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Auburn Sentinel

Alasdair Fraser Featured with Sierra Fiddle Camp Folk Orchestra

Jun 18, 2024 09:13AM ● By Strings Concerts News Release

The 2016 Ceilidh in the Park was a success.


NEVADA CITY, CA (MPG) - On Saturday, June 22, Alasdair Fraser’s Sierra Fiddle Camp will celebrate the joy of traditional music in Nevada City at beautiful Pioneer Park with their annual “Ceilidh in the Park” picnic concert.

Alasdair Fraser, renowned performer and master teacher, is founder and music director of five music camps on three continents.

Alasdair has once again assembled an international faculty of some of the best traditional musicians in their genre and encourages all revelers and listeners to come and celebrate the traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia and the USA with the Sierra Fiddle Camp Orchestra and featured soloists.

“Alasdair Fraser is recognized throughout the world as one of the finest fiddle players Scotland has ever produced; [his] name is synonymous with the vibrant cultural renaissance which is transforming the Scottish musical scene.” — Scots Magazine

Renowned performer and master teacher of the rich fiddling tradition of Scotland, Alasdair inspires us to higher and deeper levels of self-expression within an embracing community of listeners, learners and like-minded folk. The variety and expressivity of Alasdair’s playing is evident in his numerous recordings — from intimate fiddle/guitar duets, to a more contemporary interpretation of tradition, to high energy original tunes with his Skyedance band. Recent, highly acclaimed albums include “Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Vols. 1 and 2,” and “Fire and Grace, “ which was named Scots Trad Album of the Year for 2004. In Alasdair’s class, you will learn a variety of Scottish tune types and how to use special bowings, ornaments and a rhythmic drive to make the tunes come alive.

Maura performs and tours regularly with duo project Rakish, with guitarist Conor Hearn.  She has toured and shared the stage with Seamus Egan, Maeve Gilchrist, Hanneke Cassel, and Karan Casey, among others. Maura is a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddling Champion, and a winner of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship in Perthshire, Scotland.  In 2019, she completed her master’s degree in violin performance at the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Ani Kavafian; previously, she earned her bachelor’s degree at the New England Conservatory.

Elias is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter. Wielding bagpipes, fiddle, guitar, whistles, and keyboards, Elias weaves melodies from the Scottish and American traditions with catchy beats and original songs that discuss themes of alienation, belonging, and queerness. He has made a name for himself as one of the foremost exponents of traditional Scottish music in America, touring with numerous groups and playing many of the top Celtic festivals including Celtic Connections and Celtic Colours. He currently tours as the pipes and whistle player with Scottish legends Old Blind Dogs.

Special guest, Giovanni Kiyinga is a Ugandan folk and fusion/Afro-beats singer-songwriter and world music artist. He is known for his skills as a multi-instrumentalist who plays the local Ugandan fiddle (endingidi), akogo, adungu, guitar, harmonica, flute, djembe, calabash, congas, drums, and maracas, among others.

Ceilidh in the Park

 The 2017 Ceilidh in the Park was well-attended.