Polina Shepherd

Sing with Me Autumn run
2020-11-19 18:30 - 19:15 UTC
Sing with Me Russian & Yiddish Song Sessions Online are open to everyone.
2 November – 3 December, twice a week 10.30 am California / 1.30 pm New York/ 6.30 pm UK time / 7.30 pm most of Europe

Mondays for Yiddish, Thursdays for Russian songs.
A different song taught in every session, each meeting being 40 – 45 minutes.
No knowledge of languages is needed.
♦ NEW: in this run we add more focus on voice production and other stylistic elements of the songs.
A printable song sheet is uploaded to this page at least two hours before we start and shown on the screen during the sessions.
Videos are posted online afterwards.
Come to as many sessions as you like.
Payments are really appreciated but you can join us free of charge too.
Some songs will be introduced with optional harmony lines.
A Zoom link for each session, as well as a printable song sheet with music, lyrics, translation and transliteration appears here minimum two hours before the session, as well as information about the song, sometimes with audio or video links. Occasionally we will repeat our most loved songs so please keep your eye on our repertoire and mark your favourites.
2 Nov. – SWM 81, Yiddish song, see past sessions page5 Nov. – SWM 82, Russian song, see past sessions page
9 Nov. – SWM 83, Yiddish song
12 Nov. – SWM 84, Russian song
16 Nov. – SWM 85, Yiddish song
19 Nov. – SWM 86, Russian song
23 Nov. – SWM 87, Yiddish song
26 Nov. SWM 88, Russian song
30 Nov. – SWM 89, Yiddish song
3 Dec. – SWM 90, Russian song + final party.

Related Images:

Online Yiddish Choir @ the Workers Circle
2020-11-18 08:00 - 17:00, 2020-11-11 18:00 - 19:30, 2020-11-04 18:00 - 19:30, 2020-10-28 18:00 - 19:30, 2020-10-21 18:00 - 19:30, 2020-10-14 18:00 - 19:30
Wednesdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm New York time – part of The Workers Circle Autumn Courses
October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18; December 2, 9, 16
Explore part of the rich cultural heritage of Yiddish songs that describe the history, memories and yearnings, journeys to freedom and love. They will range from old to new, from unknown to classics and from simple to challenging — and all will bring hope and power to our hearts.
Song sheets with music, transliterations and transliterations will be provided. Most songs will be introduced with 2-4 part vocal harmonies, though we won’t be able to sing together.
Open to all.
Stretch your vocal muscles with a charismatic leader and add your voice to the international chorus of Yiddish singers.
This will be a continuous course where we learn not just the songs but harmonies and parts. We won’t be able to hear everyone at the same time but we’ll think of some way of getting as close to being a choir as possible. If the groups feels inspired, we could create a music video of some other final product for our course. Let’s get creative! Registration here

Related Images:

Sing with Me Autumn run
2020-11-16 18:30 - 19:15, 2020-11-12 18:30 - 19:15, 2020-11-09 18:30 - 19:15, 2020-11-05 18:30 - 19:15, 2020-11-02 18:30 - 19:15
Sing with Me Russian & Yiddish Song Sessions Online are open to everyone.
2 November – 3 December, twice a week 10.30 am California / 1.30 pm New York/ 6.30 pm UK time / 7.30 pm most of Europe

Mondays for Yiddish, Thursdays for Russian songs.
A different song taught in every session, each meeting being 40 – 45 minutes.
No knowledge of languages is needed.
♦ NEW: in this run we add more focus on voice production and other stylistic elements of the songs.
A printable song sheet is uploaded to this page at least two hours before we start and shown on the screen during the sessions.
Videos are posted online afterwards.
Come to as many sessions as you like.
Payments are really appreciated but you can join us free of charge too.
Some songs will be introduced with optional harmony lines.
A Zoom link for each session, as well as a printable song sheet with music, lyrics, translation and transliteration appears here minimum two hours before the session, as well as information about the song, sometimes with audio or video links. Occasionally we will repeat our most loved songs so please keep your eye on our repertoire and mark your favourites.
2 Nov. – SWM 81, Yiddish song, see past sessions page
5 Nov. – SWM 82, Russian song, see past sessions page
9 Nov. – SWM 83, Yiddish song
12 Nov. – SWM 84, Russian song
16 Nov. – SWM 85, Yiddish song
19 Nov. – SWM 86, Russian song
23 Nov. – SWM 87, Yiddish song
26 Nov. SWM 88, Russian song
30 Nov. – SWM 89, Yiddish song
3 Dec. – SWM 90, Russian song + final party.

