Slavic Voices concert. Steyning Festival.
2024-05-27 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Steyning Parish Church, Vicarage Lane, Steyning, BN44 3YQ, United Kingdom
More information and booking link TBA soon
Slavic Voices present music of all styles from the Slavic world: Orthodox chants, beautiful classics by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky 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 repertoire is sung mainly in Russian but also in Macedonian, Ukrainian, Belorussian, occasionally in Bulgarian, Polish, Czech, and adding a guest visit by a song in Yiddish or Georgian.
Join us on the journey to explore and share this culturally unique and musically diverse repertoire with the wide world.

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Voices from the East. Concert in Brighton.
2024-06-07 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Brighton Unitarian Church
Klezmer music, Yiddish Songs and their cultural neighbours.
BOOK HERE

Hear the songs and instrumental music of Jewish Eastern Europe, mingled with modern traditions.
Four of the world’s leading exponents in Yiddish instrumental and vocal music come together for an evening of songs, stories and culture. Hailing from the UK, Latvia, USA and Tatarstan, this motley band of Yiddishists bring, voices, violin, clarinets and piano to make a varied and exciting collaborative programme. Yiddish songs of lament, yearning, love and spirituality. Instrumental tunes comprising of dances, sacred tunes, and ritual music.
Sasha Lurje (Latvia/Germany) – vocals
Craig Judelman (USA / Germany) – fiddle
Merlin Shepherd (UK) – clarinets
Polina Shepherd (Russia / UK) – voice, piano
Sasha Lurje (Riga, Latvia) is a Berlin-based Yiddish singer performing and teaching throughout the world. Her experience in traditional song, various vocal techniques, and genres adds up to a wide range that creates great performances. Her work includes projects ranging from Yiddish progressive rock with her band Forshpil to cabaret with Semer Ensemble, Helsinki Yiddish Cabaret and Cabaret Yitesh, from traditional Yiddish music expression with her trio Lebedik to historic recreations with Yale University project “Songs from the Testimonies”.
Craig Judelman (Seattle, USA) is a fiddler, composer and educator on both sides of the Atlantic. His background in classical music and composition, combined with decades of immersion in American ‘Old Time’ music cultivated a unique perspective on Klezmer fiddling. Since moving to Berlin in 2017 he has developed a singular voice in the klezmer scene. He has taught or performed at many of the major klezmer festivals
Merlin Shepherd (Cardiff, Wales) has been a fixture in the international Yiddish/Klezmer scene, both as teach
er and performer for three decades. Merlin has also worked as Music Director with several of the UK’s leading theatre companies including The RSC, National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and most recently at The Menier Chocolate Factory.
Polina Shepherd (Kazan, Tatarstan) is an internationally renowned singer, composer, educator and cultural activist. She brings the songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl up to date with passion and haunting soul. Her singing is deeply rooted in east European Jewish and Russian folk. Growing up in Tatarstan also placed her close to Islamic ornamentation and timbre, which can be heard in her unique vocal style and four-octave range.

Related Images:

Voices from the East. Concert in London.
2024-06-08 14:30 - 17:00 UTC | green note, Green Note 106 Parkway, London, NW1 7AN, United Kingdom
BOOK HERE
Hear the songs and instrumental music of eastern Europe, mingled with modern music traditions. Four of the world’s leading exponents in Yiddish instrumental and vocal music come together for an evening of songs, stories and culture. Hailing from the UK, Latvia, USA and Tatarstan, this motley band of Yiddishists bring, voices, violin, clarinets and piano to make a varied and exciting collaborative programme. Yiddish songs of lament, yearning, love and spirituality. Instrumental tunes comprising of dances, sacred tunes, and ritual music.
Sasha Lurje (Latvia/Germany – vocals, poyk) is a Berlin based singer who has performed and taught Yiddish singing throughout Europe and The Americas. Her knowledge of traditional song, diverse vocal techniques and genres inform her performances. Her work includes projects ranging from Yiddish progressive rock, cabaret, traditional Yiddish music and historic recreations. Sasha is a co-founder of Shtetl Berlin and Seattle Yiddish Fest.
Craig Judelman (USA/Germany – violin) is a fiddler, composer and educator on both sides of the Atlantic. His background in classical music and composition, combined with decades of immersion in American ‘Old Time’ music cultivated a unique perspective on Klezmer fiddling. Since moving to Berlin in 2017 he has developed a singular voice in the klezmer scene. He has taught or performed at many of the major klezmer festivals.
Merlin Shepherd (UK – clarinets) has been a fixture of the international Yiddish/Klezmer scene as a player, educator and composer for over three decades. One of the first to play on period clarinets, Merlin has broken new ground in stylistically and historically informed playing. Merlin has also worked as Music Director with several of the UK’s leading theatre companies including The RSC, National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and most recently at The Menier Chocolate Factory.
Polina Shepherd (Tatarstan/UK – vocals, piano) is a composer, performer and educator originally from Russia, now living in Brighton. She performs solo, collaborates with ensembles, soloists and choirs internationally. Her composition is focused on East European styles influenced by classical and folk music. She’s written over 120 compositions; music for theatre, choirs, settings for Yiddish poems, several vocal cycles, many of which have been commissioned and performed all over the world.
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Voices from the East. Hastings, UK
2024-06-09 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Henry Ward Hall, 24-25 Cambridge Road, Hastings,, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1DJ, United Kingdom
BOOK HERE

