For nearly three decades, The Pipes of Christmas (POX) has been presented in churches and concert halls in New York City, Summit, New Jersey, and beyond, featuring vibrant voices, bold bagpipes and brass, organ, harp, fiddle and more, in celebration of music, heritage, faith, and family.

Founder Bob Currie looks back on the legacy’s lasting magic, the growing “Pipes” family, and the joy of welcoming a new generation into the tradition.

“On a personal note,” he begins proudly, “my wife and I have become grandparents twice over! We have a three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter and a one-year-old grandson. It’s been great fun to introduce them to our Pipes of Christmas family, and it’s amazing that their mother – my daughter – was a participant in the very first concert and now has a family of her own.”

That continuity in music and family through the years has always been part of the magic of POX. What began as a simple one-night concert 27 years ago has become, as Currie says, “an integral part of our clan experience.”

“When we first presented the concert we thought it was to be a ‘one and done’ experience. With a surprise ‘over capacity’ exceeding 600 that first year, we’ve never looked back.”

Today, The Pipes of Christmas serves as a link between past and present, and a testament to an 800-year-old literary lineage of Gaelic bards, storytellers, and musicians. “The program falls right into the wheelhouse of the Learned Kindred of Currie. It conjures the feeling of a warm seat beside a crackling peat fire, conjuring up childhood memories of the Yuletide season.”

The repertoire continues to combine classic carols and newly created works, with more than fifteen original pieces having been introduced under the Pipes banner to date.

“In addition to dipping into an incredible wealth of Irish and Scottish tunes, we also take pride in supporting new composers by premiering their work on a world stage. Our most recent commission was a pipe tune entitled The March to St. Giles to commemorate the City of Edinburgh’s 900th anniversary. We were thrilled to have the tune performed in the presence of the Princess Royal.”

That commitment to excellence has held firm since the very first concert. Since then, POX has welcomed the B-Line Brass, fiddler Caitlin Warbelow, Irish vocalist Madelyn Monaghan, guitarist Steve Gibb, two world-champion pipe bands, and many more magnificent musicians.

For Currie, though, the music is only part of the story.

“To find a soulful reflection of Christmas takes some searching these days. We don’t leave out the heart and soul – or the reason for the season.”

That desire to capture and convey true Celtic Christmas spirit has always been a priority. Beyond the outstanding performances, the Pipes of Christmas gives back through scholarships and preserving culture, supporting budding musicians and Gaelic language initiatives across Scotland, Canada, and the U.S.

Even with all the hard work and acclaim, Currie’s priorities remain clear: “It’s all about family. Celebrating the holidays is an incredible part of our family DNA. This is what we hope to accomplish with our loyal audience members who come back each year.”

And they keep coming back, gathering like a large clan each December, laughing, singing, and sometimes weeping, to the sounds of the pipes. For Currie, these connections are deeply personal and rewarding. “Our family extends far beyond Clan Currie. I am a very grateful producer.”

Looking ahead, Currie and his team have just completed new Pipes of Christmas EP and their annual Yule Log music video, both available on their website. Virtual audiences around the world can tune in across borders to enjoy the concert, uniting families and friends.

“Our principal mandate is to produce a world-class concert event which honors our Celtic heritage and faith. You never know who may be experiencing their heritage for the first time at The Pipes of Christmas. We have an obligation to strive for excellence in all that we do.”

www.pipesofchristmas.com
@pipesofxmas