Related Images:

Yiddish Song: Step Forverts Kids Песни на Идиш: Дети.
2020-10-18 19:00 - 20:30
По-русски читайте ниже
Yiddish Song: Step Forverts Kids in partnership w/ Kleztival
11 am California/ 2pm New York / 3pm Sao Paulo/ 7pm London /
8 pm Berlin / 21.00 Kishinev & Moscow
Live on Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/polinashepherd

Yiddish Song: Step Forverts Kids in partnership w/ Kleztival
11 am California/ 2pm New York / 3pm Sao Paulo/ 7pm London / 8 pm Berlin / 21.00 Kishinev & Moscow
A unique international gathering of Yiddish song activists presents Kids!
Our Forum presents the new generation of Yiddish song performers. 10 – 15 children from 3 to 16 from all over the globe present Yiddish songs they love. Let’s give them a warm welcome on the international stage and encourage to keep going.
The programme will be led in English and Russian.
This event is presented in partnership with and is part of Kleztival Brasil.
Mark the date, watch this space for updates.
Yiddish Song: Step Forverts is a project by Efim Chorny (Moldova) and Polina Shepherd (Russia/UK) that brings together Yiddish song activists from all over the world in online presentations. We had over 40 presenters from Russia, Moldova, UK, Canada, USA, Brazil, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, Romania, France, Latvia with an amazing variety of styles and genres of Yiddish song – performers, composers, lecturers/researchers, event organisers who all sing their unique material. We truly hope that our international project will make a good impact on our culture and our world and help us all to Step Forwards!

Приглашаем вас посетить уникальное событие в истории песни на идиш.
Мы представляем международный форум «Песни на Идиш: Этапы Развития. Дети» с прямой трансляцией на Фэйсбуке на этой странице: https://www.facebook.com/polinashepherd
Участники проекта – юные талантливые исполнители от 3-х до 16-и лет со всего мира. Они представят лучшие образцы народных и авторских песен на «мамэ-лошн». Давайте тепло поддержим их на сцене нашего Форума!
Программа проводится при партнерской поддержке и в рамках Фестиваля Kleztival Brasil-2020.
Не пропустите это событие и следите за нашими обновлениями.
Проект «Песни на Идиш: Этапы Развития», организованный Полиной Шеперд (Великобритания) и Ефимом Черным (Молдова), собрал более 40 исполнителей из Европы, США, Канады и Бразилии, которые представили идишскую песню во всём разнообразии ее жанров и стилей.
Надеемся, что наш Проект внесёт весомый вклад в развитии еврейской песни и языка идиш, и откроет новые творческие таланты.
Related Images:

Sing with Me 80 Russian / Yiddish Song + socialising
2020-10-08 18:30 - 19:15
Sing with Me Russian & Yiddish Song Sessions Online are open to everyone.
Twice a week 10.30 am California / 1.30 pm New York/ 6.30 pm UK time / 7.30 pm most of Europe
3 September – 8 October. Project page
Sing With Me First edition had 70 sessions since the beginning of the lock down and we are starting regular sessions again.

Mondays for Yiddish, Thursdays for Russian songs.
A different song taught in every session, each meeting being 40 – 45 minutes.
No knowledge of languages is needed.
A printable song sheet is uploaded to this page at least two hours before we start and shown on the screen during the sessions.
Videos are posted online afterwards.
Come to as many sessions as you like.
Payments are really appreciated but you can join us free of charge too.
∗NEW ∗ Some songs will be introduced with harmony lines – sing with me in harmonies.
A Zoom link for each session, as well as a printable song sheet with music, lyrics, translation and transliteration appears here minimum two hours before the session, as well as information about the song, sometimes with audio or video links. Occasionally we will repeat our most loved songs so please keep your eye on our repertoire and mark your favourites.

