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Join Cindy Paley's klezmer trio for a rich and rousing evening of "Yiddish Favorites, Old and New!" Come ready to learn and sing along to the vibrant and colorful songbook of the Eastern European Jewry' unique cultural history. The popular Yiddish folk songs of Itzik Manger and Mordechai Gebirtig, among others, are sure to stir your nostalgia. Newer melodies by Chava Alberstein and Arkady Gendler will remind you that Yiddish is timeless, thriving and meaningful even today. Guitarist/vocalist Cindy Paley will be joined by accordionist Zina Pozen and clarinetist Asaf Ophir, for what has been described as "an exercise in pure joy"!Performers
Cindy Paley: vocals and guitar
Zina Pozen: accordion
Asaf Ophir: clarinet
Nathan Ladyzhensky: violin
Cindy Paley has delighted Jewish communities across the country for over 36 years with her rich repertoire of Jewish music, as featured in her timeless audio recordings and dynamic live performances. She has served over 22 years as the cantorial soloist for Lev Eisha and the Valley Beth Shalom Neshama Minyan, two creative Shabbat women's services in Los Angeles. She is also the High Holiday cantorial soloist for Kehillah Chen v'Chesed in Encino. For three summers prior to the pandemic, Cindy toured Poland, performing Yiddish concerts with a Polish klezmer band and presenting Yiddish music workshops at the Krakow Jewish Culture Festival. She is also part of The Folk Experience, a trio which performs American folk songs from the 1960s. Cindy's workshops and performances are brimming with a contagious energy that is guaranteed to get everyone singing.
Zina Pozen is a familiar face in the Bay Area and Seattle Balkan music scene. Originally from Ukraine, she grew up in a family of classical musicians, playing piano from a tender age. As an adult, Zina picked up the accordion and stared playing traditional Eastern European repertoire. She is a founding member of Seattle's infamous Bucharest Drinking Team. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2015, Zina has been playing klezmer with Orchestra Euphonos, rembetika with MetaNastys, and old Soviet songs at so many afterparties and impromptu jams.
Asaf Ophir began his professional career in musical theaters in Israel, on some of Israel's most distinguished stages. Having moved to the United States in 2014, Ophir can most often be seen in world music projects on Jewish, Arabic and Balkan stages. Throughout his career he has shared the stage with artists such as Miri Mesika, Avi Kushnir, Galit Giat, David De’or, Rana Farhan and Barbara Streisand. The San Francisco Chronicle writes: "Asaf Ophir gives the clarinet the timbre of a trumpet, then a violin, then a raspy scream... the instrument's wail almost becomes too plaintive and beautiful to bear."
Nathan Ladyzhensky was born and raised in Odessa, Ukraine and learned many Yiddish songs and klezmer tunes from his family. This music always reminds him of his childhood. In classical music, he played viola with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and various chamber music groups. Later, he switched to a career in financial planning. About 10 years ago he resumed playing violin, and finally learned how to play for fun. Nathan considers himself a recovering classical musician. After leaving the demands of a professional career, he is really enjoying the new stage of his life—playing a variety of styles of music on a range of different instruments, arranging, composing and keeping the old Yiddish music tradition alive.
Senior Programs are made possible in part by generous contributions from the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund, the John R. Schwabacher Family, as well as many other individual donors. We are grateful for their generous support.
Tuesday, December 17
1:00–2:00 PM | Doors open at 12:30 PM | The Nourish Cafe by Tony Caters on campus is open for lunch before the concert. | Linger after the concert for a snack and beverage in the lobby.
Albert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall (Bldg F)
$15 tickets purchased online before December 9 | $25 after December 9 and at the door
Contact: Michelle Rosengaus | [email protected]
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA, United States, California 94303
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