St Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s national day, honoring it patron saint and cultural legacy. Each year, we commemorate this occasion in Mainz with an evening of dialogue, music, and cross-cultural exchange between Scotland and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In partnership with the Hochschule für Musik Mainz, we celebratred Scotland’s national holiday. The evening featured musical entertainment from Mainz and Scotland alike. Max Scheel (clarinet), Kewen Wang (piano) and Prof. Felix Löffler (basset horn) were joined by Scottish baritone Richard Morrison and the world-class clarsach arist Aisling Coyle from the Isle of Arran.
The musical performances were complimented by speeches by the JGU Commissioner for Scotland Sigrid Rieuwerts, Katharina Heil (Secretary of the Rheinland-Pfalz state government), as well as warm words of greeting from Christine Hullman (German Consul General in Edinburgh) and Angus Robertson (Scottish MP and Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution).
We are delighted to share the recording of our St Andrew’s Day celebration at the Hochschule für Musik Mainz
On St Andrew’s Day 2024, we celebrated Scotland’s national day together with representatives from the Ministry of Science and Health, the University of Glasgow, and the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The evening highlighted the partnership between Scotland and Rheinland-Pfalz, with a shared focus on advancing life sciences through collaboration, innovation, and mutual support.
The celebration opened with a fantastic musical performance by Prof Dr Kirsteen McCue, JGU Scotland HUB Fellow and lecturer at the University of Glasgow, setting the collaborative and cultural tone for the evening.
Speeches were given by Ministerial Director Katharina Heil and Prof Dr Eckhard Thies, State Coordinator for Biotechnology, who reflected on the strength of the Scotland-Rhineland-Palatinate partnership and its vital role in fostering scientific excellence. Dr Donna MacKinnon, the newly appointed Deputy Director of European Relations of the Scottish Government, further highlighted the relationship between the two countries and its cultural significance.
They were joined by Dr Sigrid Rieuwerts, Director of the JGU Scotland HUB, and Dr Alison McIntosh, Director of the Scottish Universities Life Science Alliance (SULSA). Together, they introduced the current grant and funding scheme under the RLP-SCO x Life Sciences Project, designed to support joint research initiatives and strengthen cross-border scientific networks.
The evening was not only a celebration of Scottish heritage but also a testament to the power of international collaboration in driving forward the future of life sciences.
The 2023 St Andrew’s Day reception in Mainz was a celebration of inspiring conversations, music, and friendship between Rheinland-Pfalz and Scotland.
We were joined by Catherine Reeves, Head of Scottish Government in Berlin, as well as Jenny Sturgeon, singer-songwriter from Shetland and JGU Scotland HUB Fellow in 2023/2024.
Following captivating speeches and a musical performance, the evening concluded with wine, pretzels, and lively conversation.