A Saint Andrew's Day celebration will have a Ukrainian twist in Vernon this year.
North Okanagan Pipes and Drums (NOPD) and the Sadok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble are joining forces for an evening of Scottish music and Ukrainian dancing to celebrate the Patron Saint Andrew Friday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Schubert Centre's Diamond room.
Known as the feast day of Andrew the Apostle, Saint Andrews Day falls on Nov. 30 every year, so the concert will be a chance for people to get a head start on the Scottish holiday.
NOPD and Sadok will entertain guests with a thrilling program of traditional Scottish tunes, and Ukrainian dances which will include Pryvit (welcome dance) and their trademark finale, Hopak, among other dances. Joining them will be dancers from the Aviemore School of Highland Dance under the direction of Cheryl Rosborough.
Founded in 2012, the NOPD has 26 members, all of whom are interested in getting together, playing the music they love and performing for the community. Under the direction of Pipe Major Don MacLeod, the band is based in Vernon but also has members from Armstrong, Coldstream and Kelowna. To honour Vernon's pipe band history, the band wears the ancient MacBeth tartan, as worn by the former Kildonan Pipe Band.
There are plenty of familial ties in the band: there's a father and son, a mother and daughter, grandfather and grandsons, brothers, and a husband and wife.
NOPD makes a strong effort to give back to the community and strives to take part in as many community events as they can. People may have seen them at Farmer’s Appreciation Day at the Vernon Farmer’s Market, the 55+ Senior’s Games, Vernon Minor Football half time shows, numerous Remembrance Day services in many schools, senior’s residences and communities throughout the Okanagan, Creative Chaos, Kokanee 2 Salmon Festival in Kelowna and the Oyama Fun Days. They also support a number of charity events.
MacLeod started learning the pipes as a six-year-old boy, from his father Fred circa 1962. MacLeod can trace his piping heritage seven generations back to his great, great, great, great, great grandfather Donald MacQuarrie, the Great Piper of Eigg. He loves to teach the pipes and had taught many locals, ages six to 67, to love playing them as much as he does.
The Sadok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble is a local dance theatre troupe that pushes the boundaries of the art form by entertaining and educating their audiences about their Ukrainian-Canadian heritage. They have performed throughout the Okanagan Valley, Vancouver, Alberta and Los Angeles. In 2008 they shared their culture with the world when they performed at Disneyland, Calif., and have made a few trips to perform in Ukraine over the years. This past June they were honoured to be invited as guest performers at the Calgary-Ukrainian Festival.
Tickets to the Saint Andrew's concert are $25 for adults and $15 for kids at the Schubert Centre; children six and under get in for free. Coffee, tea and sweets are included and a cash bar will be available.