For previous sessions’ information and sheet music go here or watch our Youtube playlist.
We usually have 30-40 people joining us from Russia, USA, Hawaii, Australia, Brazil, Iceland, Canada, Ukraine, most of Europe, and New Zealand… New people join every time but we also now have a wonderful and welcoming international Sing With Me community.
Our current block of sessions:

Thursday 3 September – Russian Song
Monday 7 September – Yiddish Song
Thursday 10 September – Russian Song
Monday 14 September – Yiddish Song
Thursday 17 September – Russian Song
Monday 21 September – Yiddish Song
Thursday 24 September – Russian Song
Thursday 1 October – Russian Song
Monday 5 October – Yiddish Song
Thursday 8 October – Russian / Yiddish song, two languages and a little party to share impressions and socialise.

Related Images:

online Yiddish Choir @ The Workers Circle
2020-10-07 18:00 - 19:30
Wednesdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm New York time – part of The Workers Circle Autumn Courses
October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18; December 2, 9, 16
Explore part of the rich cultural heritage of Yiddish songs that describe the history, memories and yearnings, journeys to freedom and love. They will range from old to new, from unknown to classics and from simple to challenging — and all will bring hope and power to our hearts.
Song sheets with music, translations and transliterations will be provided. Most songs will be introduced with 2-4 part vocal harmonies, though we won’t be able to hear each other at the same time.
Open to all.
Stretch your vocal muscles with a charismatic leader and add your voice to the international chorus of Yiddish singers.
This will be a continuous course where we learn not just the songs but harmonies and parts. We won’t be able to hear everyone at the same time but we’ll think of some way of getting as close to being a choir as possible. If the groups feel inspired, we could create a music video of some other final product for our course. Let’s get creative! Registration here

Related Images:

Sing with Me 79 Yiddish Song
2020-10-05 18:30 - 19:15

Sing with Me 78 Russian Song
2020-10-01 18:30 - 19:15

Sing with Me 77 Russian Song
2020-09-24 18:30 - 19:15

September Lid Concert for UCL Virtual Foundation for Endangered Languages Annual Conference: FEL24
2020-09-23 19:30 - 20:30
Virtual Foundation for Endangered Languages Annual Conference: FEL24
September Lid
Concert of Yiddish music with Polina Shepherd 23 September, time TBC
Polina Shepherd solo concert, part of the UCL Conference Teaching and Learning Resources for Endangered Languages 23-25 September
19:30-20:30 UK time
The first evening of the conference will include September Lid a concert of Yiddish music by renowned performer Polina Shepherd.
Polina Shepherd was born in Siberia and grew up in a home where songs were often sung at the family table. When she was a young child, her family moved to Tatarstan, where she found herself drawn to the specific Islamic ornamentation and timbre of the area. This is still present in her unique vocal style. Now a globally renowned performer, composer, choir leader and cultural activist, she brings the songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl bang up to date with passion and haunting soul. Her latest projects are about bringing the world together. Polina will bring us a selection of her latest compositions. Come and enjoy a unique performance, full of beautiful, inspiring song.
This event is free. Please consider making a donation to FEL’s grant programme in lieu of a registration fee.
TALKS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THREE TIME BLOCKS: 8:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00 AND 18:00-22:00 (BST, UK TIME).
Conference web site: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/hebrew-jewish/events/2020/sep/online-foundation-endangered-languages-annual-conference-fel24
Sign up for the event here by 19 September 2020: https://fel24.eventbrite.co.uk/ Please use the same registration page whether you register for one, two or three days.

Related Images:

Sing with Me 76 Yiddish Song
2020-09-21 18:30 - 19:15

Shute Festival Online - Singalong & Concert
2020-09-18
6-7:15 pm UK time, 6pm UK / 10 – 11.15 am California/ 1 – 2.15 pm New York / 7 – 8.15 pm Berlin / 20.00 – 21.15 Kishinev &Moscow
Free, registration is here
A Singing Journey through the Steppes & the Shtetl – Singalong & Concert
POLINA SHEPHERD: Russian & Yiddish songs, part of Shute Festival, Devon, UK
DUE TO COVID-19 Shute Festival is currently offering events via zoom with recordings available on youtube and our website after the event. Full details of how to join each event via zoom will be sent to our mailing list and posted on the website at least two weeks beforehand.

