Renowned musicians to perform with orchestra

The Boston Globe calls their sound as “urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter.”

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, two of the most famous fiddle musicans in the world, will perform this Saturday evening alongside the CSB/SJU orchestra.

Alasdair Fraser is a fiddlist, and Natalie Haas is a cellist. David Arnott, conductor of the CSB/SJU orchestra, said that, together, they bring “an incredible vibe.”

“Their combination of fiddle and cello might look like a duet, but together they are an eclectic dance band with symphonic force. The orchestra members are excited for the opportunity to perform with these folks and have been preparing since the semester began,” Arnott said.

Fraser is from Clackmannan, Scotland. BBC Radio Scotland has recognized Fraser as “one of Scotland’s most valued tradition-bearers.”

You can hear his fiddle playing in the movies “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Titanic.” In 2011, he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.

Fraser picked up the fiddle at eight years old and has grown to have a deep understanding of the Scottish fiddle tradition.

Haas picked up the cello at the age of nine and is a graduate of The Juilliard School of Music.

She is an associate professor at the Univerity of California, Berkeley, and teaches fiddle workshops for cello throughout the country.

“In the hands of Natalie Haas, the cello becomes a truly magical instrument,” the Green Man band said.

Fraser and Haas joined forces 20 years ago and have performed in festivals and concert halls around the world. The duo’s debut recording, “Fire & Grace,” won the coveted Scots Trad Music “Album of the Year” award, the Scottish equivalent of a Grammy.

Together they teach and inspire musicans throughout the world through their workshops and fiddle camps.

The CSB/SJU orchestra has been honing their fiddle skills since the fall of 2020 and are ready to present their talent to the CSB/SJU community.

“Our students are looking forward to working with these magnificent human beings to not only hone their fiddle skills but to experience the amazing sense of community Fraser and Haas bring with them as they share their journey through music,” Arnott said.

The concert will take place this Saturday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in Escher Auditorium.

Tickets for students are free, and regular admission is $15. Students need to reserve tickets prior to the concert.

Because of the uptick in COVID cases on campus, the Fine Arts Series annnounced that Saturday’s event will be virtual-attendance only.