Category Archives: Music

Old Westbury, New York, U.S. August 26, 2023. Members of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley wear their Scottish outfits at the Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games 2023 at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

Scottish Festival & Highland Games at Old Westbury Gardens

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
October 12, 2023

61st Annual Long Island Scottish Festival & Highland Games

At the 61st annual Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games at Old Westbury Gardens this summer, I left it to chance exactly where I’d spend my time.

VIDEOInis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band of Long Island:

I particularly enjoyed a variety of musical performances. In the above video, the Inis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band of Locust Valley plays a traditional Scottish marching song. 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. October 2023. Soprano NICOLE OLIVA entertained attendees during the 61st Annual Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Soprano NICOLE OLIVA (see above photo) sang, with lyric beauty and playful smiles, the song “All in the Golden Afternoon’ from the 1998 Disney animated feature film “Alice in Wonderland.’

VIDEO –  CHARLIE ZAHM movingly sings the mournful Scottish song “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond”:

After a while in the sun, I headed to the shady west side of Westbury House, which looked prettier than a postcard, literally, with the summer greenery and backdrop of clouds and blue sky.

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. Visitors walk by the West Porch of Westbury House during the 61st Annual Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And I had great fun chatting (and photographing, of course) so many friendly attendees, who were often with family and always decked out in colorful traditional Scottish outfits. 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S., August 26, 2023, At right, KAYLEY, of Oceanside, holds Winnie, her 4-year-ld Norfolk terrier, and at left, Kayley’s sister ASHLYN, of Oceanside, holds Kasey, her Bichon Frisé, at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

– Long Island Scottish Festival –

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. CRAIG MICHIE, a member of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley, tends the table displaying banner and drums of the Clan Gordon Highlander Pipe Band, during the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. L-R, DANIEL BLAINE, 11, is with his father DEVIN BLAINE, a member of the Clan Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band of Locust Valley at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com) Click to see full outfits

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. Siblings (L-R) ALEXIO BARBOZA, 29, and LIEN BARBOZA, 27, of Westbury are members of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley. They wore traditional Scottish outfits at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com) Click to see full outfits  

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. BOB SHEPHERD, of Connecticut, a member of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot, also known as The Black Watch, attends the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

– Long Island Scottish Festival – 

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S., August 26, 2023. Scottish flags fly in the wind during the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Above photo: The Scottish flag in foreground is the Union Flag of 1801. It combines elements of the Irish Cross of St Patrick and the 1606 Union Flag . The flag in the background is the Royal Standard (or Banner) of Scotland, and is commonly called the Lion Rampant of Scotland.


Feature Photo (at top of post): Old Westbury, N.Y., U.S. August 26, 2023. Members of the Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley wear traditional Scottish outfits at the Long Island Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2023 Ann Parry, annparry.com)


Scottish Festival at OWG:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Old Westbury Gardens:  SITE  JOIN

Clan Gordon Highlanders of Locust Valley: facebook  • clangordonhighlanders.net

Inis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band (facebook):  @InishFada

Charlie Zahm Celtic… music:  charliezahm.com

Nicole Oliva (Soprano):  facebook.com/NicoleOlivaSoprano

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Garden City, New York, USA. June 6, 2019. The Freeport High School Upperclassmen Jazz Band entertains guests during the Cocktail Hour of the Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing.

Freeport H.S. Students Soar: ‘Apollo at 50’ at Cradle of Aviation Museum

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
July 4, 2019

Three talented, professional-caliber Freeport High School student groups helped make the Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner memorable at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on June 6th: Navy Junior ROTC, Select Chorale, and Upperclassman Jazz Band. 

Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC

NJROTC instructor: Major Donald R. Moore, Jr. (U.S. Marine Corps., retired)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Three Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC cadets wearing uniforms and about to participate at Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum, pose for photo in front of historic aircraft at museum exhibit. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Three Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC cadets wearing uniforms and about to participate at Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum, pose for photo in front of historic aircraft at museum exhibit. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Cadets, representing the over 200 students in Freeport High School’s Navy Junior ROTC, participated in “Apollo at 50.”

