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Gund Event Celebrates Celtic Music and Cultural Tradition at Westminster School
Westminster School recently hosted the second all school Gund event of the year, a beloved tradition that celebrates cultural enrichment within the school community. The event, which began several years ago on Graham Gund's 50th birthday, honors Mr. Gund, a proud alumnus of the class of 1959.
This year’s event featured a special performance by Seán Heely’s Celtic Band, a group renowned for their captivating Celtic folk music. Seán Heely is a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and award-winning Irish fiddler and harpist. With a degree in classical violin performance from the University of South Carolina, Seán’s career includes performances across the U.S. and internationally, including venues like the Kennedy Center and Strathmore Music Center. In addition to his performance career, he is also an in-demand educator, serving as an adjunct instructor at American University.
The performance today brought together a talented ensemble, featuring Heely on fiddle and Gaelic vocals, All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, multi-instrumentalist Beth Patterson, acclaimed percussionist Lucas Ashby, piper Jesse Ofgang, harpist Abbie Palmer, fiddler Colin McGlynn, and percussive dancer Agi Kovacs. Together, they transported the audience on a magical winter journey through the Scottish Highlands and along Ireland’s rugged coast.
Their program featured a mix of winter-themed Celtic tunes, perfect for the season. From the gentle strains of "Apples in Winter" to the lively "Frost is All Over," the band’s performance evoked the warmth and joy of the holiday season. One of the highlights was a rendition of the "Galician Carol," written in 1829 by Jose Pacheco, which tells the story of an old custom in Galicia. The carol describes the tradition of burning a special log, believed to bring good luck and protection to the home during the winter months. This connection to ancient traditions was a moving reminder of the enduring power of music and culture.
The festive music made for a warm and interactive community morning with the audience clapping, singing, and tapping along to the beautiful music. Thank you to Seán Heely and the Celtic Band for sharing their incredible talent, and to the Gund family for their continued support of the cultural life at Westminster.
The Graham Gund ’59 Visiting Artists Series is sponsored by the Gund family in honor of Graham Gund, Class of 1959.
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This year’s event featured a special performance by Seán Heely’s Celtic Band, a group renowned for their captivating Celtic folk music. Seán Heely is a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and award-winning Irish fiddler and harpist. With a degree in classical violin performance from the University of South Carolina, Seán’s career includes performances across the U.S. and internationally, including venues like the Kennedy Center and Strathmore Music Center. In addition to his performance career, he is also an in-demand educator, serving as an adjunct instructor at American University.
The performance today brought together a talented ensemble, featuring Heely on fiddle and Gaelic vocals, All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, multi-instrumentalist Beth Patterson, acclaimed percussionist Lucas Ashby, piper Jesse Ofgang, harpist Abbie Palmer, fiddler Colin McGlynn, and percussive dancer Agi Kovacs. Together, they transported the audience on a magical winter journey through the Scottish Highlands and along Ireland’s rugged coast.
Their program featured a mix of winter-themed Celtic tunes, perfect for the season. From the gentle strains of "Apples in Winter" to the lively "Frost is All Over," the band’s performance evoked the warmth and joy of the holiday season. One of the highlights was a rendition of the "Galician Carol," written in 1829 by Jose Pacheco, which tells the story of an old custom in Galicia. The carol describes the tradition of burning a special log, believed to bring good luck and protection to the home during the winter months. This connection to ancient traditions was a moving reminder of the enduring power of music and culture.
The festive music made for a warm and interactive community morning with the audience clapping, singing, and tapping along to the beautiful music. Thank you to Seán Heely and the Celtic Band for sharing their incredible talent, and to the Gund family for their continued support of the cultural life at Westminster.
The Graham Gund ’59 Visiting Artists Series is sponsored by the Gund family in honor of Graham Gund, Class of 1959.
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In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.
In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.
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