” … you would think they’d been playing together for centuries. While his fiddle dances, her cello throbs darkly or plucks puckishly. Then [Haas] opens her cello’s throat, joining Fraser in soaring sustains, windswept refrains, and sudden, jazzy explosions. Their sound is as urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter.” — Boston Globe

Alasdair Fraser, “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling”, and brilliant Californian cellist Natalie Haas span the dynamic range between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. Over the last 20 years of creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across the world, they have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music.

In additional to performing, they both have motivated generations of string players through their teaching at fiddle camps across the globe.

The Ashokan Center is proud to present this annual afternoon concert to showcase Alasdair & Natalie’s virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding, and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music. They’ll be joined by fiddler Emerald Rae, and cellist Donal Sheets who co-teach at the Scottish String Fling. Jay Ungar & Molly Mason will add their renowned musical magic to the show as well. The thrilling acoustic concert will end with a grand finale: a rousing multi-tune arrangement performed by the entire camp!

There’s still space to join us for the whole weekend at the Scottish String Fling at Ashokan from Friday, May 12th dinner through Sunday, May 14th afternoon. Tuition includes this special concert.

Whether you attend in person or virtually, you’ll receive a link to the live stream and a link afterwards to re-watch in our archive for up to 1 year.

Interested in a guided morning nature walk? Check out our Spring Exploration at 10am.