City of Berkeley Holocaust Remembrance - ONLINE
2026-04-12 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Denver) | Online
Organised by City of Berkeley

Online event
The Urgency of Testimony in a World of Denial
REGISTER HERE

Experience the power of personal stories as a holocaust survivor shares her experiences at the City of Berkeley Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Experience the power of personal stories as a holocaust survivor shares her experiences at the 23rd Annual City of Berkeley Holocaust Remembrance Day program. This year’s 2026 program features Anna Rabkin, child survivor from Lviv, Poland. Anna’s inspirational story is an example of extraordinary strength, courage and resilience in the face of life-threatening circumstances.
A central element of the program includes music and candle lighting by survivors.
Featuring Yiddish songs performed by Polina Shepherd.
Register for this free online event and we’ll send you the youtube link to watch it when it premiere’s on Sunday April 12th at 11am.

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The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance. Berkeley, CA, USA
2026-04-12 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States
ADVANCE REGISTRATION HERE
MAIN EVENT PAGE HERE
Join the October-May monthly series celebrating The Joy of Jewish Music and Dance! Great for musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts to meet, learn, play, shmooze, or simply to take in the beauty of these rich traditions. Bring your instruments and dancing shoes.
For this session, music will be taught by Polina Shepherd. Read more about our instructors below.
Session format: During the first 2 hours, participants choose between instruction in vocal and instrumental music taught by Polina or dance taught by Bruce Bierman corresponding to the music. Then after a short snack break, musicians and dancers join to share what they’ve learned in a fun dance party setting.
Session format: During the first 2 hours, participants choose between instruction in vocal and instrumental music taught by Polina or dance taught by Bruce Bierman corresponding to the music. Then after a short snack break, musicians and dancers join to share what they’ve learned in a fun dance party setting.
Basic instrumental proficiency is recommended for musicians. All instruments, singers, and dancers are welcome.
Tickets are $25 – $54 sliding scale. Online ticket sales will end on Friday, April 10 at noon. If not sold out, tickets may be purchased at the door. Kids 18 and under can attend free. No one turned away for lack of funds. Arrange volunteer/trade or reduced-price entry in advance, or with the person at the door.
Additional donations are welcome to help sustain, grow, and cover the cost of this series.
The series is made possible by volunteer time and expertise of organisers Mike Perlmutter, Zina Pozen, and Bruce Bierman, as well as the financial support of Noah Youngs, Amos Lans, and other generous individuals, fiscal sponsorship and support by KlezCalifornia. We are grateful to our past host Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud and the JCC East Bay, and to our new hosts at Congregation Netivot Shalom.
Direct questions about the series to: JOY@KlezCalifornia.org
Bruce Bierman is a celebrated Jewish dance leader and maven known for his joyful, inclusive, and whimsical approach to teaching. With warmth, humor, and a deep love of tradition, Bruce gets everyone on the dance floor—circling, spiraling, and connecting through dances rooted in Yemenite, Mizrachi, Chasidic, Sephardic, Klezmer and classic Israeli traditions. His transformative dance workshops have brought communities together across the West Coast, inviting dancers of all backgrounds to rediscover the ecstasy and soul at the heart of Jewish culture. Where there is Bruce, there is truly a party—and an unforgettable experience of movement, music, and connection.
Polina Shepherd is a composer, performer, educator and cultural activist originally from Siberia, now living in Brighton, United Kingdom. Polina is a powerhouse pianist vocalist with a deep repertoire and a four-octave singing range. She leads choirs, collaborates with bands, orchestras, soloists, ensembles and performs internationally. Her compositions, including music for choirs, theatre, song settings for Yiddish poems are performed all over the world…
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Interwoven: Phoebe Vlassis, Polina Shepherd & Members of Kitka. Oakland, CA, USA
2026-04-12 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | St Paul Lutheran Church, 1658 Excelsior Avenue, Oakland, CA, CA 94602, United States
An evening of songs inspired by textile arts.

The Kitka Institute and Glenview Classical Series present
INTERWOVEN
An evening of songs inspired by textile arts.
BOOK HERE
Artwork: Hung Liu, Woman Working: Loom (1999) National Museum of Women in the Arts

INTERWOVEN brings together three visionary forces in an evening of music inspired by the artistry of textile traditions. Greek weaver-musician Phoebe Vlassis transforms her loom into a percussive instrument, spinning rhythm and song into a living tapestry of sound. Siberian-born composer and vocalist Polina Skovoroda-Shepherd reimagines East European Jewish, Slavic, and Tatar folk heritage through original compositions and daring, spinning improvisations. Joining them are members of Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble, Oakland’s renowned women’s vocal ensemble celebrated for forty-five seasons of fearless exploration of Balkan, Baltic, Caucasian, Mediterranean, and Slavic vocal traditions. Together, these artists weave voice, rhythm, memory, and innovation into a radiant sonic fabric—where ancient threads are interlaced with bold contemporary expression.
Audience members will be invited to raise their voices and become a part of the sonic tapestry.
$30 per person suggested donation. Please consider a more generous pay-it-forward contribution if you are able, otherwise, pay what you can. NOTAFLOF, but a donation is required to reserve a seat.