Hear the songs and instrumental music of Jewish Eastern Europe, mingled with modern traditions.
Four of the world’s leading exponents in Yiddish instrumental and vocal music come together for an evening of songs, stories and culture. Hailing from the UK, Latvia, USA and Tatarstan, this motley band of Yiddishists bring, voices, violin, clarinets and piano to make a varied and exciting collaborative programme. Yiddish songs of lament, yearning, love and spirituality. Instrumental tunes comprising of dances, sacred tunes and ritual music.
Sasha Lurje (Latvia/Germany) – vocals
Craig Judelman (USA / Germany) – fiddle
Merlin Shepherd (UK) – clarinets
Polina Shepherd (Russia / UK) – voice, piano
Sasha Lurje (Riga, Latvia) is a Berlin-based Yiddish singer performing and teaching throughout the world. Her experience in traditional song, various vocal techniques, and genres adds up to a wide range that creates great performances. Her work includes projects ranging from Yiddish progressive rock with her band Forshpil to cabaret with Semer Ensemble, Helsinki Yiddish Cabaret and Cabaret Yitesh, from traditional Yiddish music expression with her trio Lebedik to historic recreations with Yale University project “Songs from the Testimonies”.
Craig Judelman (Seattle, USA) is a fiddler, composer and educator on both sides of the Atlantic. His background in classical music and composition, combined with decades of immersion in American ‘Old Time’ music cultivated a unique perspective on Klezmer fiddling. Since moving to Berlin in 2017 he has developed a singular voice in the klezmer scene. He has taught or performed at many of the major klezmer festivals
Merlin Shepherd (Cardiff, Wales) has been a fixture in the international Yiddish/Klezmer scene, both as teacher and performer for three decades. Merlin has also worked as Music Director with several of the UK’s leading theatre companies including The RSC, National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe and most recently at The Menier Chocolate Factory.
Polina Shepherd (Kazan, Tatarstan) is an internationally renowned singer, composer, educator and cultural activist. She brings the songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl up to date with passion and haunting soul. Her singing is deeply rooted in east European Jewish and Russian folk. Growing up in Tatarstan also placed her close to Islamic ornamentation and timbre, which can be heard in her unique vocal style and four-octave range.
Related Images:

Slavic Voices at King's College, London.
2024-06-12 18:45 - 20:30 UTC
A summer concert programme at King’s College Chapel.
Free registration here.
Slavic Voices is a new choir in London and Brighton & Hove for singers of all backgrounds. It presents music of all styles from the Slavic world: Orthodox chants, beautiful classics by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky 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 repertoire is sung mainly in Russian but also in Macedonian, Ukrainian, Croatian, occasionally in Bulgarian, Polish, Czech, and adding a guest visit by a song in Yiddish or Georgian.

Join us on the journey to explore and share this culturally unique and musically diverse repertoire with the wide world. We perform at festivals and choral events, present our own concerts and collaborations with choirs and instrumentalists several times a year. Led by Polina Skovoroda-Shepherd, granddaughter of a Cossack, an internationally acclaimed performer, educator and cultural activist.
Read more here

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JetLag Festival -Neoteric. USA. The Stranniki
2024-06-21 - 2024-06-23 | Peaceful Valley Campsite, 485 Banker Rd, Downsville, United States, NY 13755
21-23 June – Upstate NY
JetLag Festival -Neoteric
At JetLag Festival you’ll hear everything from avant garde rock to Balkan wave and Klezmer; from psychedelic trance to Slavic folk and sung poetry; reggae, rap, cabaret, experimental math rock, and if that’s not enough, we promise, it’ll get weirder. The Stranniki – Psoy Korolenko and Polina Shepherd will present their newly recorded (and hopefully, published) album.
Peaceful valley campsites. 191 Bear Island, Downsville, NY 13755.

JETLAG-2024: NEOTERIC
Have you ever heard the word Neoteric before?
Do you know its meaning?
What do you think it is?
Neo is the easy part. Certainly, it means new. And what is “-teric’’? The Ancient Greek suffix -τερος is an equivalent of the English “-er’ or “-est”. For example, ἐσωτερικός (esō-terikós, esoteric) loosely means “deeper, deepest”. So Neoteric means newer, newest, or just recent, fresh, young.
The word Neoteric is rather rare. It is ancient and precious. It has existed in English since the late 16th century, but was preceded by older synonyms such as just “modern”, which came to English earlier. So this word is old and new. Its own destiny showcases the dialectic of the Old and the New, the mystery of centuries that stand in front of each other, exchanging secrets, recipes and spells.

In Ancient Rome, there were poets who called themselves Neoteric. Among them were the legendary Vergilius and Catullus, whose lyrics still rock. These masters defied the mainstream of their generation with intricate craftsmanship, playfulness, freedom, and experiment. But here is one more thing: these poets themselves were part of a bigger continuity. They encapsulated an awesome tradition, mystical, and mysterious. THE TRADITION OF BEING NEW!

Over millennia, many other artists, collectives, communities, movements, carried, cherished, nurtured this tradition. Even if they did not actually brand themselves “Neoteric”, this is what they were. And so is JetLAG. And this is what makes JetLAG always unique and continuously relevant: the harmony of heritage and innovation, of reminiscence and foresight. It bridges the known and the freshly-discovered. We don’t merely hold onto traditions; we evolve them. We recognize the allure of reinvention and passionately delve into the art of starting anew.
Welcome to the evernew!
Welcome to Neoteric! Welcome to JetLAG-2024!

