KLEZMER ACROSS ERAS: Itay Dayan Klezmer Quintet in Concert

Itay Dayan's Klezmer Quintet presents a unique program of both classic and contemporary klezmer music, featuring special additions for the High Holidays. The core of the program performed by these five talented musicians from the klezmer world and beyond is Dayan's new album, Hoffman's Farewell. This album draws inspiration from The Hoffman Book, a collection of klezmer tunes curated in 1927 by musician Joseph Hoffman and preserved privately within his family.
In 2023, Hoffman's great-grandchild, Susan Hoffman-Watts, along with Hankus Netsky and other scholars, decided to publish the book. As a student of Netsky, Dayan was inspired by the book's release and created Hoffman's Farewell, which features both traditional and unique arrangements of the tunes.

NOTA BENES:

Doors Open at 7:00. Concert begins at 7:30.

All seating except FRONT ROW is unassigned.

Tickets cannot be refunded but can be transferred to a different attendee.

We recommend buying tickets online whenever possible. Tickets will be available at the door with payment in cash or check only, for $35.

CONGREGATION KEHILLATH ISRAEL is a traditional inclusive synagogue that actively embraces individuals, its community, and the world. An innovative and prominent voice in North American Jewish life since 1917, it is one of Brookline's oldest synagogues.

ITAY DAYAN, Clarinet

Currently based in Boston, Massachusetts, Israeli clarinetist and composer Itay Dayan is considered one of today's most promising klezmer musicians. A diverse musician, Itay played with various ensembles such as the Klezmer Conservatory Band, Meitar Ensemble and the Israel Klezmer Orchestra, with which he has toured internationally.While studying for his M.Mus at New England Conservatory with renowned klezmer scholar Hankus Netsky, Itay won scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, Ronen Foundation, Ima Foundation, and the Zvi and Ofra Meitar Family Foundation. Notably, Itay is a recipient of the Siday Fellowship for Musical Creativity by the Jerusalem Institute of Contemporary Music, and of the Peter Row Global Musician Award.

MATTIAS KAUFMANN, Accordion

Mattias Kaufmann is an accordionist based in Boston, MA. Mattias has toured internationally with the Klezmer ensembles Mamaliga and Farnakht and served as teaching faculty at festivals of Klezmer music such as Yiddish New York and KlezMaineia. As a recent graduate of the Contemporary Musical Arts Program at New England Conservatory, Mattias is on a path of innovation and discovery with the accordion, combining diverse influences from around the world.

BEN FRIEDLAND, Bass

A Chicago native, Ben Friedland is an avid upright and electric bassist currently based in Boston. His primary training, performance history, and teaching experience lies in jazz and classical, though he is also exceptionally well versed in folk, pop, and rock. Ben has a Master's degree in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor's degree in Classical Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music.

REBECCA MAC, Violin

Rebecca Mac has performed nationally and internationally at renowned music festivals including KlezKanada, Yiddish Summer Weimar and Yiddish New York. Mac is a 2022-24 grant recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program, and has a degree in violin performance from Berklee College of Music.

JEFF SAGURTON, Drums

Whether sitting behind a drum set or a set of timpani, Jeff Sagurton is at home in a wide range of musical settings. An active freelancer in both New York and Boston, Jeff has performed at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to Wally’s Jazz Club. He holds a master’s degree in Percussion Performance from The New England Conservatory of Music and dual bachelor’s degrees from Boston University—a B.M. in Percussion Performance and a B.S.B.A. in Accounting.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Congregation Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard Street, Brookline, United States