Join us for the world premiere of Walborg and Alda, a cantata about the friendship between two Swedish-American women a century ago. They were nurses in a maternity ward in Chicago right after the Spanish Flu. Walborg fell in love with and married Pastor Axel Bergstedt and sadly died of cancer 18 months after the birth of her daughter, Polly. Alda Johanna Nelson moved from Chicago to Brockton, Massachusetts, and dedicated her life helping Axel raise her best friend’s baby, Polly, who eventually became the mother of our Artistic Director, Jody Simpson.
Boston-based composer and dear friend Megan Henderson, who composed the well-received Police Log ten years ago, is creating Walborg and Alda as I type! It will be a very special concert, featuring soloists, children and women’s chorus. Bring your hankies.
About Megan Henderson
Megan Henderson is a multi-instrumentalist and singer hailing from the West Highland town of Fort William and is currently ‘Musician of the Year’, as awarded at the 2022 Scots Trad Music Awards. Growing up in a household with six older siblings all immersed in music, her path to becoming a musician was almost inevitable. Her early musical training was received through local Feisean and the Lochaber Musical School.
Megan went on to study Classical Violin at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where she gained her degree and valuable experience in performance, composition and arrangement. Traditional Scottish music always remained a strong passion and shortly after graduating she joined highly respected Scottish folk group Breabach. In her 12 years with the band, Breabach have carved out international recognition as one of Scotland’s most innovative and creative acts. 6 time winners at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, they have performed for Radio and Television, co-curated cross cultural collaborations and released 7 albums alongside a hectic touring schedule which has seen them play at venues including the Sydney Opera House.
Her versatility, technical skill and outgoing nature make Megan a much in demand session musician, performing and recording with artists including Salsa Celtica, the Grit Orchestra, Le Vent Du Nord, Kim Carnie, Kris Drever and Duncan Chisolm.
2022 marked the release of her debut album Pilgrim Souls at Celtic Connections. An instrumental and vocal suite inspired by the work of fellow Fort William native Christine Clark, whose dream-like, impressionistic paintings depict — in the artist’s own words — “imagined landscapes and narratives which transport us to unknown lands, conveying moments of solitude, love, hope, beauty and loss.”
Megan’s exciting musical journey continues into 2023 with her new partnership of Su-a Lee (Cello/Saw) and Alistair Paterson (Piano/Harmonium). Henderson combines beauty, energy and finesse to create a versatile programme of original music and song.
(Photos by Elly Lucas)