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Songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl workshop and concert. Greenfield, MA, USA
2024-06-30 14:00 - 20:30 UTC | Temple Israel, 27 Pierce St., Greenfield, MA, United States
Temple Israel in Greenfield MA invites you to “Songs of the Steppes and the Shtetl,” an opportunity to sing and hear Yiddish and Russian folk music on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Polina Shepherd will lead a workshop at 2 p.m. and give a concert at 7 p.m.

Workshop
Polina Shepherd invites you on a journey with beautiful old East European Russian and Yiddish songs in beautiful harmonies. Warm up with an energetic nign, a traditional Jewish tune, let your heart out in a gorgeous Russian lyrical folk song, gain power in Yiddish songs, all with attention to history, context and style.
Music lovers of all backgrounds and singing levels are invited. Teaching is both by ear and with sheet music.
Concert
In this musical journey, Polina will present a mixture of original, classical and folk songs mainly in Yiddish with a few visits to cultural neighbours. Her unique style and repertoire, based on traditional forms, cuts a sound deeply rooted in East European folklore. This multi-faceted weave of songs will present a few ballads, drinking songs and grandparents’ tales mixed with some sweet, dreamy folklore plus a few songs for the audience to join in.
Workshop participants are invited to perform in this concert. This concert will inaugurate the baby grand piano donated by Susan Hollins.
Polina Shepherd is a composer, performer, educator and cultural activist with over 30 years of professional experience. She grew up in a Russian Jewish home where songs were frequently sung at family celebrations. When living in Tatarstan and studying at the State Academy, she played in Russia′s first klezmer band after Perestroika, and toured the world with her own quartet, Ashkenazim. Now living in the UK, she leads choirs, collaborates with bands, orchestras, soloists, ensembles, records for film and theatre, and performs internationally. www.polinashepherd.co.uk

Temple Israel is at 27 Pierce St., Greenfield MA. A contribution on a sliding scale of $10–$30 is requested for both the workshop and for the concert. The building is handicap-accessible.

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USA. The Village Harmony World Music Ensemble tour
2024-07-05 - 2024-07-21
5 – 21 July – New England

A teen singing camp followed by a concert tour around New England organised by Village Harmony. Open to young singers ages 12 to 18. Rehearsal location: Stump Sprouts Lodge, Hawley, MA. Read more .
12 – 21 July.
The Village Harmony World Music Ensemble Concert schedule. Village Harmony, the remarkable teen music ensemble, presents polyphonic singing traditions from around the world. Music leaders: Sinead O’Mahoney (USA), Bongani Magatyana (South Africa), Polina Shepherd (Tatarstan (Russia)/UK).

Friday, July 12 – Calais, VT: Maple Corner Community Center, 84 W County Rd

Saturday, July 13 – Montpelier, VT: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St

Sunday, July 14, 3:00pm – South Hero, VT: Congregational Church, 24 South St

Monday, July 15 – Shrewsbury, VT: Community Church, 88 Lottery Rd

Tuesday, July 16 – Worcester, MA: Workshops and performance at MA-ACDA conference. Concert at 6:30pm is free and open to public. Assumption University

Wednesday, July 17 – Belfast, ME: Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller St

Thursday, July 18 – Blue Hill, ME: Central Hall, 306 Falls Bridge Rd

Friday, July 19 – Lexington, MA: First Parish, 7 Harrington Rd

Saturday, July 20 – Hadley, MA: Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple St

Sunday, July 21, 3:00pm – West Cummington, MA: Congregational Church, 27 West Main St

Vermont-based Village Harmony, the remarkable teen world music ensemble, presents its first concert program of the summer. The group is led by Sinead O’Mahoney, Bongani Magatyana from South Africa, and Polina Shepherd from the UK. The 22 brilliant teen singers come from seven states plus Canada and France. Village Harmony, a non-profit umbrella organization based in Vermont, promotes the study and performance of ethnic singing traditions from around the world. For more than thirty years they have organized teen ensembles each summer in New England and ensembles for mixed-age and adult singers in numerous foreign countries. Each Village Harmony ensemble develops its own unique sound with a different team of leaders. All share common traits: a powerful, natural, unrestrained vocal sound; a remarkable variety of vocal styles and timbres appropriate to the ethnic and traditional music; and a visible, vibrant community among the singers and audience as they share in a joyful celebration of music. Admission is by donation at the door. For further information visit www.villageharmony.org or email villageharmony@gmail.com.

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Caravan Orchestra and Choir. Weimar, Germany
2024-07-26 - 2024-08-07
26 July – 11 August. (7-11 August will be concerts.)
Weimar. Part of Yiddish Summer Weimar.
PROJECT WEB SITE
Caravan is now in its 7th year in bringing together young musicians from different traditions and backgrounds with the common goal of the exploration of East European Jewish, East Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music traditions. Every year, we build a learning community that relies on curiosity, transcultural experience and a general understanding of friendship and partnership. All instrumentalists and singers who live in Germany or Israel (independently of your nationality) are invited to apply.
What to expect from your participation in Caravan? In the summer of 2024, we will look at the connection between Yiddish (East-European Jewish) music and musics that derive from the Ottoman heritage of Greece and Turkey. We have found a wonderful shared repertoire (instrumental melodies, songs, dances) of these traditions and will study their common heritage and their own musical live in different cultures in Europe and Asia minor. We will learn a lot of music by ear and improvisation will play a major role in our music making. The faculty consists of renowned practitioners of Yiddish, Turkish, Greek and Ottoman traditions with decades of teaching expertise in projects like Caravan.
Concerts

