From press release

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center will present Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and American cellist Natalie Haas in concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1, at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St., Rockford. The City of Rockford Pipe Band will also be featured in a special guest appearance.

The pairing of Scottish fiddle legend Fraser with brilliant young American cellist Haas is a classical musical marriage made in heaven. Big and small fiddle, a familiar feature of Scottish music in the 18th century, join together in tunes from the golden era of Robert Burns to Fraser’s own compositions. This engaging duo’s near-telepathic interplay is dazzling, driving, and just plain fun!

Fraser and Haas will present a free student outreach at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 1, at Court Street United Methodist Church. The outreach is open to all middle and high school students. Area teachers and parents of home-schooled children are encouraged to bring their students. Limited space is still available. For reservations, call (815) 964-9713 or e-mail info@mendelssohnpac.org ^[1].

Fraser will also offer a free master class at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1, at the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center. This class is open to strings, guitar, harp, flute, tin whistle and percussion players of all ages. Participants can enjoy playing traditional Celtic music in a group while learning what gives traditional music its “flavor” as well as how to use fiddle tunes to form a medley or larger piece of music. The master class will be geared toward intermediate to advanced students, but enthusiasts of all skill levels are welcome to attend. For reservations, call (815) 964-9713 or e-mail info@mendelssohn.org ^[2].

Tickets for the concert are $25 for adults, $5 for students. Groups of 10 or more adults will receive $5 off per ticket. To order tickets, call (815) 964-9713 or go online at mendelssohnpac.org ^[3].

The concert and outreach are supported by a grant from the Community Arts and Humanities Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The concert is generously supported in part by Andrea and Jerry Gibs, and William and Tammy Schulz, in partnership with Charlotte’s Web for the Performing Arts.