Celtic Concert planned for April 12

The first Celtic Concert by the Lyon College Pipe Band will kick off the 33rd Arkansas Scottish Festival at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at First Presbyterian Church in Batesville. The festival itself will be April 13-15 on the Lyon campus. Admission is free to the concert and thefestival.

Lyon bagpiper Elliot Smith, who is coordinating the concert, said the pipe band will perform traditional songs, including favorites like“Auld Lang Syne” and “Amazing Grace,” and solo pipers will play contemporary tunes.

A Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) Band featuring small pipes, guitars and vocals will also perform and the audience will be invited to sing along on some of the songs. Highland dancers also will be on the program. Wally Hightower will be master of ceremonies.

The Scottish Festival is also sponsoring a poetry contest and the winning poems will be read at the concert. A special tribute will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Refreshments will be served before he concert and during an intermission. Pipe Band merchandise will be available for sale. Festival organizers hope the Celtic Concert will become an annual event.

For more information, contact Jimmy Bell, director of Scottish Heritage, at 870-307-7473 or e-mail james.bell@lyon.edu.