Saturday, August 3d, 2024 Germany, Essen, Alte Synagoge Essen, Edmund-Körner-Platz 1, 45127 Essen, time TBA
Thursday, August 8th, 2024 Germany, Leipzig, Marktplatz, Leipziger Markt Musik, 8 PM, free admission
Friday, August 9th, 2024 Germany, Eisenach, Wandelhalle, 8 PM, ticket link
Saturday, August 10th, 2024 Germany, Weimar, Herderplatz, 6:30 PM (with many other bands), ticket link
Sunday, August 11th, 2024 Germany, Erfurt, Western fassade of the „Alte Synagoge,“ 7 PM (with other bands) free admission

Read more here
Part of Yiddish Summer Weimar.
The 2024 Caravan Orchestra and Choir will take place from July 26 in the morning to August 11 in the evening (beginning date is approximate, end date is definite; stay tuned for updates). We will spend the entire time together in Weimar during Yiddish Summer Weimar.
While we will sing in many languages, English will be the main language of communication.
We will ask a 200 EUR fee for participation in Caravan Orchestra & Choir. In return, we will cover your travels, tuition with great teachers, some food, and we will – hopefully with your help – find accommodation for participants.
For participants living in Weimar: please get in touch if you can offer accommodation for fellow band members from Haifa or Germany. In these cases, we can waive the participation fee for you.
Polina Shepherd (Russia/UK; artistic director) 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. She taught Caravan Choir in 2021 and was the artistic director for Caravan Orchestra & Choir in 2022 and 2023. She will again serve as artistic director of Caravan Orchestra & Choir in 2024.
Mehmet Ali Orman (TR; artistic co-director) was born in the small seaside town of Gemlik, Turkey. He grew up immersed in his own culture and with a strong interest in other cultures as well. He began dancing at the age of 7 and started playing clarinet at the age of 15. He attended the İstanbul Technical University Turkish Folk Dance department to in order to make music and dance his profession. He has participated in folk dance and music festivals in Germany, Hungary, Poland, Japan, Lithuania, Denmark, France as both a dancer and a musician.

Zoë Aqua (USA; artistic co-director) is a violinist, educator and composer. She was awarded a Fulbright research grant for the 2021-’22 and 2022-’23 academic years to study Transylvanian folk music pedagogy in Cluj, Romania. In 2022, she released an album of original compositions recorded with Eastern European musicians entitled “In Vald Arayn” (Into the Forest). Zoë is a co-founder of klezmer bands Tsibele and Farnakht, and served as the full-time understudy for the Klezmatics’ Lisa Gutkin in the Broadway production of “Indecent”. An in-demand teacher known for her warm and accessible style, she holds two degrees in music education.

Eftychia Mitritsa (GR; artistic co-director) is a singer/songwriter who moves between the genres of traditional music, rebetiko and contemporary, greek, popular music. She has recorded three albums under her own name as well as participating in many different artists‘ recording projects. At the beginning of her career she studied with composer Nikos Mamagakis. Ever since, she has collaborated on stage with distinguished Greek singers, instrumentalists, and composers.
She studied classical piano, voice performance, advanced theory and harmony and holds a Master’ s degree in Musicology (National University of Athens). For the last 20 years, she has been teaching piano and singing at Secondary Music Schools and since 2021 she also teaches voice lessons to actors.

If you have any questions please get in touch with project managers Andreas or Anna:
andreas.schmitges@othermusicacademy.eu
or +49 177 6017686 (WhatsApp/Telegram)
anna.gruenhardt@othermusicacademy.eu
Related Images:

Caravan Orchestra & Choir in Essen
2024-08-03 20:00 - 21:30 UTC | Alte Synagoge Essen, Edmund-Körner-Platz, Essen, 145127, Germany
SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH INFO… FREE concert

Jiddische, osmanische & arabische Musik im DialogEintritt frei, um Voranmeldung unterinfo@alte-synagoge.essen.de wird gebetenwww.caravanorchestra.eu
Es ist wie Purim und Roshashone, Zuckerfest und Weihnachten zusammen! Das mit dem Shimon-Peres-Preis ausgezeichnete Caravan Orchestra & Choir ist auch -und gerade- in diesem Sommer mit einem neuen Programm unterwegs und kommt zum ersten Mal nach Essen!
Das jedes Jahr neu entstehende 40-köpfige Ensemble spielt ost-europäisch-jüdische, osmanische und arabische Musik und vor allem jene Melodien und Lieder, die in all diesen Musikkulturen zugleich vorkommen!
Die Musiker*innen könnten multikultureller nicht sein:Musikstudierende aus Deutschland mit vielen kulturellen und religiösen Hintergründen treffen jüdische, christliche und muslimische Israelis aus der Gegend um Haifa. Sie engagieren sich alle im Caravan Orchestra, weil das Ensemble großartige Musik spielt, faszinierende Klänge schafft und ein Forum für unvoreingenommenes Aufeinanderzugehen bietet, sowohl musikalisch als auch sozial.
Caravan Orchestra & Choir wendet sich immer neuen Klängen zu und findet immer wieder Verbindendes zwischen den angeblich so unterschiedlichen religiösen und kulturellen Welten Europas und des Nahen Ostens.
Sie dürfen sich auf einen berauschenden, groovigen und immer spontan bleibenden Abend freuen!
Besetzung:Polina Shepherd – künstlerische GesamtleitungMehmet Ali Orman – künstlerische Co-Leitung OrchesterZoe Aqua – künstlerische Co-Leitung ChorEftychia Mitritsa – künstlerische Co-Leitung ChorMitglieder des Caravan Orchestra und des Caravan Choir