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KlezNorth. Youlgrave, Derbyshire, UK
2026-04-17 - 2026-04-19 | Youlgrave Village Hall, Holywell Lane, Youlgrave, DE45 1UT, United Kingdom
KlezNorth is an annual festival of Klezmer music, dance and song welcoming both Jewish and non-Jewish people to the wonderful world of Klezmer. KlezNorth is based in Derbyshire, but in this context, “North” regularly includes the Midlands, the Southwest, Wales and Scotland, the North East, East Anglia, and, dare we say, London and the South East. We have a few overseas participants as well.
Read more and book here.
Led by brass player Frank London, all the way from the USA, and singer Polina Shepherd we have Gica Loening on fiddle, Avia Moore teaching dance, Szilvia Csaranko on accordion and the always amazing Michael Alpert.
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KlezNorth AllStar Concert. Youlgrave, UK.
2026-04-19 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | Youlgrave Village Hall, Holywell Lane, Youlgrave, DE45 1UT, United Kingdom
KlezNorth 2026 will be held in the beautiful Peak District village of Youlgrave. Musical Directors are Frank London and Polina Shepherd supported by Micheal Alpert, Avia Moore, Szlivia Csaranko and Gica Loening.
The weekend ends with a public concert – tickets available from our online box office.

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Songs of the Spring Meadow with Slavic Voices. St Leonards-on-Sea, UK
2026-04-26 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | kino-teatr, 43-49 Norman Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN38 0EG, United Kingdom
Kino-Teatr, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0EQ

Sunday 26th April 2026 3:00PM
BOOK HERE

Slavic Voices Brighton choir presents music of all styles from the Slavic world: Orthodox chants, beautiful classics by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Schnittke and others, refined XVIII-XIX-centuries Art songs and gritty folklore from the far corners of Siberia to the banks of the Black Sea. The choir’s repertoire is sung mainly in Russian but also in Polish, Ukrainian, Czech, Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Belorussian, sometimes even Yiddish or Romanian. Slavic Voices perform in a way that is rarely encountered in the choral world. There is freedom and spontaneity in their approach to folklore as well as precision and deep focus in their classical repertoire, presented with great attention to cultural context, history and style. Led by Polina Skovoroda-Shepherd, granddaughter of a Cossack, an internationally acclaimed performer, educator and cultural activist.
by @ManjaWilliams

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Midsummer Sounds. Slavic Voices and Paprika Balkan band. London.
2026-07-04 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS), 144 East Dulwich Grove, London, Greater London, SE22 8TE, United Kingdom
BOOK HERE

Join us for a fiery celebration of culture and diversity, featuring the performances of SLAVIC VOICES LONDON & BRIGHTON CHOIR and the Balkan band PAPRIKA. This concert invites you to immerse yourself in a tapestry of sounds, featuring the mesmerising Slavic Voices and the dynamic Paprika. From the rich harmonies of Eastern European choral traditions to the exuberant beats of Balkan rhythms, prepare for a night that promises to uplift your spirit and ignite your passion for music.
SLAVIC VOICES LONDON & BRIGHTON CHOIR present music of all styles from the Slavic world: Orthodox chants, beautiful classics by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Schnittke and others, refined XVIII-XIX-centuries Art songs and gritty folklore from the far corners of Siberia to the banks of the Black Sea. The choir’s repertoire is sung in Russian, Polish, Slovak, Serbian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Czech, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Belorussian, Bosnian, sometimes even Yiddish or Romanian. Slavic Voices perform in a way that is rarely encountered in the choral world. There is freedom and spontaneity in their approach to folklore as well as precision and deep focus in their classical repertoire, presented with great attention to cultural context, history and style.
PAPRIKA is one of the UK’s leading Balkan bands whose line-up consists of two accordions, violin, guitar, bass guitar, and percussion. This electrifying group fuses together Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsy and classical music in a whirlwind performance of frenzied virtuosity. Fiery melodies and foot-tapping rhythms are interspersed with lilting laments in high-energy sets from this exciting group. Specialising in bringing rare or lost traditional Balkan music back to life, both the curious listener and the well-versed aficionado are sure to enjoy a host of surprises and fast-paced entertainment.

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Her:Kol – Yiddish Women’s Song Cultures. Weimar. Germany
2026-08-01 - 2026-08-08
Her:Kol – Yiddish Women’s Song Cultures. New musical settings of Yiddish women’s poetry by contemporary women composer / performers of Yiddish music. This will be part of Yiddish Summer Weimar Festival week. Polina Shepherd will be one of the featured artists. Watch this space for more.
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Dresden klemer event. Germany. TBA
2026-09-05 - 2026-09-06
This event is now in the planning. Please come back later for more information.
Saturday 5 September
10:00 – 13:00
Ilya Shneyveys +Tayfun Guttshtadt with instrumentalists
Polina Shepherd’s vocal class:
Between Steppe and Shtetl – the Yiddish-Slavic Connection
Come and experience this international Yiddish/Eastern European choir as an instrument of beauty and power. Learn new repertoires and styles. Open your heart and energise your mind.
Rooted in folklore, spiritual traditions, theatre and Art music, these songs describe people’s stories, struggles and resistance, hopes and celebrations. Songs that also echo the themes and melodies of their geographic hosts and neighbouring cultures: Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and many more. We will be singing in Yiddish and some of the other East European languages, exploring the “macaronic” tradition of interweaving tunes, themes and languages.
This workshop will introduce some specific musical elements of these styles – ornamentation, phrasing, modes, timbres etc.
With this multilingual and cross-cultural approach, we will explore the enduring power of Eastern European song and celebrate the connectedness of cultures and communities.
14:30 – 16:00 Together or separate Ilya + Tayfun / Polina with singers
16:30 – 18:00 – Polina with all students – big orchestra and choir
20:30 Karayam dance concert
Sunday 6 September
10:00 – 14:00 Ilya Shneyveys +Tayfun Guttshtadt with instrumentalists. Polina Shepherd with vocalists.
15:00 – 16:30 rehearsal with Polina and soundcheck
17:00 – 18:00 Student Concert
19:00 Lucidarium concert
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Festival of Song concert in Lewes, UK. TBA
2026-10-31 21:00 - 23:00 UTC
Merlin and Polina Shepherd Duo concert for Festival of Song
Late night series
More information is coming soon
Klezmer music and more.
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