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC cadets wearing uniforms and about to participate at Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum, pose for photo in front of historic aircraft at museum exhibit. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC cadets wearing uniforms and about to participate at Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum, pose for photo in front of historic aircraft at museum exhibit. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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Garden City, New York, USA. June 6, 2019. Members of Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC prepare to make entrance during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. June 6, 2019. Members of Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC prepare to make entrance during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. At right, a member of the Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC is one of the cadets standing in front of the stage as Select Chorale members sing during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing, at Cradle of Aviation Museum. Her uniform jacket has a braided epaulet on the left shoulder. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. At right, a member of the Freeport High School Navy Junior ROTC is one of the cadets standing in front of the stage as Select Chorale members sing during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing, at Cradle of Aviation Museum. Her uniform jacket has a braided epaulet on the left shoulder. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The next section includes NJROTC cadets saluting as the Select Chorale sings the National Anthem.

Freeport High School Select Chorale

Select Chorale Director: Monique Retzlaff

Select Chorale members had time to chat during the Cocktail Hour.

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale members, wearing formal black suits and evening dresses, gather before they perform during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale members, wearing formal black suits and evening dresses, gather before they perform during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Shortly before entering the stage area of the vast atrium,  Apollo astronaut HARRISON SCHMITT and some Select Chorale members kindly agreed to gather for a group photo.

Garden City, New York, USA. June 6, 2019. Apollo 17 astronaut HARRISON SCHMITT, at center, poses with Freeport High School Select Chorale members soon to perform at Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. June 6, 2019. Apollo 17 astronaut HARRISON SCHMITT, at center, poses with Freeport High School Select Chorale members soon to perform at Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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Garden City, NY, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale singers perform - with their Director MONIQUE RETZLAFF standing at right, facing them - during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner. FHS Navy Junior ROTC cadets are saluting. Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing was held at Cradle of Aviation Museum. ( 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, NY, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale singers perform – with their Director MONIQUE RETZLAFF standing at right, facing them – during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner. FHS Navy Junior ROTC cadets are saluting. Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing was held at Cradle of Aviation Museum. ( 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale singers exit stage after performing during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing, at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School Select Chorale singers exit stage after performing during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing, at Cradle of Aviation Museum. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Freeport High School Upperclassmen Jazz Band

Jazz Band Director: Michael LaSorsa

The Upperclassmen Jazz Band entertained guests during the Cocktail Hour.  

Garden City, New York, USA. June 6, 2019. The Freeport High School Upperclassmen Jazz Band entertains guests during the Cocktail Hour of the Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, USA. June 6, 2019. The Freeport High School Upperclassmen Jazz Band entertains guests during the Cocktail Hour of the Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

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Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School members of its Upperclassmen Jazz Band briefly stop to pose after performing  during Cocktail Hour at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. Garden City. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Garden City, New York, U.S. June 6, 2019. Freeport High School members of its Upperclassmen Jazz Band briefly stop to pose after performing  during Cocktail Hour at Cradle of Aviation Museum during Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner, an Apollo astronaut tribute celebrating the Apollo 11 mission Moon landing. Garden City. (© 2019 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Additional members of the Freeport Public Schools family:

Board of Education President Michael Pomerico

Superintendent of Schools Kishore Kuncham, Ed.D.

Freeport High School Principal Joe Mille

FYI fLI:  During Art Expos a few years ago, I enjoyed working with Freeport H.S. students interested in developing their editorial photography skills. They captured such effective news photos – including of visitor Superintendent Kishore Kuncham, Ed.D. – during the events!


  • How Apollo astronauts and flight directors helped CAM, on June 6, celebrate the 50th Anniversary of NASA’s 1969 Apollo mission:

Apollo at 50 Anniversary Dinner at Cradle of Aviation Museum


My news photos, 6/6/2019:  

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Old Westbury Gardens Winter Holiday – Now & Then

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
December 23, 2017

Last Sunday, while entering the snowy grounds of Old Westbury Gardens with my friend Bob, I thought back to 2007, when I visited the Gold Coast estate during a biting, heavy snowfall.

PAST – 2007

That day 10 Decembers ago, I stayed outside capturing photos until I absolutely had to go to Westbury House, beg mercy from volunteers in the Entrance Hall, take off my gloves and boots, and stand toasty close to the fireplace.