The Caravan Orchestra & Choir is in its seventh year of musical exchange between the diverse communities of Weimar and Haifa. Young musicians from both places explore a program of Yiddish, Ottoman, Greek and Middle Eastern music in a multicultural and diverse environment. The program focuses on finding the connections that already exist between musical traditions that are often seen as unrelated, as well as celebrating the varied musical and cultural backgrounds that participants themselves bring to the ensemble. This year, the Caravan Orchestra & Choir is once again led by Polina Shepherd alongside the international team of Eftychia Mitritsa, Mehmet Ali Orman and Zoë Aqua.
Related Images:

Caravan Orchestra & Choir in Leipzig, Germany
2024-08-08 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Marktplatz, Leipziger Markt Musik, Markt, Leipzig - Zentrum, 04109, Germany
PROJECT WEB SITE
The Unbroken Circle: Keeping music and friendship alive between Haifa & Weimar.Caravan Orchestra & Choir is in its seventh year of musical exchange between the diverse communities of Weimar and Haifa. Young musicians from both places explore a program of Yiddish, Ottoman, Greek and Middle Eastern music in a multicultural and diverse environment. The program focuses on finding the connections that already exist between musical traditions that are often seen as unrelated, as well as celebrating the varied musical and cultural backgrounds that participants themselves bring to the ensemble. This year, the Caravan Orchestra & Choir is once again led by Polina Shepherd alongside the international team of Eftychia Mitritsa, Mehmet Ali Orman and Zoë Aqua
Concerts

Saturday, August 3d, 2024 Germany, Essen, Alte Synagoge Essen, Edmund-Körner-Platz 1, 45127 Essen, time TBA
Thursday, August 8th, 2024 Germany, Leipzig, Marktplatz, Leipziger Markt Musik, 8 PM, free admission
Friday, August 9th, 2024 Germany, Eisenach, Wandelhalle, 8 PM, ticket link
Saturday, August 10th, 2024 Germany, Weimar, Herderplatz, 6:30 PM (with many other bands), ticket link
Sunday, August 11th, 2024 Germany, Erfurt, Western fassade of the „Alte Synagoge,“ 7 PM (with other bands) free admission

Read more here
Part of Yiddish Summer Weimar.

Related Images:

Caravan Orchestra and Choir in Eisenach, Germany
2024-08-09 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Wandelhalle, Wartburgallee 53, Eisenach, 99817
The prize-winning, 40-piece Caravan Orchestra & Choir is in its seventh year of musical exchange between the diverse communities of Weimar and Haifa. Young musicians from both places explore a program of Yiddish, Ottoman, Greek and Middle Eastern music in a multicultural and diverse environment. The program focuses on finding the connections that already exist between musical traditions that are often seen as unrelated, as well as celebrating the varied musical and cultural backgrounds that participants themselves bring to the ensemble.
This year, Caravan Orchestra & Choir is once again led by Polina Shepherd alongside and excellent international team of Eftychia Mitritsa (vocals, Athens), Mehmet Ali Orman (Clarinet & Dance; Istanbul and Zoë Aqua (violin; USA).
Admission: €20.00 / €10.00
register >>>

Location: Wandelhalle, Wartburgallee 53, 99817 Eisenach
Contact: info@yiddishsummer.eu, +49(0)15776463340

Hear a wonderful shared repertoire – instrumental and vocal – East European Jewish and East Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music traditions. Performed by a youth orchestra formed only ten days before the concert, bringing young musicians from Israel and Germany. The repertoire is unique in every concert: a lot of it is improvised on the spot.

Related Images:

Caravan Orchestra and Choir in Weimar, Germany
2024-08-10 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Herderplatz, Herderplatz 14, Weimar, 99423, Germany
PROJECT WEB SITE

The Unbroken Circle: Keeping music and friendship alive between Haifa & Weimar.Caravan Orchestra & Choir is in its seventh year of musical exchange between the diverse communities of Weimar and Haifa. Young musicians from both places explore a program of Yiddish, Ottoman, Greek and Middle Eastern music in a multicultural and diverse environment. The program focuses on finding the connections that already exist between musical traditions that are often seen as unrelated, as well as celebrating the varied musical and cultural backgrounds that participants themselves bring to the ensemble. This year, the Caravan Orchestra & Choir is once again led by Polina Shepherd alongside the international team of Eftychia Mitritsa, Mehmet Ali Orman and Zoë Aqua
Concerts

Saturday, August 3d, 2024 Germany, Essen, Alte Synagoge Essen, Edmund-Körner-Platz 1, 45127 Essen, time TBA
Thursday, August 8th, 2024 Germany, Leipzig, Marktplatz, Leipziger Markt Musik, 8 PM, free admission
Friday, August 9th, 2024 Germany, Eisenach, Wandelhalle, 8 PM, ticket link
Saturday, August 10th, 2024 Germany, Weimar, Herderplatz, 6:30 PM (with many other bands), ticket link
Sunday, August 11th, 2024 Germany, Erfurt, Western fassade of the „Alte Synagoge,“ 7 PM(with other bands) free admission

Read more here
Part of Yiddish Summer Weimar.

