The 49th Annual Religious Arts Festival will be presented February 3-9 and will bring us to the sights, sounds, and tastes of Scotland!
On Monday, February 3, the Rev. Susan Clayton will present a lecture on “Thin Places: An Iona Experience.” The term “thin places” comes from the mystical world of the Celtic Christians who were deeply connected to the natural world and considered every aspect of life to be infused with the presence of the Divine.
On Tuesday, February 4, dancers and pipers from the Glencoe School of Scottish Highland Dance will be here to present a demonstration on the art of Highland Dance. Scottish dances, ancient in origin dating back to the 11th century, were expressions of both personal and social emotions - joy, victory in battle or the hunt, courtship, or perhaps symbolic of one’s work.
On Thursday, February 6, the annual Festival Banquet will be a Burns Supper – a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, the author of many Scottish poems. Scottish folk singer Ed Miller will be leading the festivities. Ed has been hailed as "one of the finest singers to come out of the Scottish Folksong Revival." Originally from Edinburgh, he is now based in Austin, Texas. The Great Hall will be a festive atmosphere with fancy decorations, luscious food, toasts, poetry, bagpipes and singing all in the Scottish tradition. There may even be a special appearance from Ye Olde Haggis! So, don your tartans and come ye laddies and lassies to join us for a merry celebration!
The Festival will culminate on Sunday, February 9 with a Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans at 11:00 am worship. Complete with pipers, drums and singing, everyone is invited to bring an item of their clan tartan for a blessing on your family.
A special concert on Sunday afternoon will feature The Orlando Consort from England. This will be the fourth appearance at IPC of this male quartet who will perform Scottish music of the 14th century and the choral work Scattered Rhymes by Tarik O’Regan with the IPC Camerata. The Orlando Consort has made an international reputation in the field of medieval and renaissance vocal music. The Consort regularly tours throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, including BBC Proms, Carnegie Hall, Edinburgh & Lucerne Festivals and has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and Harmonia Mundi USA, winning two Gramophone Awards.
RAF Tickets
All of the Religious Arts Festival events are free and open to the public, except for the Religious Arts Festival Banquet. Reservations are required for the Burns Supper. Tickets are $25 per person. They can be purchased by Sunday, Jan. 26 online or by sending a check to the Music & Fine Arts office.