Old Westbury, New York, USA. Dec. 5, 2007. At Westbury House, the Entrance Hall window with black wrought iron grill gives hazy glimpse of snowstorm. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 5, 2007. At Westbury House, the Entrance Hall window with black wrought iron grill gives hazy glimpse of snowstorm. (© 2007 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Slowly defrosting in the impressively elegant wood and marble hall, I imagined myself back outside the mansion, but during the Great Blizzard of 1947, when the John and Margarita Phipps family lived there….

FANTASY 1947

I was a trespasser with a noble mission – wielding my Kodak in the snowstorm to capture ghostlike images of trees – and, alas, flirting with hypothermia.

Without warning, a tall stranger swept me off my numb feet and whisked me to the mansion. As we took off our coats, I noticed he, too, had a camera strapped around his neck.

We sat in front a fireplace surrounded by books, and he put his hand to his chest. “Victor, Victor Hasselblad – a… a husgäst of Phipps,” he said softly and with a melodic accent. “And you, lilla frusen lövsångare?” 

“Oh my,” I said, “You’re THE Victor Hasselblad!” 

The genius nodded. 

“You’ve just GOT to develop a Hasselblad camera for civilians!” I said, and then started to tell him why….

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. A lighted Christmas tree decorates the formal dining room of Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens during its Winter Holiday event. (Ann Parry/˙ 2017 Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. A lighted Christmas tree decorates the elegant dining room of Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens during its Winter Holiday event. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

PRESENT – 2017

Now I’m, at times, better about coming in from the cold before losing feeling in my extremities.

But I always do my best to protect my camera. So last weekend when Bob and I arrived at Old Westbury Gardens and stepped out of the car on to slippery icy snow-covered grounds, we headed straight to Westbury House.

Once inside, we heard what sounded like live music coming from the Ballroom just ahead. We were right, for in a far corner of the vast room, pianist ANGELINA FUSCO was playing traditional Christmas music on a Steinway grand piano, backlit by large windows. Capturing the atmospheric scene was a fun challenge.

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Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. Pianist ANGELINA FUSCO plays Christmas music on Steinway grand piano to entertain visitors at Old Westbury Gardens museum, a former estate of John Shaffer Phipps, during snowy winter holiday weekend on Long Island's Gold Coast. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. Dec. 17, 2017. Pianist ANGELINA FUSCO plays Christmas music on Steinway grand piano at Old Westbury Gardens museum during Winter Holiday weekend. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The Main Hall was a must see, especially for families with children, since that’s where Santa sat surrounded by a Christmas tree, fireplace that was a great setting for holiday photos, and stairway strewn with stuffed animals looking as if they’d spilled out of Santa’s bag as he made his way up to the Children’s Quarters on the Third floor.

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. Santa sits ready for visitors next to a Christmas tree on second floor of Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens museum during snowy winter holiday weekend. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. Santa sits ready for visitors next to a Christmas tree on second floor of Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens museum during winter holiday weekend. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Bob lingered longest in the bedroom with a large-scale model train traveling around the room, disappearing for a while each lap as it followed tracks under the bed.

Visitors of all ages also enjoyed the charming scene in Mrs. Phipps’s bathroom, where deer and penguins watched a fawn take a bubble bath in the green and white bathtub.

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. In the Westbury House children's sunny bathroom of Old Westbury Gardens museum, deer and penguins watch over fawn taking a bubble bath. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. Deer family and penguins watch over a fawn taking a bubble bath in Mrs. Phipps’s bathroom at Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens, a Long Island Gold Coast estate. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

As closing time neared, we visited the Porch facing West, with its three walls of windows, and enjoyed hot cider and the panoramic, ungilded dusk view.

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. At Westbury House, two Christmas trees flank the Porch facing West, with panoramic view of snowy grounds during Winter Holiday event at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2017, Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Old Westbury, New York, USA. December 17, 2017. At Westbury House, two Christmas trees flank the Porch facing West, with panoramic view of snowy grounds during Winter Holiday event at Old Westbury Gardens. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And when it was time to go, we made our way through the snow once again.


Old Westbury Gardens Winter 2017:  PHOTO GALLERY

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