Related Images:

Caravan Orchestra and Choir in Erfurt, Germany.
2024-08-11 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Alte Synagoge Erfurt, Waagegasse 8, Erfurt, 99084, Germany

Yiddish in Berlin
2024-08-12, 2024-08-14 | Osteuropa-Institut (Freie Universität Berlin), Garystraße 55, Berlin, 14195, Germany
The 4th Summer Program for Yiddish Language and Literature in Berlin will be held at the Institute for East European Studies at the Free University of Berlin from August 12th to 30th, 2024. Polina will be teaching Yiddish choir sessions as part of this course on 12 and 14 August.
For three weeks, the Institute for East European Studies hosts students from all around the world, offering a rich face-to-face program of language courses and cultural activities.
The pedagogical team under the direction of Yitskhok Niborski will offer an intensive program of Yiddish courses, workshops (songs, theatre, conversation, cooking), visits, lectures, film screenings…
In addition to five levels of language and literature classes ranging from beginner to advanced, we will organise a three-week pedagogical training seminar for emerging Yiddish teachers.
Scholarships will be granted to allow young students from all over the world to come and improve their skills and engage with other Yiddish speakers.

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The Golden Peacock. Yiddish Song School
2024-08-19 - 2024-08-23 | SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London, WC1H 0XG, United Kingdom
19-23 August – London
The Golden Peacock. Yiddish Song School by The Jewish Music Institute.

Teachers: Shura Lipovsky (the Netherlands), Zalmen Mlotek (USA), Polina Shepherd (Russia/UK), Rachel Weston (UK).

It is designed for all singers who wish to deepen their knowledge of the rich Yiddish song repertoire. Spend the morning studying music theory, repertoire, roots and traditions of Yiddish Song, modes and melodies. While afternoons will focus on studying further repertoire, master-classes and a Yiddish Choir. I will be on the faculty, details coming soon. More here.

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Slavic Voices choir season starts in London
2024-09-12 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
12 September – London
17 September – Brighton & Hove
Slavic Voices choir season starts. JOIN US NOW!
Slavic Voices is choir in London and Brighton & Hove for singers of all backgrounds. We present music of all styles from the Slavic world: Orthodox chants, beautiful classics by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and others, refined XVIII-XIX-centuries Art songs and gritty folklore from the far corners of Siberia to the banks of the Black Sea.

More here.
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Slavic Voices choir season starts in Brighton
2024-09-17 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Brighton Unitarian Church

Sing with Me - 144. Online
2024-09-18 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | Online
Yiddish and Russian Autumn songs
Please come here a few hours before the session for information about the songs, audio files, song sheets and ZOOM meeting information.
Sing with Me Song Sessions Online open to everyone.

New songs in every session.
Learn about cultural context and style.
No knowledge of Yiddish, Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar or other languages is needed.
Song sheets are shown on the screen during sessions.
Session videos are posted on Youtube.
Payments are appreciated but you can also join free of charge.
A Zoom link for each session, printable song sheet with music, lyrics, translation and transliteration appear on this page minimum two hours before the session.
Here are some basics for Yiddish transliteration

Payment is voluntary but very much appreciated. The best option for me is if you pay directly via PayPal Friends & Family / Gift option here.
When paying on the phone, scroll all the way down to see your basket
One session fee £6
Generous or two people fee £10

by Mikhail Achkinazi

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Osnabrück, Germany. Solo concert.
2024-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Felix Nussbaum Haus, Museumsquartier Osnabrück, Lotter Strasse 2, 49078
Welcome to Yiddishland – travel with Polina Shepherd through a land full of beautiful ballads and powerful songs.
SEE EVENT MAIN PAGE
Solo concert at Felix Nussbaum Haus, Museumsquartier Osnabrück, Lotter Strasse 2, 49078 Osnabrück, Germany. 7pm.

Eintritt: AK 20,- / VVK 19,- / erm. 17,-€
VVK: concert2210@plukker.de und im
Museumsladen zu den Öffnungszeiten (nur Barkasse)
Mit ihrem atemberaubenden Gesang wird Sie Polina Shepherd entführen in ein Land voller wunderschönen Balladen und kraftvollen Liedern. Polina Shepherd singt und spielt originell und einfühlsam eigene Kompositionen, Arrangements und bekannte Melodien. Freuen Sie sich auf ihr einziges Solo-Konzert in Norddeutschland im Jahr 2024.
Polina Shepherd ist Komponistin, Performerin, Pädagogin und Kulturaktivistin. Sie stammt ursprünglich aus Sibirien und lebt jetzt in Brighton im Vereinigten Königreich. Ihr Gesang basiert auf traditionellen Formen, ist aber tief in der osteuropäischen jüdischen und russischen Folklore verwurzelt. Durch ihr Aufwachsen in Tatarstan kam sie auch der islamischen Ornamentik und Klangfarbe nahe, was in ihrem einzigartigen Gesangsstil zu hören ist.
In Kasan (Hauptstadt von Tatarstan, Zentralrussland) studierte sie an der staatlichen Akademie und schloss sich der ersten Klezmer-Band Russlands nach der Perestroika an, Simcha (1990-2000). Bald wurde sie zur wichtigsten jiddischen Chorleiterin der ehemaligen Sowjetunion, komponierte Originalmaterial für große Stimmgruppen und ging mit ihrem Quartett Ashkenazim (1991-2007) auf internationale Tournee.
Als Solokünstlerin präsentiert sie eine Vielzahl von Liedern, darunter ihr Soloalbum Three Centuries Ago, das zum Teil mit eigenen Gedichten versehen ist. Im Jahr 2023 trat Polina dem GRAMMY®-prämierten Barockorchester Apollo’s Fire (Cleveland, USA) als Gastsängerin bei der Exile & Resilience-Tournee durch die USA und Europa bei. Neben Dutzenden von Projekten arbeitete sie als Sängerin mit dem Remix-Künstler Max Pashm an Never Mind the Balkans, der rumänischen Roma-Brass-Band Fanfara und zuletzt an der Gecko Theatre-Produktion Kin (2022).