Born in Siberia, Polina started her musical training as a child around her Russian Jewish family table where songs were frequently sung after eating borscht and drinking homemade wine. Polina joined Russia’s first klezmer band in 60 years and soon became the principal Yiddish choir leader of the former Soviet Union. Whilst living in Russia and studying at the State Academy, Polina toured the dark Soviet theatres, performed to Boris Yeltsin and to the World in 1998-2002. Now living in Britain since 2003 she continues to travel the world performing solo, as a duo with Merlin Shepherd and with many others. With over 20 years of professional experience, Polina now leads several choirs and also works as an educator teaching vocal workshops internationally.
Come and learn some songs with Polina in the singalong (no previous experience or Russian or Yiddish language required), stretch your vocal muscles and then listen to her perform.
Festival website: http://www.shutefest.org.uk/
Related Images:

Sing with Me 75 Russian song
2020-09-17 18:30 - 19:15

Sing with Me 74 Yiddish Song
2020-09-14 18:30 - 19:15

Network Meeting for Women & Non-binary People in Yiddish Culture
2020-09-11 - 2020-09-13
Network Meeting for Women & Non-binary People in Yiddish Culture

Freitag, 11. September 2020, 16:00 Uhr
bis Sonntag, 13. September 2020, 22:00 Uhr
Villa Leon, Philipp-Koerber-Weg 1, 90439 Nürnberg

Available online

+++ For German, please scroll down +++
First International Network Meeting for Women and Non-Binary People in Yiddish Culture
“Looking to the past in order to change the future.”
Who is this meeting for?
The first network meeting for women and non-binary people in Yiddish culture will take place from 11-13 September 2020 in the Villa Leon in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany. The meeting will offer an inclusive and safe place where we welcome women* of all ages and religious backgrounds. We invite artists of all kinds to participate, from amateurs to professional musicians and performers as well as researchers and Yiddishists, cantors or rabbis, journalists, festival organisers or assistants in the cultural sector, bookers and assistants, agents, visual artists, photographers etc. The aim of the meeting is to learn from each other and from our diverse experiences. Women who are active in other, related cultural domains are also very welcome to join us.
*The network is trans-inclusive and welcomes all women.

Why are we organising this meeting?
This is the first ever network for women in Yiddish culture. The aim of the project is to create our own space where we can create new art, support new collaborations, facilitate professional networking, help artists gain access to new opportunities for work, and to increase the range of people and institutions we are working with.
It is high time to bring together women of all generations and all religious and cultural backgrounds. Like women in other creative economy branches (eg. “Pro Quote Film” and “Burning Issues”-Konferenz) women in Yiddish culture have also been reacting to the #Metoo debate, and these issues continue to have an effect on our professional lives. We want to work together and support each other to create lasting change in our community. We aim to open up more space for women in existing structures and to counteract the structural inequality and lack of representation in cultural spaces.

The aim of this meeting is not to attack our male colleagues. This space is valuable as a safe space where women* can meet, share stories, and discuss these issues in a non-mixed context, leading to lasting collaborations and new networks. We think it is time for women to get organised together and and set out our wishes clearly.
What will happen during the meeting?
Our approach to organising the meeting also draws on our dissatisfaction with existing structures. Therefore as much as possible we aim to work without a hierarchy, avoiding official ‘presentations’ or ‘keynote speakers’, and instead using working groups with moderators as a better context for sharing our experiences and planning strategies. During the three days, alongside scheduled sessions, participants will have space to steer the direction of the meeting, with plenty of time left open for informal work in jams, discussion groups, academic exchange, and any other ideas or initiatives that are proposed during the weekend. At the end of the weekend, the results of the working groups will be presented in a public panel discussion. Following the weekend, the results of the working groups will also be published online.

