Just in time for Celtic music fans to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, international folk music stars Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas will join the Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara for a show at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 13 in the Marjorie Luke Theater at Santa Barbara Junior High, 721 E. Cota St.
Fraser is one of the world’s top fiddlers and an ambassador for the lively music. On the cello, Haas has teamed with him to make numerous award-winning albums and tour worldwide.
“We’re so excited for our many local fans to be able to experience these great musicians,” said Adam Phillips, Folk Orchestra founder, director and arranger. “The orchestra and I are also thrilled to be playing some of their tunes with them, as well as sharing our love of this music with our audience.”
Fraser and Haas’s teamwork, driving rhythms, and shared passion for improvising on the melody and groove of Scottish tunes have helped reconstruct and revive the Scottish tradition of playing dance music on violin and cello. This will be the pair’s only Southern California appearance during a national tour.
“We’re really hoping that Celtic music fans will come to see Alasdair and Natalie and then fall in love with our orchestra,” said Phillips about the five-year-old group, the only one of its kind in the U.S. “We have more concerts planned for 2022 that will bring in more from around the world.”
A workshop for local musicians will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 12 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. For more information and to order tickets for the show or the workshop, visit www.folkorchestrasb.com.