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Hommage an Patrick Modiano. Osnabruck. Germany
2024-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Literaturbüro Westniedersachsen, Am Ledenhof 3-5, Osnabrück, 49074, Germany
READ IN ENGLISH BELOW

Place de l’ Etoile” und andere Texte mit Ronald Funke (Lesung) und Polina Shepherd (Gesang)

Lortzinghaus, An der Katharinenkirche 3
Mittwoch, 23.10.2024 / 19.00–21.00 Uhr

Patrick Modiano widmet sich in seinen Romanen vor allem seinen jüdischen Wurzeln. Entsprechend erhielt er 2014 den Nobelpreis auch „für die Kunst des Erinnerns, mit der er die unbegreiflichsten menschlichen Schicksale wachgerufen und die Lebenswelt während der (deutschen) Besetzung sichtbar gemacht hat.“ Der Roman „Place de l’Etoile” machte Patrick Modiano über Nacht berühmt: So offensiv wurde noch nie mit jüdischen und antijüdischen Klischees gespielt. Der Held Raphaël Schlemilovitch führt viele schillernde Leben, als Kollaborationsjude«, als Geliebter von Eva Braun, als jüdischer Mädchenhändler. Er kommt mehrfach zu Tode und reist durch Zeiten und Länder. Bis er schließlich auf der Couch von Dr. Freud im Wien der sechziger Jahre erwacht. Ein so unterhaltsamer wie provokanter Parforceritt – und ein literarischer Befreiungsschlag von antisemitischen Zuschreibungen. Aber auch in anderen Romanen wie „Die Gasse der dunklen Läden“, „Eine Jugend“ oder „Im Café der verlorenen Jugend“ beleuchtet Modiano poetisch feinfühlig die vielen Facetten der Erinnerung.
Die Texte werden gelesen von Ronald Funke, dem Osnabrücker Publikum bestens bekannt als festes Ensemblemitglied des Theaters Osnabrück. Musikalisch begleitet und gerahmt wird der Abend von der in Sibirien geborenen britischen Sängerin mit jüdischen Wurzeln Polina Shepherd, die in Rezensionen als „beindruckende Vokalistin mit einer vier Oktaven umfassenden Stimme“ (Forward) charakterisiert wird. Ihr Gesang basiert auf traditionellen Formen, ist aber tief in der osteuropäischen jüdischen und russischen Folklore verwurzelt. Durch ihr Aufwachsen in Tatarstan kam sie auch der islamischen Ornamentik und Klangfarbe nahe, was in ihrem einzigartigen Gesangsstil zu hören ist.
Veranstalter: Deutsch-Französische Gesellschaft, die Freimaurerloge „Zum Goldenen Rade“ und das Literaturbüro Westniedersachsen

Anmeldung: über das Literaturbüro Westniedersachsen Am Ledenhof 3-5, Tel. 0541/202-7908 oder per email at LitOs-info@osnabrueck.de

ENGLISH:
The Deutsch Französische Gesellschaft Osnabrück e.V., the Freemason lodge “Zum Goldenen Rade” and the Literaturbüro Westniedersachsen invite you on Wednesday, 23. October, at 7 p.m. to a reading from texts by the French Nobel Prize winner Patrick Modiano in the Lortzinghaus, An der Katharinenkirche 3.
Patrick Modiano devotes himself in his novels above all to his Jewish roots. Accordingly, he also received the Nobel Prize in 2014 “for the art of remembering, with which he awakened the most incomprehensible human destinies and made the world of life visible during the (German) occupation.” The novel “Place de l’Etoile” made Patrick Modiano famous overnight: never before has Jewish and anti-Jewish clichés been played so offensively. The hero Raphaël Schlemilovitch leads many dazzling lives, as a collaborative Jew, as a lover of Eva Braun, as a Jewish girl dealer. He dies several times and travels through times and countries. Until he finally wakes up on the couch of Dr. Freud in Vienna in the sixties. A parforce ride as entertaining as it is provocative – and a literary liberating blow from anti-Semitic attributions. But also in other novels such as “Die Alless der dunklen Läden”, “Eine Jugend” or “Im Café der verlorenen Jugend” Modiano poetically illuminates the many facets of memory.
The lyrics are read by Ronald Funke, best known to the Osnabrück audience as a permanent ensemble member of the Theater Osnabrück. The evening is musically accompanied and framed by the Siberian-born British singer Polina Shepherd with Jewish roots, who is characterized in reviews as an “impressive vocalist with a four octave-ending voice” (Forward). Their singing is based on traditional forms, but is deeply rooted in Eastern European Jewish and Russian folklore. By growing up in Tatarstan, she also came close to Islamic ornament and timbre, which can be heard in her unique singing style.
The entrance fee is 10 euros. Reservations are possible via the Literaturbüro (Am Ledenhof 3-5, Tel. 0541 202-7908 or by mail at LitOs-info@osnabrueck.de)
Press contact: Dr. Jens Peters, Head of the Literature Office West Lower Saxony, 0152/53232276, peters.je@osnabrueck.de
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Yiddish Song Songs that Tell Stories online-1
2024-10-30 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Songs that Tell Stories – Five 1,5 hour sessions online on 30 October, 6,13, 20, 27 November
from $77
Online Yiddish Song Course for the Workers Circle
BOOK HERE
Come to learn and share Yiddish songs that tell stories: ballads, personal narratives, Chassidic fables, folk tales converted into songs. Participants are invited to bring their own songs and share their memoirs, as well as learn material offered by the teacher. All singers are welcome, although you will need to be able to follow written music and/or be open to learning by ear.
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Yiddish Song Songs that Tell Stories online-2
2024-11-06 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online

