Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas Winter Retreat

Join a wonderful musical community for a two-night musical retreat with fiddle and cello luminaries, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas! This is the 17th annual workshop, for the first time presented by the Celtic Arts Foundation and held at the Seabeck Conference Center.

Alasdair Fraser, a consummate Scottish fiddler and artist, has a deep understanding of traditional styles of music, with a strong focus Scotland’s music. He will co-lead and teach along with Natalie Haas on cello. Their skill and experience will inspire and educate fiddlers, cellists, and guitarists, and other musicians alike!

Natalie Haas on cello, will provide her fresh and exciting ideas to compliment these great tunes. Guaranteed to get everyone on their feet and dance with rhythmic groove with great harmonic support. Perfect for those into accompaniment and the groove as well as melody players.

Not sure if you’ll fit in because you don’t play fiddle or cello? Join us on mandolins, concertinas, accordions, flutes, tin whistles, harps, xylophone, and more! Most classes will take place in a group setting, with optional breakout classes and extra curriculars.

Approximate Schedule

Friday, January 17
4pm-6pm - Check-in and session
6pm - Dinner
7pm-9pm - Class
9pm - Sessions

Saturday, January 18
8am - Breakfast
9am - Class
12pm - Lunch
1pm - Class, sessions, breakouts
6pm - Dinner
7:30pm - Ceilidh!

Sunday, January 19
8am - Breakfast
9am - Class
12pm - Lunch and check-out

Following the end of the program, students will be invited to attend an afternoon concert with Alasdair and Natalie. Details t.b.a.!

Housing Options

This retreat takes place at Seabeck Conference Center in Seabeck, WA. All housing and classrooms are on-campus and walkable. Students have the option of selecting one of three types of housing packages:

1. Single Room + Meals: Private room for one person. Meals provided.
2. Shared Room + Meals: Up to two people per room. Roommate requests can be made during the check-out process, however, students do not need to have a pre-arranged roommate in order to select this option. Meals provided.
3. No Room + Meals: No accommodation at Seabeck. Meals provided.

There is not a no room + no meals option. Students can make requests for specific houses and/or rooms using our tiered housing options. The Celtic Arts Foundation will do all we can to meet these requests, although we cannot guarantee them. Priority for housing requests is granted in order of student registration; early registration is encouraged for students with specific requests.

• Tier One Pricing: Highest cost, newer buildings, private bathrooms (Pines, Salal) = $615 single room, $515 shared room
• Tier Two Pricing: Older buildings, both private (Spruce) and shared bathrooms (Inn, Annex) = $570 single room, $470 shared room
• Tier Three Pricing: Most affordable, oldest buildings, shared bathrooms (Firs) = $515 single room, $415 shared room
• No Room Pricing: Includes meals and tuition but no housing = $300

Seabeck can accommodate a limited number of specialty diets: vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and non-Celiac gluten free. Please note that Seabeck is also a completely nut free facility. Students will indicate any dietary restrictions during the checkout process. For students with allergies or dietary restrictions not listed above, options exist for storage of food brought from home. Chaperones who are not attending classes can register to accompany a student at a reduced rate ($150 less than the student price).

Transportation

All retreat activities take place at the Seabeck Conference Center in Seabeck, WA. Once you arrive at Seabeck you will not need a vehicle. Here is a more in-depth look at transportation.

Seabeck Conference Center: 13395 Lagoon Dr NW, Seabeck, WA 98380

Getting to Seabeck from Seatac Airport

This information is for those flying into Seattle and then heading directly to Seabeck.

If you are not renting a car, there is a shuttle called the Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter that leaves from the Seatac Airport and will take you to Silverdale, WA. You can’t make reservations on this shuttle in this direction, but this is the best option. You can find more details and a timetable for that on their website. When you arrive in Silverdale, you can take a 15-minute taxi or Uber to Seabeck Conference Center.

If you are renting a car, you can put Seabeck Conference Center, 13395 Lagoon Dr. NW, Seabeck, WA 98380 into your map (about 1.5 hours of driving).

If you need to arrive on Thursday the 16th, then we recommend staying the night in Silverdale (the shuttle drops folks of at the Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel). Then doing the taxi or Uber in the morning or driving if you have a car.

Getting from Seabeck to Seatac Airport

This information is for those departing Seabeck and heading directly to Seatac airport.

There is a shuttle called the Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter that leaves from Silverdale and heads to the Seatac Airport every day. We recommend making reservations on this shuttle in this direction. You can find more details and a timetable for that on their website. You can take a 15-minute taxi or Uber to the Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel in Silverdale, WA from Seabeck Conference Center to catch the shuttle.

Please note that by registering for Alasdair and Natalie's Winter Retreat, you are agreeing to our waiver and policies. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Celtic Arts Foundation at 360-416-4934 or events@celticarts.org. Registration ends on December 31st, 2024.

Scholarships

Do you need to apply for a scholarship to make your tuition possible? Apply here.

Ready to make it happen!? Woohoo! Register using the form below: