> :: Teachers

TEACHERS:

ALASDAIR FRASER is one of the great masters of Scottish folk music. Born in Clackmannan, he discovered the fiddle at age 8, and it has accompanied him ever since. In 1973 he won the “National Mod” fiddle competition, and after graduating from university with a degree in physics he decided in 1985 to dedicate his life to music.
He is an exquisite performer, both dynamic and delicate, who has inspired millions of fiddlers around the world with his albums, performances and, for more than 20 years, his fiddle camps in Scotland and California.
His film credits include solo performances on the soundtracks of several major films, including Titanic, Last of the Mohicans, Wyatt Earp and The Spitfire Grill.
He formed the band Skyedance, whose very special latest album, “Live in Spain”, featured collaborations with some of the most important musicians from the Iberian Peninsula. Recently, apart from working with his friend and composer Paul Machlis, he has published two delicate and brilliant albums (“Fire and Grace” and “In the Moment”) with Natalie Haas. Both are a clear example of his free spirit and of the perfect duo they form together.

JUAN ARRIOLA is one of the most outstanding fiddlers in traditional music from the Basque Country. Self-taught at first, he continued his studies at the Conservatorio Superior de San Sebastián. He has always maintained a deep love for traditional music. He has helped maintain this tradition as a member of Alboka, with whom he made two albums, and through his collaborations on many other different recordings. He has created many different trad-inspired compositions of his own, and he has a very rich and personal style of interpreting music. Nowadays he teaches at the music schools of Deba and Mutriku.

NATALIE HAAS’ youth has not stopped her from recording several albums and collaborating with many important musicians. She comes from a classical music background, but she began to be interested in Celtic music when she first came to Alasdair’s Valley of the Moon camp at the age of 11. Alasdair Fraser encouraged her to explore the rhythmic and harmonic basis that cello once had in traditional Scottish music.

Now she is a musical reference of incredible creativity and generosity. She teaches at Alasdair’s camps and privately, as well as at Berklee College. She is now on tour with Alasdair presenting their new album: “In the Moment”.

CARLOS BECEIRO first came into contact with music in the late 70’s, during the folk music boom in Spain. His first instrument was the Galician pipe but soon after, he started exploring string instruments. After having played with many Galician bands, he moved to Madrid, where he studied double bass at the Conservatorio and simultaneously got an education in jazz. In 1987 he started to play with the band La Musgaña, with whom he has recorded several albums and toured all over the world. He has a very wide knowledge of string instruments, including the guitar, bouzouki, bass, double bass, and mandolin. He has played with numerous musicians and composers (Luis Delgado, Mauricio Martinotti, Carlos Nuñez, Manuel Luna, Kepa Junkera, Dulce Pontes, Javier Paxariño, Eliseo Parra) and has also carried out his own projects and taught for many years.