About

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.