Scottish Weekend

Caroline Bennett and Al Burgasser formed the duo Caledonia and are joined by Dave Wonsey on percussion and Rebecca McCallum on fiddle. This year they are joined by guest vocalist Charlotte Bennett. As a group, Caledonia has performed locally in the Hudson Valley and Connecticut as well as at Mohonk Mountain House. Caroline’s biography can be read above, as she is our curator for the Scottish Weekend. Al Burgasser has been a performing singer/songwriter for longer than he would like to admit, and is currently very active in the western Connecticut music scene. He is very active full time in performing, organizing musical events, sound and video production and collaborating with others to encourage participation in live music whenever he can. Al first met Caroline Bennett in 2016 at a local song circle in Sherman, CT. and quickly became very interested in Gaelic music and culture. They have since been collaborating on recording original songs, producing videos, and performing together as the duo Caledonia. Dave and Rebecca have performed extensively around the Northeast. Dave is an expert snare drummer and teacher of percussion, and Rebecca has performed for Scottish dancing as well as Contra dancing, and also lends her voice for beautiful harmonies.

Bonnie Heather Green has been a professional kiltmaker since 2006. She was apprenticed to her beloved teacher, Ann Stewart who was born in Scotland. Bonnie has carried on the craft of making hand sewn kilts. She is happy to display different kinds of kilts for men, women, highland dancers, pipe bands, and even children and babies. Also she will share information about how to find your clan and Scottish connections. Several tartan swatch books will be displayed to see and feel the tartan fabric. Other tartan and clan reference books will also be available.

David McCormick, is originally from Prestwick on the West Coast of Scotland and now resides in Southern New Jersey. He developed a love of Robert Burns from his grandfather and Scottish Country Dance from his mother. David sees his Lowland Scots background as but one part of the rich Scottish tradition of dance, song and storytelling.

Steve Blamires is from the Isle of Arran in the west of Scotland where the Gaelic language and Celtic culture are still strong. For the past 25 years he has traveled the world on small expedition ships, mainly with National Geographic, as an historian, international tour guide, and cultural expert. He has several books in print, has appeared on TV and radio on both sides of the Atlantic, and regularly gives presentations at conferences and events. His presentations are informative, relevant and often from a unique perspective. When he is not on the High Seas, he leads small, custom designed group tours to Scotland.

Mike MacNintch has been piping since 1977, learning from PM Avery Head, of the Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band. He later joined the Manchester Pipe Band, under the direction of PM Chuck Murdoch, which is one of our oldest bands, having been founded in 1914. He is the instructor for the Police Pipes & Drums of Waterbury Connecticut and has worked with the Catamount Pipe Band of Vermont. Mike is the Pipe Major of the Stephen P. Driscoll Memorial Pipe Band of Carmel, New York, and is a founding member of Bagad New York, the only Breton style pipe band in North America. He plays a variety of Scottish, Irish and Western European bagpipes and has been a prominent figure in the revival of Scottish small pipes in the Northeast. A stalwart of the pipe band scene, Mike has also played at festivals, workshops, dances and concerts for over 40 years. Based in the Hudson Valley, he makes and repairs bagpipes, teaches and performs. Mike leads the Mohonk Pipe Band Ensemble this weekend and is joined by Alex Bartholomew, Dave Wonsey, and Ian Bennett.

The Castle Point Scottish Country Dancers are managed by Elizabeth Buonomo and dance in tri-state area branches of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. The ensemble team this year includes all ladies who will present both modern and traditional dances, many written by female divisors. Dancing with Elizabeth this year are Jaime Dritt, Margaret Mackenzie, Audrey Paul, Sue Trapp, and Nicole Wimberger. Several of the dancers are certified Scottish dance instructors. All have intensively studied this dance form and share a passion for its grace, intricacy, and pure fun. Elizabeth Buonomo has been dancing Scottish for almost 20 years. In addition to teaching Scottish dance, she works as a psychotherapist and an Alexander Technique teacher. She is delighted to bring her team back to Mohonk.

Patrick Gallagher is a professional artist, designer, sculptor, and printmaker. He specializes in carved decorative architectural artifacts for public, private, and spiritual environments. His expertise is in the Book of Kells style of Celtic Art. He has taught Celtic studio art at hundreds of venues including three Summer Celtic Art Workshops at the Oideas Gael School at Glencolumkille in Ireland. Mr. Gallagher is an Adjunct Professor at the County College of Morris. He teaches Sculpture, Three Dimensional Design, and Art History. He has a Masters in Fine Arts Education from Kean University. Please visit his YouTube Channel under Patrick Gallagher Celtic Art. For more information: email [email protected] or visit www.celtart.com

The Sky Top Highland Dancers, named after the famous and beautiful lookout point at Mohonk, are Scottish Highland Dancers Kendra Monroe and Emily Ritter. 2024 marks the 11th and 8th year, respectively, that these dancers will perform during this celebratory weekend. Kendra and Emily met through Shot of Scotch NYC, a premier level performance group. As certified highland dance teachers and premier level champion dancers, they are excited to share their passion for this endurance demanding and historical Scottish art form.

Highland Grove Highland Grove celebrates the vibrant music of Scotland. Merging the talents of three accomplished dance musicians, the results range from lyrical to exuberant, stately to driving. Fiddler Mara Shea began playing for Scottish dancing in 1999 in North Carolina and first played at Mohonk as part of Highland Oasis in 2011. Fiddler Rebecca McCallum began playing for Scottish dances in Rochester, NY in 1997, and in 2008 moved to Connecticut where she has played for numerous Scottish dances and balls. Pianist Dean Herington began playing for Scottish country dancing more than thirty years ago in North Carolina and has played for many Scottish balls and workshops there, elsewhere in the States, and in Canada and Portugal. All three share a passion for the rhythms and melodies of the Scottish Isles.

Since 2005 James Ruff has dedicated his focus to researching and performing early Gaelic courtly repertoire from Scotland and Ireland, showcasing his mastery in Scottish Gaelic. His expertise in Gaelic Song was honed under the guidance of Kenna Campbell, while he delved into the art of Early Gaelic Harp under the tutelage of Siobhán Armstrong. Notably, James clinched national awards for Gaelic Singing in both the US and Scotland. Since 2017, his passion has led him to participate in Scoil na gClairseach – Festival of Early Irish Harp in Kilkenny, Ireland, both performing and teaching. Additionally, James graced stages across the US and abroad, embodying the character of Daniel in The Play of Daniel with EMNY and GEMS. His teaching prowess has been evident since 2009 at Vassar College, where he imparts his knowledge of voice. His musical journey is encapsulated in the recording titled “The Gaels’ Honour.” www.jamesrufftenorharper.com

Charlotte Bennett is a New York City based performer and educator. She has studied traditional Gaelic song with Cathy Anne MacPhee and Mary MacMillan on the isle of South Uist and also enjoys singing Scottish song. She has performed previously at Mohonk Mountain House and we are pleased to have her back to perform for us.

Michael Mednikoff, Regional Sales Manager with Empire Merchants North has over 28 years in the alcoholic beverage industry. He is a certified beverage professional covering the Hudson Valley and is also a certified wine and spirits trainer for Empire Merchants. He has a true passion for Scotch, Whiskey, and Bourbon, and has spent time at some of the largest Scotch producers in Scotland.