Further information will be available soon on our website (online from July 2019 on), and here on facebook.
Stay tuned!
https://inemwyc.wordpress.com/
Greetings from the organising committee:
Andrea Pancur, Joanna Britton, Polina Shepherd
———————————————————————————-
Erstes Internationales Netzwerktreffen von Frauen und non-binären Menschen in der jiddischen Kultur

“Die Vergangenheit in Augenschein nehmen, um die Zukunft zu verändern.”
Für wen ist das Treffen gedacht?
Das erste Netzwerktreffen von Frauen und non-binären Menschen in der jiddischen Kultur vom 11.-13. September 2020 in der Nürnberger Villa Leon soll als inklusiver, sicherer Raum allen Frauen (cis & LGBT) jeden Alters und religiöser Ausrichtung zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Zur Teilnahme eingeladen sind Künstlerinnen aller Art – von der Amateurin zur professionellen Musikerin, Wissenschaftlerin, Kantorin, Rabinerin, Journalistin, Festivalorganisatorin und -assistentin, Bookerin und Assistentin, Agentin, Fotografin und Jiddistin.
Das Treffen soll dazu dienen, dass wir alle voneinander und unseren unterschiedlichen Erfahrungen lernen können. Selbstverständlich sind auch Frauen herzlich willkommen, die in ähnlich gelagerten, anderen kulturellen Zusammenhängen arbeiten.

Warum organisieren wir das Treffen?
Leider existiert bisher kein explizites Netzwerk für Frauen in der jiddischen Kultur. Wir wollen nun damit beginnen, uns unseren eigenen Raum zu schaffen, um neue Inhalte zu generieren, die Zusammenarbeit zu fördern, berufliche Vernetzung zu vereinfachen, Zugang zu mehr Arbeitsfeldern zu erschließen und den Umfang der Personen und Institutionen, mit denen wir zusammenarbeiten, zu erweitern.
Wir denken, dass es jetzt an der Zeit ist, Frauen aus allen Generationen, religiösen Ausrichtungen und jeden kulturellen Hintergrunds zusammenzubringen. Ebenso wie Frauen in anderen Bereichen der Kreativwirtschaft (z.B. “Pro Quote Film” und “Burning Issues”-Konferenz) reagieren die Frauen in der jiddischen Kultur auf die derzeitige #Metoo-Debatte und ihre Auswirkungen auf das Arbeitsleben. Wir wollen einander unterstützen, um eine nachhaltige Veränderung zu erwirken, mit dem Ziel, Frauen Räume in bestehenden Netzwerken zu eröffnen und deren struktureller Benachteiligung von Frauen entgegenzutreten.
Das Treffen richtet sich explizit nicht gegen Männer, vielmehr wollen wir ohne Männer unsere Ideen aus Frauensicht diskutieren und uns nachhaltig miteinander vernetzen. Denn es ist an der Zeit, dass sich Frauen untereinander organisieren und sich stärker für ihre Forderungen einsetzen.

Wie ist der Ablauf des Treffens?
Unser Ansatz des Netzwerktreffens versteht sich als Kritik an den bestehenden Strukturen. Wir wollen so hierarchiefrei wie möglich arbeiten, auf Vorträge verzichten und uns deswegen in moderierten Arbeitsgruppen austauschen. Neben der inhaltlichen Arbeit wird es während des dreitägigen Treffens umfangreichen “Open Space” geben: Jams, informelle Diskussionsgruppen, informellen akademischen Austausch, kurz: anything goes. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeitsgruppen werden zum Abschluss des Treffens im Rahmen einer öffentlichen Podiumsdiskussion vorgestellt. Im Nachgang des Treffens sollen die Ergebnisse der Arbeitsgruppen im Internet veröffentlicht werden.
Alle weiteren Informationen erhaltet auf unserer Webpage (online ab Juli 2019) und hier auf facebook.
Stay tuned!
https://inemwyc.wordpress.com/
Herzliche Grüße

Related Images:

