Fàilte to New York City Tartan Week Mòd
Scottish Gaelic Song Competition
Thursday 4 April, 2024
New York City Tartan Week is excited to host its second Scottish Gaelic Song Competition, The NYCTW Mòd. Singers from across North America and beyond will compete in this prestigious singing competition which will take place at The Tailor Public House in Manhattan on Thursday 4th April, 2024.
The Competition
Each performer will sing one song at the competition. There will be a choice of six prescribed Gaelic songs or you can submit a Gaelic song of your own choice.
Each singer will perform unaccompanied and must be able to sing without sheet music. The judges will score the live performances on both Gaelic and music and select the winning performance.
The winner will be crowned New York City Tartan Week Mòd Champion 2024 and win a prize of $250, as well as an invitation to sing at the Pre-Parade Ceilidh sponsored by the New York Caledonian Club, plus a 12 month subscription to WeeBox sponsored by WeeBox, and other singing opportunities.
The world may end, but love and music will endure.
The full rules can be viewed here.
What is a Mòd?Introduction At its core, a Mòd is a celebration of Gaelic arts, encompassing music, song, poetry, and drama. Participants, ranging from choirs and musicians to solo performers, engage in friendly competition, showcasing their talents and celebrating the beauty of the Gaelic language. The Mòd serves as a vibrant stage for the community to come together, fostering a sense of unity and pride in Gaelic heritage. Origins of the Mòd The term “Mòd” translates to “a gathering” in Gaelic, and its roots can be traced back to the late 19th century in Scotland. The inaugural Mòd was held in Oban in 1892 and has since evolved into an annual celebration that has left an indelible mark on Gaelic culture. NYC Tartan Week Mòd: A Cultural Bridge The NYC Tartan Week Mòd, in collaboration with An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach, is a significant cultural bridge that extends the spirit of a Mòd to the heart of New York City. By hosting this celebration, the goal is not only to showcase the beauty of Scottish Gaelic arts but also to inspire a new wave of interest in Gaelic learning and foster connections within the global Gaelic community. |
Learning support and tutorials performed by Mòd Gold Medalists from Scotland
We have selected 6 popular traditional Gaelic songs. These are the prescribed pieces available to our entrants to choose to perform.
Links to the six songs are here:
SONG 1: Cànan nan Gàidheal, performed by Alasdair Whyte
Singing | Spoken | Music sheet
SONG 2: Òran Chalum Sgàire, performed by Eillidh Cormack
Singing | Spoken | Music sheet
SONG 3: ‘S Truagh Nach d’ Rugadh Dall Mi (Fil O Rò), performed by Darren MacLean
Singing | Spoken | Music sheet
SONG 4: Fear a’ bhàta, performed by Eilidh Munro
Singing | Spoken | Music sheet
SONG 5: Illean Bithibh Sunndach, performed by Ruairidh Cormack
Singing | Spoken | Music sheet
SONG 6: An Ataireachd Àrd, performed by Joy Dunlop
Singing | Spoken | Music sheet
Or competitors have the option to select their own Gaelic song to perform – to do this they must provide us with the sheet music, Gaelic words and translation via email when submitting the application to mod@nyctartanweek.org.
How to Enter
To enter, click here.
Closing date for entries is Monday 04 March, 2024.
If you are interested in competing at, or attending our Mòd, you may wish to check out our Gaelic workshops the day before.
Gaelic Workshops: Thursday, April 4th (doors open at 10:45 AM Workshops from 11:00 – 2:00pm)As part of the 2024 event, we are also holding Gaelic language and song workshops for avid lovers of Scottish culture. These are open to anyone and provide the opportunity to learn some basic Gaelic language and songs There is also the possibility to provide a more advanced Conversational Class, depending on interest/level of participants. 11:00 AM | Conversational Gaelic For tickets and more details, click here. |
Sponsors and Support