Yiddish Song Songs that Tell Stories online-3.
2024-11-13 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Online
Songs that Tell Stories – Five 1,5 hour sessions online on 30 October, 6,13, 20, 27 November

Online Yiddish Song Course for the Workers Circle

BOOK HERE
Come to learn and share Yiddish songs that tell stories: ballads, personal narratives, Chassidic fables, folk tales converted into songs. Participants are invited to bring their own songs and share their memoirs, as well as learn material offered by the teacher. All singers are welcome, although you will need to be able to follow written music and/or be open to learning by ear.
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Yiddish Songs that Tell Stories. Open Workshop. London, UK.
2024-11-17 15:00 - 17:00 UTC | The Electric Elephant Café, 07410 551 549, London, Walworth, SE17 3, United Kingdom
BOOK HERE
Stories that unfold in a song – ballads, love stories, Chasidic fables, folk tales… What do they tell us and what can we learn from them? Whilst singing these songs we can touch a medieval witch’s hand or feel the excitement of a young boy at a revolutionary barricade in 1917. We can talk to the stars with an old mystic and with all that experience, look into the future.
All welcome, knowledge of Yiddish is not necessary, just bring an open mind and heart.
Yiddish is a 1000-year-old language of the Jews of Eastern Europe. Yiddish folk songs are deeply rooted in spiritual traditions, also they have been influenced by many other East European cultures. They speak about people’s everyday life and express every colour of human emotion.
Led by Polina Shepherd, one of Europe’s leading musicians in this field, this workshop is open to all.
Come and have lunch at the cafe beforehand, it’s great food and coffee!
Start time: 3pm. The workshop will be about 1 hour 45 minutes.
DOWNLOAD THE SONG FILE FOR THE WORKSHOP HERE: Yiddish songs that Tell Stories workshop in London 17 November 2024 with Polina Shepherd
Art by Mikhail Achkinazi
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Yiddish Song Songs that Tell Stories online-4.
2024-11-20 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Songs that Tell Stories – Five 1,5 hour sessions online on 30 October, 6,13, 20, 27 November
from $77
BOOK HERE
Online Yiddish Song Course for the Workers Circle

Come to learn and share Yiddish songs that tell stories: ballads, personal narratives, Chassidic fables, folk tales converted into songs. Participants are invited to bring their own songs and share their memoirs, as well as learn material offered by the teacher. All singers are welcome, although you will need to be able to follow written music and/or be open to learning by ear.

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Ballads of Eastern Europe. Solo concert. Brighton.UK
2024-11-22 12:30 - 13:30 UTC | Brighton Unitarian Church
Singer, composer and klezmer musician Polina Shepherd (voice & piano) invites you on a musical journey with Yiddish and Russian songs from Eastern Europe. Hear a few ballads, grandfather’s tales, Art songs mixed with dreamy folklore and energetic melodies for the audience to join in.

Read more here.

Concert: 12.30-1.15pm – £5 suggested donation on the door – cash or card
Tea, coffee & biscuits available in the church hall from 12 noonon a pay-as-you-feel donation basisOur Friday lunchtime concerts are diverse – mostly classical but also contemporary, jazz and folk, with many showing off our beautiful Steinway piano.
The performers are a mixture of top local talent and touring musicians from across the globe. These affordable concerts are the perfect way to spend your Friday lunchtimes, enjoying a rich variety of music within the reverberant walls of our beautiful Grade II listed church, with your donations helping us to maintain our welcoming sacred space in the cultural heart of the city.
Enjoy a hot drink before the concert starts, browse our craft stall selling home-made gifts and cards to raise funds for the church, and get to know your fellow concert-goers.
Wheelchair accessible venue.
Everyone welcome.

Related Images:

Yiddish Song Songs that Tell Stories online-5.
2024-11-27 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Songs that Tell Stories – Five 1,5 hour sessions online on 30 October, 6,13, 20, 27 November
from $77
Online Yiddish Song Course for the Workers Circle

Come to learn and share Yiddish songs that tell stories: ballads, personal narratives, Chassidic fables, folk tales converted into songs. Participants are invited to bring their own songs and share their memoirs, as well as learn material offered by the teacher. All singers are welcome, although you will need to be able to follow written music and/or be open to learning by ear.
BOOK HERE

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Film, Q&A w/ director and singer P. Shepherd. Brighton.UK
2024-11-27 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Duke of York’s at Komedia Picturehouse, 44_47 Gardner Street, Brighton & HOve, BN1 1UN, United Kingdom
British-Jewish Life on Film + Q&A with local Yiddish singer Polina Shepherd and director Benjamin Till
129 mins

BOOK HERE

An evening of poignant and entertaining short films exploring British-Jewish life. Includes Benjamin Till’s mesmerising and moving new musical film, Psalms, exploring what unites us in an increasingly divided world. Filmed in the UK’s most iconic and spiritual locations, including Glen Coe, Hadrian’s Wall, the Peak District, the Neolithic stones at Rollright, and performed in Hebrew, Yiddish, Welsh, Gaelic, Irish and English dialects, this stunning 35-minute, entirely a capella cinematic journey shows how ancient Jewish themes resonate with modern day life. Session also includes ‘My Neighbour’s Ass’ starring Maureen Lipman as the owner of a pet donkey who terrorises the residents of the cul-de-sac where it lives. Plus ‘Friday Night Flop’ where Tracy-Ann Oberman is a mother losing touch with her reclusive, gambler daughter.

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