Sing with Me 73 Russian song
2020-09-10 18:30 - 19:15

B&W silent film with live accompaniment, The Sound & Light Cinematic Duo
2020-09-09 17:00 - 18:30
September 9, 12:00 pm New York, 5pm UK, 6pm most of Europe – ONLINE
B&W silent film with live accompaniment . This event is part of the YI LOVE YIDDISH FEST 2020.
“Пять невест” (Five Brides) – Aleksandr Solovyov 1930 This is an amazing piece of Soviet agit-prop from 1930.
This extraordinary piece of cinematic story telling was made by Ukrainian Film Director and former Red Army soldier, A. Solovyov. He brings astonishing narrative, action and direction. Cinematography by Albert Kyun brings us amazing camera tilting, close-up, panning shots, camera rolling etc etc. The minimalist yet meaningful screenplay is by Dovid Maryan.
Merlin and Polina Shepherd​ as The Sound & Light Cinematic Duo accompany this fantastic film on clarinet, piano and voice.
•WATCH HERE•
Facebook -> @Yiddishkayt Initiative
Youtube -> https://bit.ly/YILoveYoutube
More about the film here
More about the project here
Facebook event is coming soon on this page

International Virtual YI ❤ NY YiddishFest 2020 – 7 – 13 September, event web site

SOUTH FLORIDA – The Jewish/Yiddish event of the year will take place virtually from September 7- 13 when the Yiddishkayt Initiative (YILoveJewish.org) hosts its “Inaugural International VIRTUAL YI Love YiddishFest.”
This is the first Yiddishfest that YI is presenting virtually – and will allow participants from all around the world to sign on to their computers, tablets and phones to enjoy this FREE festival of outstanding Jewish cultural and Yiddish language content.

Major American and International celebrities and stars of the Jewish and Yiddish world will gather to present performances, concerts, theatre readings, discussions, film screenings, lectures and more throughout the day from 10 a.m. to midnight. According to Avi Hoffman, the CEO of the Yiddishkayt Initiative, no virtual Yiddish/Jewish festival of this size and scope has ever been put on before. Hoffman says he hopes the “YI Love YiddishFest” will attract audiences worldwide and be a huge success.
Related Images:

Sing with me 72 Yiddish song
2020-09-07 18:30 - 19:15

Sing with me 71
2020-09-03 18:30 - 19:15

Inemw*yc: Klezmer Cocktails
2020-08-30 20:00 - 21:30
International Network for Women & Non-Binary People in Yiddish Culture
Inemw*yc: Klezmer Cocktails
Join us at the first live event of INEMW*YC 2020: a chilled Sunday zoom-party where we can unwind together for an hour over a cocktail or coffee (depending on your timezone).
The programme for the network meeting is shaping up nicely, promising lots of opportunities for new connections, reflection, and personal development open to all women and non-binary people in the Yiddish culture community.
In fact, the meeting is going to be so good that we want to get started a bit early! So, don’t miss this chance to find out more about the conference from the organisers, meet some of the presenters, connect with friends and colleagues from all over the world, and get the ball rolling on our conversation about gender and klezmer!
Bring your own drink. Cocktail accessories and dressing up optional but highly encouraged.

Time zone converter: https://time.is/de/compare
Please register in advance by sending an email to inemwyc.programme@gmail.com and we will send you the zoom link.
The organisers and workshop moderators are offering their work on a voluntary basis, but of course we want to make sure that everyone involved receives a fair fee.
Therefore we would like to encourage you to donate via PayPal. All donations go directly to cover organising costs and fees.
paypal.me/AndreaPancur
Subject: inemw*yc
Join us for a weekend of discussion and music to make our voices stronger – 11-13 September.

Related Images:

Trip to Yiddishland Online concert
2020-08-18 20:15 - 21:30
This Trip to Yiddishland Online concert is part of a three full days programme.
Our program includes Yiddish classes for all levels and ages, lectures by Yiddish scholars (in English and Yiddish), klezmer, Yiddish song and Yidishe nigunim workshops, daily concerts featuring Klezmer stars, Yiddish singalongs, children’s program and the opportunity to meet with ardent Yiddishists from around the world. We hope you will join us and become a part of our international Trip to Yiddishland mishpokhe! More here

August 18 – Tribute to Adrienne Cooper and Pesah Fiszman
3.15pm – 4.30pm New York time / 8.15pm – 9.30pm UK time

Sarah Gordon; Frank London; Lorin Sklamberg, Marilyn Lerner, Joanne Borts, Dan Kahn, Jeff Warschauer & Deborah Strauss, Josh Dolgin, Eleanor Reissa, Polina Shepherd, Zalmen Mlotek, Theresa Tova, Fima Chorny and Suzanna Gergus, Michael Winograd
Related Images:
