Klezmer Master Class with Pavel Vinnitzky

Klezmer is a musical tradition which parallels Hasidic and Ashkenazic Judaism. Around the 15th century, a tradition of secular (non-liturgical) Jewish music was developed by musicians called kleyzmorim or kleyzmurim. They draw on devotional traditions extending back into Biblical times, and their musical legacy of klezmer continues to evolve today. The repertoire is largely dance songs for weddings and other celebrations. Due to the Ashkenazi  lineage of this music, the lyrics, terminology and song titles are typically in Yiddish. 

Originally, klezmer (plural klezmorim) referred to musical instruments, and was later extended to refer to musicians themselves. It was not until the mid-to-late 20th Century that the word was used to identify a musical genre. Early 20th Century recordings and writings most often refer to the style as "Yiddish" music, although it is also sometimes called Freilech music.

                           — Wikipedia

Pavel Vinnitsky has been a guest artist with the American Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Opera Orchestra of New York, Albany Symphony and New Haven Symphony orchestras among others. He has also appeared with a large number of chamber music groups including Sylvan Winds, the Quintet of Americas, Azure Ensemble, So Percussion, Wall Street Chamber Players, Biava String Quartet and the Norfolk Contemporary Music Ensemble. As a klezmer music performer Mr. Vinnitsky appeared at some of the world major music festivals and venues including Vienna Jewish Music Festival, Furth International Klezmer Festival (Germany), Ra’anana and Zfat Klezmer festivals in Israel  and recorded for the CBS TV Channel, Bavarian Radio, Israeli National TV and Radio and the New World Records label. In May 2008 Mr. Vinnitsky was featured as a klezmer clarinet and bass clarinet soloist with the Bachanalia String Orchestra of New York in a concert dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel that took place on the stage of Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. Native Ukrainian, he immigrated to Israel in 1990 where held a position with the "Habima" National Theatre in Tel Aviv and performed with Youth Israel Philharmonic, Beer-Sheba and Ra’anana Symphony Orchestras. In 2003 Mr. Vinnitsky entered the clarinet studio of Professor David Shifrin at the Yale University School of Music and upon his graduation moved to New York City where he resides now with his wife Anna Vinnitsky, pianist and their dog Eden.