The Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara will help kick off a fall full of sounds with its annual Scottish program, featuring classic tunes of the Highlands and Lowlands performed with traditional instruments as well as orchestral strings. The Scottish concerts will be 5 p.m. Oct. 16-17 outdoors at Casa de La Guerra. Tickets are available at folkorchestrasb.com.
Instruments will include bagpipes, harps, mandolins and a hurdy-gurdy, along with violins, and violas, most played by community members, bolstered by a corps of professionals. The ensemble is led by founder, composer, and conductor Adam Phillips.
“We’re so excited to be back in front of a live audience,” Phillips said. “While we look forward to someday returning to our traditional home at the Presidio, our show in July proved that Casa de la Guerra will create a perfect, pastoral setting for this year’s Scottish concert.”
Phillips created the Folk Orchestra in 2017, and even through COVID-19 has kept his musicians together. For each of the Folk Orchestra’s shows, Phillips researches and discovers folk music from traditions around the world, and blends his own voice with strings, fiddles and basses.
Along with the upcoming Scottish event, past shows have included music from Ireland, Scandinavia, Spain, the Mediterranean, and the U.S., along with sea shanties and classic rock. A highlight of the winter music season will be the orchestra’s first holiday music concerts Dec. 18-19.
“We are the only musical group of this kind in the United States, and it’s a tribute to creative Santa Barbara that we have gathered these talented musicians from our community,” Phillips said. “And we have created a community of listeners who really appreciate the music, to say nothing of the chance to sing along.”
For more information, visit folkorchestrasb.com.