Carnegie Hall debut for the Gregg fiddle

Hoolie in New York

Hosted by Alan Cumming and featuring Scottish artists including Mànran, Julie Fowlis, Dougie MacLean, Oban High School Pipe Band and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Hoolie in New York will feature a rare performance of the Gregg fiddle. 

This decorated baroque fiddle dates from 1750 and is attributed to William Gregg, Burns’s dance teacher. The instrument was thought to have been played at the Bachelors’ Club in Tarbolton, where Burns learned to dance, and is now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.

The fiddle was also played at last year’s Hoolie in the Hydro, when it travelled from its display at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to be played in front of thousands in the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow. 

The Gregg fiddle crosses the Atlantic

The fiddle has travelled to the US once before – until now, Ayrshire fiddle players Alistair McCulloch and David Moore have been the only musicians with permission to play it. 

Epic USA trip begins for Burns violin

Following the Trust’s partnership with the Hoolie events, Ewen Henderson performed with the instrument at Hoolie in the Hydro in December 2024, and Duncan Chisholm will play it at Carnegie Hall.

Held during NYC Tartan Week, the largest annual celebration of Scottish heritage in New York City, the Hoolie in New York event will take place on 5 April at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. NTSUSA will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary during the launch of Hoolie in New York. The partnership between our organisations delivers strong transatlantic connections and vital support for Scottish heritage.

Ali MacLeod, Head of Fundraising at the National Trust for Scotland, said: ‘This is an exciting partnership celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Scotland. It’s a unique opportunity to blend entertainment with heritage, creating an enriching experience for all involved.

‘Among the many places and objects we seek to protect and promote are the birthplace and archive of Robert Burns, including the extraordinary Gregg fiddle, and the archive of Gaelic language and song amassed by John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw on the Isle of Canna in the Inner Hebrides. These are just two examples of ways we protect and share the heritage of Scotland’s vibrant traditional music scene. By joining forces with the Hoolie events, we can make a significant impact on cultural preservation and engagement.’

Gary Innes, musician, broadcaster and founder of Hoolie in the Hydro, said: ‘To have Scottish traditional music ringing out across Carnegie Hall’s red seats is testament to the continuing rise in popularity of our country’s musical heritage. Performing Scottish traditional music in this eminent venue truly affirms our genre’s place among the world’s musical tapestry.’