbed, Edward cut Mary out of succession and named 16-year-old Jane as his heir. As fierce a Protestant as Edward himself, and already married to the son of the power-hungry Duke of Northumberland, Jane was proclaimed queen and taken to London to await her coronation. But Mary would not accept her disinheritance—and neither would the country. Just nine days later, Jane’s brief reign was over, and seven months later she lost her head on the block. Author and historian Helen Castor will explore this dramatic story and assess Jane’s role in the coup that would ultimately cost her life. The tragic tale of the Nine Days’ Queen is not only a breathless political thriller, but a defining moment in the history of England’s religion, its constitution, and its crown.
To Register: Please visit www.royal-oak.org/events. Please enter The American Scottish Foundation code AMSCOTT20 at check out to receive the discounted co-sponsor price. If you have any questions, please email zoom@royal-oak.org.
October 27
A Celebration of English Gardens:
From the Archives of Country Life Magazine
the English are a nation of gardeners as well as weather-watchers is well known; the two national obsessions are as intertwined as the honey-suckle and the hedgerow,” writes Country Life Garden Editor Kathryn Bradley-Hole. Her Royal Oak lecture, drawn from her new book, celebrates English gardens featured in Country Life, a pictorial weekly journal that launched in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
From picturesque cottage gardens to grand formal gardens; from kitchen gardens to water gardens; and from medieval monastery gardens to cutting-edge 21st century gardens, Kathryn will take a fresh look at horticultural treasures from across England. She will discuss those created by designers such as Capability Brown, Gertrude Jekyll, Rosemary Verey, Piet Oudolf and Arne Maynard among others.
To Register: Please visit www.royal-oak.org/events. Please enter The American Scottish Foundation code AMSCOTT20 at check out to receive the discounted co-sponsor price. If you have any questions, please email zoom@royal-oak.org.
November 2020
November 17
The “Other” Tudors: Edward VI and Mary I
Henry V’s only son and eldest daughter grab fewer headlines than King Henry VIII or Queen Elizabeth I, but their actions helped shape the religious and political history of England and Europe. Edward VI was a zealous reformer dedicated to establishing strong Protestant doctrine in England. His first Book of Common Prayer promoted uniform worship throughout the country, and his second prayer book provided a model used in the Church of England for 400 years. His dedication to religious reform lasted until the end of his life when he tried to upend the law to prevent a Catholic from taking the throne.
But his Catholic half-sister Mary acted quickly and gathered supporters, staging the only successful revolt against central government in the 16th century. As the first crowned regnant Queen of England, she overcame centuries of preference for male rule. Her Parliament passed the Act for Regal Power, enshrining the power of queens and creating precedence for all the Queens to follow. She exerted every effort to undo Edward’s reform and return England to Catholicism. Join Royal Oak and historian and educator Carol Ann Lloyd to explore the lives of the often overlooked Tudor monarchs.
To Register: Please visit www.royal-oak.org/events. Please enter The American Scottish Foundation code AMSCOTT20 at check out to receive the discounted co-sponsor price. If you have any questions, please email zoom@royal-oak.org.
December 2020
December 2
Kiftsgate Court Gardens:
Three Generations of Women Gardeners
on the edge of the Cotswold Hills, Kiftsgate Court is a family home and garden that has been loved and cultivated by the same family for over 100 years. Three generations of women gardeners have left their mark, each building on the legacy of the previous owner. When Jack and Heather Muir bought the Grecian-fronted Victorian house in 1919, Heather, without any horticultural training, started to layout the Kiftsgate garden straight away. Heather’s daughter, Diany Binny continued the family gardening tradition during the 1950s and quickly became an accomplished plants woman. Since the late 1980s, her daughter Anne Chambers and her husband Johnny have brought the garden into the 21st century. In this illustrated lecture Anne and Johnny Chambers will tell their personal tale of Kiftsgate, including family anecdotes and stories. They will show design features of this stunning garden and explain their plans for its future.
To Register: Please visit www.royal-oak.org/events. Please enter The American Scottish Foundation code AMSCOTT20 at check out to receive the discounted co-sponsor price. If you have any questions, please email zoom@royal-oak.org.
2021
To see images from 2019's Wallace Awards Click Here.
Past 2020 Events
The Declaration of Arbroath – 700th Anniversary2020 marks the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, one of Scotland's most important historical artefacts.
A Copy of the Declaration will be on display at Federal Hall, which is said to have inspired the
American Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration is a letter dated 6 April 1320 written by the barons and freeholders of the Kingdom of Scotland to Pope John XXII, asking him to recognise Scotland's independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country's lawful king.
Visitors will view an English translation of the original Latin text, and learn about the context in which it was written 700 years ago.
A Celebration of National Tartan Day with talk by Prof. Donna Heddle
April 6, 2020, 12:00 pm ET | Online Broadcast
April 6, 2020 marks the 700th Anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath and is National Tartan Day in North America.
The program will begin with a short discussion of the origins of Tartan Day in the United States, a day that recognizes the contributions of Scottish Americans in the development of the United States.
Following - Professor Donna Heddle’s talk “For Freedom Alone”: Is the Declaration of Arbroath the Most Important Document in Scottish History?.
Register to participate:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8098466494342595595
Professor Donna Heddle, MA (hons) PhD, FHEA, FSA SCOT, FRSA, University of the Highlands and Islands, is at present working on Scots-Nordic balladic synergies; the underpinning philosophy of Northern Studies; the Huguenot influence of Du Bartas on the poetry of the Scots Court under James VI; and geophysical and metaphysical correlations in historical depictions of Orkney. She is also working on a history of Highlands and Islands literature. She is particularly passionate about locative research - in the communities, by the communities, for the communities.
Tartan Day Parade Cancelation
March 13th, 2020
One of the American-Scottish Foundation's favorite times of year is Tartan Week, a week when the Scottish American community comes together and celebrates our heritage and culture - culminating in the wonderful
New York Tartan Day Parade. It has been held every year for the past 22 years, but this year the Parade which was to take place on April 4th, has had to be cancelled.
The decision taken by the National Tartan Day New York committee, of which the ASF is a founding member, could not be avoided after the State of New York, and New York City banned all gatherings over 500 persons with no end date.
The ASF schedule of events is being adjusted and we will advise further around this early next week.
April 6th is Tartan Day and over that weekend we hope we can look to honor and celebrate the Day in a limited way.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation and we need to look to take it day by day. The health and safety of our community is our first concern.
Sincerely
Camilla G Hellman
President
American-Scottish Foundation
EVENTS CANCELLED
EVENT CANCELLED
The American-Scottish Foundation presents lunchtime concerts April 3rd, 4th & 5th in celebration of Tartan Week and the 22nd Annual New York Tartan Day Parade, April 4th.
EVENT CANCELLED
Tartan Day Observance
In honor of the 22nd Anniversary of National Tartan Day In words and music with Readings from Senate Resolution & Presidential Decrees Excerpts from the Declaration of Arbroath- DATE: Friday April 3, 2020
- TIME: 12:30 - 1:30 PM
- LOCATION: Bryant Park
- TICKETS: No tickets required. The event is for all the community.
- MASTER OF CEREMONIES Kenneth Donnelly
- DECLARATION OF ARBROATH
MUSCIAL PROGRAM INCLUDES:
- Edinburgh Academy Pipe Band
- Isle of Cumbria RBLS Pipe Band
- Lisa Kowalski
- Highland Divas
EVENT CANCELLED
EVENT CANCELLED
Pipes & Drums on the Fountain Terrace
Hear the sound of some of our leading Pipe Bands as they prepare for the 22nd Annual New York Tartan Day Parade.- DATE: Saturday April 4, 2020
- TIME: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
- LOCATION: Bryant Park
- TICKETS: No tickets required. The event is for all the community.
Musical program includes:
- Shot of Scotch
- Edinburgh Academy Pipe Band
- Isle of Cumbria RBLS Pipe Band
- (Additional Program in Development)
EVENT CANCELLED
JOIN US TO MARCH IN THE
22nd NEW YORK
TARTAN DAY PARADE
ON APRIL 4, 2020!
EVENT CANCELLED
EVENT CANCELLED
Scotland on the Fountain Terrace
Celebrate Scotland on the Fountain Terrace as we bring you a variety of pipe bands, singers and musicians to perform for you.
- DATE: Sunday April 5, 2020
- TIME: 12:30 -1:30 PM
- LOCATION: Bryant Park
- TICKETS: No tickets required. The event is for all the community.
Musical Program includes:
- Whisky Kiss
- Lisa Kowalski
- (Additional Program in development)
EVENT CANCELLED
National Tartan Day Capital Committee
Washington DC
will present a series of events March 31 - April 3
The National Tartan Day Award,
is presented annually by
The Scottish Coalition, USA
which will be presented this year to
Robert "Bob" Creighton
for his outstanding voluntary contributions to our Scottish American community
The presentation will take place as part of a Reception hosted by the National Tartan Day Capital Committee
Tickets & Information can be found HERE
Organizations that comprise The Scottish Coalition USA are:
American-Scottish Foundation (ASF)
Association of Scottish Games & Festivals (ASGF)
Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA)
The Living Legacy of Scotland
Scottish-American Military Society (SAMS)
Scottish Heritage USA (SHUSA)
12.30pm
At the Robert Burns statue on Literary Walk in Central Park
where we will join together in a short ceremony. and weather permitting.
short interlude of music in honor of Robert Burns, Scotland's National Bard
Remarks will be offered as we visit and celebrate the visit of the Gregg Violin to the US, the violin of his dance teacher.
A short Burns musical tribute we hope can be played upon the Gregg Violin, played by William Gregg, Robert Burn’s dancing master,
and since Burns was a fiddler himself, it is likely he also played Gregg’s violin.
(Only if weather permitting - must be warmer than 40 degrees outside)
Enter at 66th Street on Fifth Avenue
Click Here for Directions to the Statue
or Click Here for NYC Parks Website.