A tartan alumni army from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will take to the streets and stages of New York City this weekend for an annual celebration of Scottish culture, led by one of the conservatoire’s high-profile graduates.

Wearing a splash of RCS’s official tartan, around 25 RCS graduates will gather in the Big Apple this Saturday, April 5, to march up Sixth Avenue in the NYC Tartan Day Parade, piped by graduate Jesse Ofgang (MA Scottish Music, 2020).

The parade will be headed by actor and RCS alumnus Alan Cumming, who serves as the event’s Grand Marshal.

Team RCS will line up alongside more than 3,000 bagpipers, Highland dancers, clan organisations, Scottish dog breeds, and more, in front of an audience of tens of thousands of spectators.

Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “The Tartan Day Parade is a wonderful way to celebrate Scotland’s rich artistic heritage and the global community of our alumni, bringing the unique RCS spirit to the streets of New York.

“It’s a meaningful opportunity for our graduates to reconnect, share their talents and showcase the power of Scottish arts and culture on an international stage.

“Beyond the parade, the surrounding events offer a fantastic chance for alumni to come together, enjoy performances from fellow graduates, and build new creative connections that continue to strengthen our vibrant artistic network.”

The parade is a highlight of Tartan Week, which was established to honour the contributions of Scottish Americans and strengthen the transatlantic cultural ties between Scotland and the United States.

Baritone Steven M Warnock, who graduated from the Vocal Performance programme 2019, said he was ‘over the moon’ to learn about RCS’s involvement in the parade and festivities:

“As a Scot and RCS alum living in the States, I am excited about the chance to reconnect with the conservatoire that gave me the skills and confidence to apply, study and eventually settle in the US.

“RCS holds a special place in my heart and having the chance to represent the school alongside the principal, staff and fellow alums will truly be a day to remember. Plus, I love any excuse to wear my kilt and represent my country and culture in the USA.”

Alison McNeill, who graduated with a Masters in Performance in 2013, will take part in the parade before performing in NYC with her folk-rock band.

Alison said: “I’m thrilled to be heading to New York with my band Reely Jiggered. We’ll be performing in Sony Hall and Alan Cumming’s club and a few other local venues. This will be the band’s second trip to perform in the US after a successful tour last year in Virginia.”

Actor and playwright Phillip Gregory Burke, a 2009 Classical and Contemporary Text (Acting) graduate said he’s excited for his first Tartan Day Parade: “While attending RCS, I had plenty of chances to immerse myself in Scottish culture and my participation this year will relive a facet of that immersion here in America.”

At the helm of the parade will be award-winning actor Alan Cumming, who studied on the BA Dramatic Studies programme.

Alan said: “It’s so grand to marshal the Tartan Army as we take over New York City for the day!

“I feel Scotland is growing ever more confident and finding its place in the world and I’m so excited to be a part of that journey.

“It doesn’t get much better than representing Scotland in NYC – my homeland, my adopted hometown. They have given me so much and equally formed who I am today.”

Later that evening, Alan will host Scotland’s Hoolie in New York at Carnegie Hall, an evening of Scottish music and culture, with performances from Mànran and alumnus Aidan Moodie, vocalist Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean, Gary Innes and Duncan Chisholm.

Outwith the parade, RCS alumni will bring their world-class talent to the American-Scottish Foundation (ASF) 2025 Supper Club, marking a special celebration of Glasgow’s 850th anniversary.

The evening’s musical programme will be curated by Noisemaker, the award-winning duo of RCS alumni Claire McKenzie and Scott Gilmour.

The show will feature performances from RCS-trained artists and Glasgow-based musicians – including Mackenzie Wilcox (BA Musical Theatre, 2024) who will perform with Noisemaker –  and Lynette Beaton (BEd Music, 2012) who will perform as part of her band, The Laurettes.

The evening will also feature exclusive footage from the National Library of Scotland’s Kelvin Hall archive.

Excerpts from three upcoming productions by Noisemaker will be showcased – Ceilidh, Snow Goose, and a brand-new work premiering in the US this year.

The week’s activities will conclude with an RCS alumni get-together in the city.

As well as New York, Tartan Week celebrations have taken place across the country, including Washington DC, where cellist Ellen Gira, who graduated from RCS with a Masters in Scottish Music in 2019, entertained guests at a British Embassy reception.

Student and piper Anna Smart, who studies on the Traditional Music degree programme, performed at the Washington Tattoo with her band, the Rollin Drones. They’ll also perform at Tartan Day’s Post-Parade Party in New York.

Katy Higham, Alumni Relations Manager at the RCS said: “For over 25 years, NYC Tartan Week has been celebrating Scottish American heritage by providing meaningful connections through the celebration of Scottish heritage in NYC.

“I’m delighted to be taking part in the Tartan Day Parade and wider Tartan Week activities this year, connecting and celebrating with #RCSAlumni who make our global alumni community such a special one.”