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 AUBURN—Concerts for a Cause, the new concert series at the First Universalist Church, Unitarian Universalist, is proud to be hosting internationally-acclaimed Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and famed “traditional” cello virtuoso, Natalie Haas on the church’s stage at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1.

Tickets are $21.50 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at www.uuconcerts.org .

 The concert, which will take place in the church’s sanctuary, will be raising funds to help the church promote more community-related activities like Concerts for a Cause as well as Advocates for Children, a community-based organization dedicated to fostering programs to both prevent child maltreatment and to empower children and families to lead healthy, productive lives.

 Fraser, acclaimed by the San Francisco Examiner as “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling,” has a concert and recording career spanning 30 years, with a long list of awards, accolades, television credits, and feature performances on top movie soundtracks, including “Last of the Mohicans” ab d “Titanic”. Fraser has been sponsored by the British Council to represent Scotland’s music internationally, and received the Scottish Heritage Center Service Award for outstanding contributions to Scottish culture and traditions.

This seemingly unlikely pairing is the fulfillment of a long-standing musical dream for Fraser, whose cutting-edge musical explorations took him full circle to find a cellist who could help him return the cello to its historical role at the rhythmic heart of Scottish dance music.

 “Cellists are coming out of the woodwork to study with Natalie, to learn how she creates a groove and a whole chunky rhythm section,” says Fraser. “It’s inspiring to hear the cello unleashed from its orchestral shackles.”

 The 25-year-old Haas, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, was just 11 when she first attended Fraser’s Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in California. She responded to Fraser’s challenge to find and release the cello’s rhythmic soul, and four years later, when Natalie was just 15, Fraser and Haas played their first gig together. Now regularly touring with Fraser and creating a buzz at festivals and in concert halls throughout Europe and North America, Natalie is in the vanguard of young cellists who are redefining the role of the cello in traditional music.

 Concerts for a Cause is a new concert concept launched at the church to bring special concerts to the L/A community while raising money for area charities. The concerts are produced by local musician and church choir director, Dave Rowe, with a lot of help from a very involved and capable committee of church members.

For tickets or more information about the Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas concert and other Concerts for a Cause, visit  www.uuconcerts.org or call the church at 207-783-0461. The UU church is located at 159 Pleasant St. 

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